My 5 month old daughter is in the 95th percentile for weight, does she need to lose weight?

Question

Am I feeding her too much? Does she need to lose weight? I'm not going to put her on a diet or deprive her or anything crazy, so don't give me crazy mean answers.

Answer 1

Hi there. Honey, babies do not need to lose weight like adults do! Your baby is fine! Chubby babies do not turn into chubby adults.
Is your baby breastfed? It is impossible for a breastfed baby to be too fat. I do not know if the same is true about a bottle fed baby. I just know that you do not put a baby on a diet, especially not one that is only 5 months old! I am assuming that your baby is not eating any solid food. She should not be eating anything but your milk at this point in his life.
Do you have a pediatrician that you trust that you can talk to about this? Without knowing the details of how you are feeding your baby I don't really have the answer to your question.
My babies were all breastfed and were all like your little girl, in the 95th percentile and above. My sons are all over 6 ft tall and my daughters are petite and beautiful girls. My baby boys most of all, looked like little budda's, we used to laugh and say that you could rub their tummies for good luck.
I would not assume that your baby girl is too fat unless you are feeding her solids or doing something else to make her unnaturally chubby.
As I said my expertise is with breastfed babies and I do not know a great deal about bottle fed babies. I do know that NO baby under the age of 6 months should be eating solid food, that I am certain of.
My advice would be to talk to your doctor but I sincerely doubt that your babies weight is a problem.
No crazy, mean answers from me honey! I would not deprive a baby of anything!
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 2

That is perfectly fine. As long as the doctor is not concered, then you shouldn't be. You aren't doing anything wrong, you just have a heathy girl. My daughter was in the 95th percentile at 2 months old and was off the chart at 4 months for both height and weight. The nurse reassured us that some babies just grow really fast at first then tend to even out as they get older. Don't worry :)

Answer 3

Don't worry about it. My best friend's daughter was in the 95th percentile from birth and she's just fine. Just think it's better to be in the 95th than in the 25th. My son was and still probably is in or around the 25th percentile. Which always made me think that I was feeding him enough or I was doing things all wrong.

Answer 4

I really dont think you have anything to worry about. Many babies will thin after they start walking. what is her height percentile? If its 10th percentile and her weight percentile is 95th then you may want to make sure she is really hungry when your feeding her. I think your Dr would have said something if there was a problem.

Answer 5

No iwouldn't say so- yet. At 5 months their bodies are just getting used to digesting and their weight will still fluctuate very much so, until their 2nd birthday. If at 1 year old she is still in the 95th percentile, your doctor may suggest changing her diet. Not staving her or anything- like you said, but making healthier food choices- wheat instead of white, fruit instead of chips or pretzels, etc. But right now, no need to worry, infants are often "overweight" and that's just part of some babies metabolism and it will soon work itself out. :)

Answer 6

My son was big as a baby, too (usually between 75th and 90th percentile for height and weight). See what your pediatrician says. Usually formula fed babies are a little larger than breastfed ones, but my pediatrician wasn't too worried about my son's size. She said that once they start walking babies tend to lose weight due to all of the activity. If in doubt check with your doc.

Answer 7

no she does not need to lose weight. once she starts crawling and walking, she will slim up some. all of mine were in the 95th percentile while babies and none are overweight now (ages 14, 12, 7 and 3). Your baby is not fat, she's healthy.

Answer 8

There is absolutely no need to worry about this. She's fine. Never worry about that unless the doctor is worried too. Just keep feeding her like you have been. Once she starts getting around, she might drop a little weight. But remember, weight is more than just fat. It's also the weight of her organs, her bones, her muscles, all that stuff. So don't sweat it!

Answer 9

She is a growing baby. She needs those "extra" calories right now. Babies do not diet. What those charts are for, is to see how her growth is going. My sons where both and still are, are way below the lines on those things. They are still healthy but just small. My son's grand mother is 4'10.5" and there is no way he will be "average"on the chart. It is just an average measurement. That could be just great for her. Each child is individual and those charts aren't. Don't worry. She is fine. I am sure you don't really think about "cutting out processed foods" and all that other great advise. Talk to your child's doctor first. When it comes to health and your children, don't ask questions on yahoo. Everyone has an old wives tales to tell you. Stick with the doctors they have your child and your best interests at heart. You could be getting answers from an 11-year-old and never know it.

Answer 10

No, doctors drive me nuts with those percentile charts! My daughter was on the low end at her last check up and the doctor kept insisting she needed to have pediasure to increase her weight. But as she's gotten older, she's eating more and drinking lots of milk; her weight is just fine. Those scores are just averages and nothing to worry about. You daughter will average out as she starts being more mobile. Don't sweat it~