Weight Worries are Wasted Time

Last week I shared with all of you about my worries over Little Bear's weight at his upcoming well baby exam and I wanted to give you an update.  All of the time that I spent worrying about his weight was a waste of time!  I honestly already knew that, but it is so hard to overcome those fears without reassurance. 

As it turned out, Little Bear still hasn't crossed the 20 lb. mark.  Actually he is still a half pound away which puts him in the first percentile for weight (why we put so much emphasis on these statistics is beyond me).  But the important part is that his pediatrician confirmed my belief that he is healthy, happy and doing just fine!  Surprisingly he actually grew almost 2 in. which in my opinion explains a lot of why he didn't gain much weight. 

Based on Little Bear's eating habits, developmental milestones, lack of any evidence of intestinal problems (such as vomiting, diarrhea) and parents, his pediatrician figures that he is simply going to be a "slender kid" and that his size is based mainly on genetics.  He just wants us to continue offering him healthy foods and bring him back for his 18 month well baby.  I probably looked like quite a dork with my big ear to ear smile when the doctor said this. 

Of course, now I know that worrying about Little Bear's weight was pointless but so much emphasis is placed on statistics and standards that they often overshadow what we know instinctively.  I am hoping that this experience will teach me to follow my own instincts more when it comes to Little Bear - I mean really, who knows him better than me?

This experience has also shown me how important it is to have a pediatrician that you are comfortable with and trust for your child.  Previously we would take Little Bear to whoever was available at his practice but now we know which doctor we will be choosing every time.  Often it is hard to know which doctor you are most comfortable with at first, but keep trying because eventually a time will come when you will know who is best for you and your child.

Weight worries

Tomorrow Little Bear goes to the pediatrician for his 15 month wellness exam and I am worried.  I'm not actually worried about Little Bear - he is healthy, happy and hitting all of his developmental milestones (and more!) but I'm worried about what the doctor will say about his growth.

When he was born, Little Bear was perfectly average at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 19.5 in.  We actually considered this to be big since Papa Bear and I are both on the small side (and were both small babies).  Little Bear stayed around average growth until his 6 month wellness exam when he started to slide into the 30th percentiles.  By 9 months he was down to the teens and by 12 months his weight was in the single digits.

At the time, Little Bear's pediatrician attributed this minimal gain to his self weaning and therefore lack of fat in his diet.  She put him on whole cow's milk and encouraged me to continue nursing.  She told us that if he wasn't taking the milk, to come back in a month for a weight check; otherwise, he would be fine until his 15 month appointment.

Little Bear has increased his nursing and drinks some cow's milk (maybe a glass a day) so we did not have a weight check but he doesn't appear to have gained much.  Now granted, I won't have the official numbers until we see the pediatrician tomorrow but I'm just nervous for their reactions.  I know that I am doing everything I should be and I know that Little Bear is happy and healthy but still...  when they are disappointed in his growth, I feel like I am doing something wrong and hurting my baby.

I know, I know - Don't worry!  But that's so hard to do when it's your baby!