Worried about my daughter ... am I paranoid???

Question

My daughter was born weighing 6lbs 2oz.

She now is 5.5 months old. When I weighed her last week she was only 14lbs 7oz. She is exclusively breast fed.

I am worried that she is not gaining weight properly .... am I being paranoid, or does this sound normal???

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry at all.  Peds say that a baby should double her birth weight by six months, and triple it by a year old.  Sounds like she is right on track.  If her size is your only concern, it sounds like she is fine to me.  On the other hand, if she appears ill, or isn't having an okay amount of wet and dirty diapers each day, then i would talk to your ped and ask them their opinion.   Good luck!

Answer 2

it sounds fine to me my son is 28 months old and he only weighs 18 lbs..a bit on the smaller side but he eats very healthy for a two year old and he has been the same weight since he was around 12 months..maybe she will hit a growth spurt soon..=)

Answer 3

i think ur being paranoid!  she sounds fine 2 me some babies stay or barely gain weight but enough thats at a healthy level. dont worry so much if ur very concerned ask ur doctors opinion

Answer 4

She sounds fine to me. Not all babies are porkers! my daughter is 18 months now and only weighs 19.5 lbs. Shes tall and thin, but she eats like a horse. Shes a very active and very healthy little girl.

Answer 5

Ask at her 6 month appointment, often times breastfed babies will gain quickly in the beginning and then taper off after a few months. She did start off on the smaller end of the scale so its sounds okay to me as she has nearly tripled her body weight. So Im thinking shes a healthy happy baby girl :0)

Answer 6

First of all, you are not paranoid!  As a mother, it is your job to care about your child, which often does turn into worry.  Second of all, it's sounds like she should be ok, but if you are really concerned, or seeing signs that anything might be wrong, make an apt. with her ped. right away.

Answer 7

in my opinion, 14lbs. at 5 months sounds pretty good. she's already doubled her weight. questions to consider, before becoming scared that she's becoming "failure to thrive" is:

1) what is your weight? her dad's weight? (If you're on the small side too, then there's absolutely nothing to worry about.

2) is she wetting and pooping enough diapers a day?

3) Is she alert, and interacting with you and her environment?

If the answers to the last two questions were yes, then again there's nothing much to worry about.

And then again, remember that there's a large range (1% - 100% percentile, and off the charts in either direction, that's all part of the "normal" range.

So don't worry or fret too much.

Answer 8

She sounds fine, but I know it's hard not to worry about these things. Like others have said, as long as she is producing wet / dirty diapers and is alert and interacting with her surroundings I would think there is no reason to be concerned. If it would make you feel better, I would mention your worries to the doctor at your daughter's next check up, but again I'm sure she is fine.  

Answer 9

When she goes in for her 6 month visit, your pediatrician will let you know if she's continuing her growth curve.  My son was in the 90th percentile for height, but only the 10th for weight, but the pediatrician wasn't worried because he continued to gain weight and stayed around the same percentile.  LOL - he's still a stringbean.  Don't worry yet.  You really only worry if they suddenly change (eg. dropping from the 75th percentile to the 25th) or don't gain weight at all.  Besides, breastfed babies tend to gain weight more slowly than formula fed babies.