4 month old baby too thin?

Question

OK - My daughter is 16 weeks old. She is 24.25" long, but only 10.15 lbs. She was 8.14 at birth and lost 12 oz before she started gaining weight. She is now in the 5th percentile for weight and I'm worried. She is exclusively breastfed and eats 6-10 times a day for about 20 - 30 minutes at a shot. (I feed on demand). I have good milk production - pump 3-5 oz per breast. She has a BM after almost every feeding, about 6 - 8 a day. They are somewhat liquid, especially in the AM when she hasn't eaten in a while (she sleeps through the night or only gets up once). However, they are not frequent nor wet enough to be considered diahrrea (at least I think so...). Anyway, do you think this is normal? How much does/did your 4 month old weigh?

Dr. says not to worry, but then says to come back in 2 weeks and again in a month for a weight check, which makes me worry.

Answer 1

She is NORMAL.

Do not worry, she's normal. Breastfed babies tend to slow down in their weight gain after a couple months. This is natural and you don't have to worry. You said yourself that she has plenty of wet diapers and dirty ones too.

When you feed on demand, baby will grow the way that baby is supposed to grow--according to her genes and biology.

Her being in the 5th percentile doesn't mean she's too thin, that's just where she falls when you compare her to ALL babies. Not to mention, that sometimes doctors use the outdated charts based on formula fed babies NOT exclusively breastfed babies. Make sure that your pediatrician is using the correct charts--check on the World Health Organization's website. You should not take her percentile to mean she's behind, that's just her body type.

Have faith in your body and remember that your little girls is SMART! If she was hungry, she'd ask for more.

ETA: DO NOT SUPPLEMENT - this is a mistake that doctors often make. Nothing, nothing in the world is more digestible to your baby than your milk. Please read the link entitled "Charts overfed babies for 30 years." It explains how doctors, who did not understand how breastfeeding worked, forced mothers to either wean or to give supplements and how it was not only unnecessary, it's led to the worst child obesity epidemic we've ever seen.

Answer 2

My son was 5lbs 12 oz when born and only 18inches. He had terrible reflux which he had surgey later for, which caused him to not gain. but at 4 months old my son was only 9 pds. and was under the 5%. it was scary! but now he is almost 6 years old and 43 pounds, although he has stayed within 5 pounds the last two years. And he is tall but very lean, I know he eats alot sometimes i almost think to much but some babies and children are just not big. My doctor says that its better that he is skinnier then to be too heavy thats where the problems begin. dont worry yourself too much cause she dosent have all the little rolls on her legs my son never did and he is a wonderfully smart heathy boy! good luck . ( ps maybe try some more solid foods also, ceral or rice or a small amount of baby food fruits.)

Answer 3

When my son was born he weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long, he is now 4 months and weighs 11 pounds 8 ounces and is 25 1/2 inches. He gained VERY slowly at first but then boom the last month gained a ton. He was just a slow grower. Some babies are.

Answer 4

Silly Mommy! The only thing that is a surprise is that the thick hair stayed on his head this long after birth! I know it's hard to see that happen, but that's what needs to happen for the 'real' hair to begin to come in. In the meantime, maybe a little dab of hair detangler between your fingers will help with the little knotty head so you don't pull it trying to get him groomed. Patience Mom! While you're waiting for his 'new' hair? There are some awesome hats for babies out there -- some are ALMOST as cute as that full head of hair was...

Answer 5

I can't remember how much mine weighed at 4 months, but I do know he has always been at 10% (or less) on the charts for weight. Breastfed babies tend to be smaller. From six to nine months, my little boy didn't gain one whole pound so my pediatrician insisted that I start supplementing my breastmilk with at least one bottle of formula every day.

Maybe you could supplement with some formula. And it won't be too long before she can start on cereal. Talk to your pediatrician. He/she will have some good advice for you.

Answer 6

my 5 month old dosen't weigh but about 13 ish (I think) we have been avoiding weighing him until 6 mo to see if he doubles his birthweight we also haven't done a well baby visit lately b/c I haven't found a worthy dr in my area they had me worried sick about my baby and he hasn't been sick so I don't think we need a doctor...are these the revised who breastfed percentile charts? If not totally discredit them they are trash!! Doctors cannot handle seeing a lean baby seriously and they know very little about breastfeeding sounds like your baby is perfect !! The output sounds great too!
EDIT
she has gained more than 2 pounds she lost almost a pound right from the get go! so she sounds like she is doing good since she probably didn't start gaining well until she was a month old or so right...we go from the lowest weight not the birth weight which is often inflated due to iv fluids in hospital births and many hospital professionals fail to give you a discharge weight nowdays!!!!!!!!! a pound a month is acceptable
EDIT#2 diaherrea in bf babies is more than 12 poops in one day and I mean 12 really runny ones b/f poop is the way it is b/c human milk is very easily digested! and I'm sure you know adding solids and cereal make no difference b/c it is no more nutrient rich or fattier than breastmilk the perfect food!

Answer 7

My little one is constantly a little underweight for her height. She was a breast feed baby until she completely weaned me @ 5 months. But she's a solid girl...when I tell her caregivers that she is underweight (per what the charts/doc/percentiles say) they are shocked. She eats good, feeds often, very solid, she just isn't your chubby fat baby. They get these percentiles by comparing weights of other children! How often do we hear about our nations children are too fat! So how the hell can they compare my baby to that!?! I say, so long as she's healthy and still gaining weight you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 8

My first was 7 lb 4 oz at birth, weighed 17 lbs at 4 mos...#2 was 9 lbs 6 oz at birth and weighed 19 lbs at 4 mos. We called him 'Chubber' then. My boys are typically pretty big, but...

She's gained 2 lbs in 16 weeks...not to worry you, but have you spoken to her pediatrician about this?

Answer 9

I think she sounds fine, but do speak with your ped if you're concerned.
One thing to think about when breastfeeding -- make sure you don't take her off the breast too early. Let her de-latch herself at each feed. The hind milk that the baby gets closer to the breast being empty is the richest and highest in calories. If you're taking the baby off one breast too soon (i.e. half-emptying two breasts instead of fully emptying one, partially emptying another), she could only be getting the foremilk (at the beginning of a breastfeeding session), which is more thirst-quenching but lower in calories.

Best of luck, and it sounds like everything is fine. You have a very strong milk supply and a hungry baby!

Answer 10

Is My Baby Too Skinny