We had Camden's six month check up today. I was looking forward to it (well, minus the shots). I was most curious to hear about his weight gain. As you might remember, at his 4 month appointment, we found out that Camden dropped from the 50th percentile for weight to the 35th percentile. Our pediatrician wasn't overly concerned; she just figured my breast milk was no longer enough to sustain him and advised me to start solids. She also figured that hunger was the culprit causing his multiple night wakings. Solids, she told me, should solve that problem too. And so I excitedly went on a fruit and veggie buying spree.
Solids have been an adventure. For the first week, he wasn't sure what to make of them. It was a challenge to get him to take a couple of bites. Then, for the next several weeks after that, he really seemed to enjoy solids. He'd eat pretty much anything; he even seemed to have an affinity for peas. More recently, however, he has decided that he really doesn't care much for solids again. He tolerates bananas and sweet potatoes; occasionally he'll humor me and eat some apples. But it's often a battle to get him to take more than a few bites.
Hence, I was curious about his weight gain due to his hot/cold relationship with solids. Well, we didn't get good news. While Camden is in the 90th percentile for height, he has dropped to the 20th percentile for weight. Now, the 20th percentile might not sound terribly low, but the fact that his percentile is consistently dropping is obviously concerning.
Our pediatrician said that his slow weight gain doesn't appear to be a health issue. She asked me about his night waking and I told her that he is still waking every couple of hours and nursing. I told her that we co-sleep and, surprisingly, she told me not to move him to his crib until we have his weight issue under control. "We don't want to Ferberize a hungry baby," she told me. Fine by me! I'm not sure I want to Ferberize any baby, hungry or not.
So, our plan of action is to discontinue the Gerber baby foods. She thinks he isn't interested in them because of their bland taste and they're not very high in calories anyway. She suggested that I start blending up our table food for him. "Add butter, yogurt, sour cream," she said, "Make it high calorie and tasty."
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm somewhat of a disaster in the kitchen. I'm the queen of frozen chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese for dinner. But I have to learn to cook. It should be an interesting challenge for me.
We're scheduled to go back to the pediatrician in a month to check his weight gain. Fingers crossed that he porks up a bit by then.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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12 comments:
My little brother was put on ice cream around 6 months to gain some pounds!
He's still very thin - 22 years later :)
How funny! We actually gave him some pudding tonight. I'd love to be prescribed ice cream and pudding myself!
The thing is, his daddy is VERY tall and thin. So, I just assume that's how Camden will be built too. But I asked the doctor about it, & she said genetics don't really play a role in weight gain until after 2 years old. Who knows.
I think that each baby has his or her own growth scale and as long as they are actually gaining it's fine. Our little ones growth in weight has lowered as well. This past appointment she was 35% for weight and 90% for height. Last appt she was 49% for weight and the time before was in the 50s. She was born long and lean so I just figure it's her body type, at least for now. Our doctor wasn't concerned a bit. It is good that you are keeping a tab on it but it's most likely just because he is so active. Good luck!
It baffles me how pediatricians are SO different in their practice and recommendations. Our little guy has also gone from 75%ile to 50%ile to 25%ile in the last 4 months and our dr. says that's normal and b/c both of us are small it's understandable. Now I wonder who's right?!
I have a book that might help you. I have a dear friend who swear by it. I myself can't get organized enough to follow the meal planners, but the recipes that I've tried are good!
Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler MEal Planner
Also, it may help to know that pedis here recommend a meat (chicken, beef, wahtever just cooked stovetop) and three or four steamed seasonal veggies pureed together from 6 mos. on.
If the cooking thing turns out to be too much, I bet you could handle that (batch cooking, of course!)
Good luck, hon!
Love the pudding and ice cream idea! lol
You have such a beautiful baby!
Btw your blog is great! Just became a follower!
Mine is www.nycislandgal.com
Hope you like it and share the love by following me too! ;)
Hey there, I found your blog on Baby Center, I'm a fellow Nov 2009 mommy. Have you tried giving your son avocado? The first food we tried for our son was avocados and he loved it. I think they are pretty flavorful. They are high in calories and fat, but it's a healthy fat. Plus they are easy to prepare for the little one, just mash up a slice and add breast milk if you want to achieve a smoother consistency. Good luck!
I wish I could have a diet with all the yummy things :) Keep your chin up. He will be packing on the lbs in no time!!
Hey Kerri
Gage was 15lbs. 13oz., only gained 1lb 10oz. from 4 months, but they're not worried at all and keep telling me I'm crazy b/c I'm worried!
Don't be worried. My son is in the 50% for height and 3% for weight at his 12 month appt and our pediatrician wasn't worried. He is active and healthy and I think he just runs off all those calories!
I used a great book (and easy!) called Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes. You can get it on Amazon for about $10 and it takes you step-by-step from 6months - 18months.
littlesproutgrowing.blogspot.com
Hey....don't want to frustrate you, but now I'm questioning ALL pediatricians...ha. I mean you want to trust your dr. Anyway, I see that Camden was 7lb 9oz when he was born and now only weighs one oz. less than Gage. He weighed one oz. less than Gage at birth as well....
Oh I'm so sorry Kerri. It's so frustrating when you're doing all you can to help them gain weight and they still aren't gaining at the pace you'd like them to. You are doing an amazing job. Hopefully the blended table food will help him to pack on the pounds and start gaining the way he was originally.
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