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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to be sick of people saying my baby is huge

177 replies

Mynotsolittlemonkey · 18/08/2019 21:40

So my baby is 7 weeks old today. He is absolutely perfect and the picture of a happy healthy baby which everyone agrees with. However I am sick of people commenting on how huge he is, how we should put him on a diet etc. Mostly it is said in jest but it's starting to wear thin. I'm aware he is big but he is also healthy and I think he is actually long not just 'fat'.

He doesn't look like a 7 week old, he looks about 3 months and it makes me sad he is growing so fast which isn't helped by these comments. Today in the supermarket a lady asked how old he was and when I said she told me I was feeding him too much?!

I've also been told he will be a big boy and that I'll need to watch he isn't obese :-( I'm so worried that when he is older he will be bullied or something for being big which I know is ridiculous! Has anyone had a big baby that has evened out as they grew?

He was born 9 pounds and is now just over a stone. He is on the 94th or 95th percentile I cant remember which.

He is bf exclusively and mil has said I'll have to wean him early as that won't satisfy him until 6 months? I'm a bit cautious of anything she says tbh as we have a terrible relationship and she has already tried to give him a bottle so she could have him to stay.

Aibu ? I'm probably being over sensitive! To me he is just perfect :-)

OP posts:

JoJoSM2 · 18/08/2019 21:54

As long as he's on the same percetile for length and weight, he's fine.

DS is huge (in proportion) and the only downside is that he never has enough food. Still gets up twice a night for big bottles of milk.

NewAccount270219 · 18/08/2019 21:55

I also found this infuriating. You do get used it; also (like every single other think in life) you have a lot more patience for minor irritants when you aren't horribly sleep deprived! I used to find the inane 'oh he's big isn't he' comments unbearable when DS was a newborn; he's 14 months now and people are still just as inane (someone asked me if I was sure about his age the other day - wtf?!) but it washes over me and actually is quite funny.

Tiredmum100 · 18/08/2019 21:55

My dc 2 was just under 10lb born. He never looked like a newborn. He has always looked older than he is. Hes nearly 6 now and is tall and lanky! Don't worry about it. Just let it go over your head!

picklemepopcorn · 18/08/2019 21:55

My boy was born over 10lb. He grew like Topsy, as they say, EBF. He's been among the smallest in his year throughout school, and is now fully grown at 5'8.

Let it wash over you. Carry on as you are.

woollyjumperseason · 18/08/2019 21:55

My DS is also big but I would also say more long especially when he was first born. He has been on the 95th percentile for weight and length and 99th for head since birth. He is now just over a year and in 18-24month clothes was in 12-18months clothes at 6 months. Everyone commented when he was younger but thankfully not anything negative. Just "he likes his food" "your feeding him well" etc. I am still breastfeeding that has been no issue and he didn't take noticeably more than my older 2. I started to wean at 5 1/2 months only because he was sitting well and grabbing food nothing to do with needing more food in him. I wouldn't worry

chickenyhead · 18/08/2019 21:57

Love a squidgy baby

Mine have always had rolls and been cuddly sausage legs. That is healthy in a baby. Mine were all 96th and followed the curve.

Relax and give info on a need to know basis. Lie to strangers. They are irrelevant.

Well done for helping your baby thrive xxx

SunflowerSunshine · 18/08/2019 21:58

On formula yes you may have to make changes BUT you can’t overfeed a breastfed baby. You are doing great, don’t listen to your MIL and feed as long as you like!

Enjoy your lovely big squishy baby.

jenthelibrarian · 18/08/2019 21:58

My son, who weighed 10lbs when induced two weeks early, has grown up to be a strapping young man of 6ft 4in.

I just used to tell people his birth-weight and point out that, at 6t 2in, my husband was the short guy in his family.

LittleAndOften · 18/08/2019 21:58

OP, you don't owe any strangers the truth. I'm 28 wks pg and I've started making up answers to people who ask when I'm due, just to avoid the stupid comments about the size of my bump. People think they have the right to an opinion about strangers' bumps and babies, or they feel like they should comment so blurt out nonsense without thinking.

Honestly, just tell the randomers who comment he's 6 months old if it saves you the stress.

LittleOne61 · 18/08/2019 21:59

My daughter was born on the 25th centile and was tiny for a little while. I exclusively breastfed her and she rocketed up to the 99th centile. She was mega, mega chubby. It was insane! Now she's 2 (I'm still breastfeeding) and she's 25th centile for height and 50th for weight. She's perfect. Your son is perfect too.

bluegirlgreen · 18/08/2019 21:59

What a cheek bunch of bastards. Saying he should go on a diet! He is less than 2 months old FGS!

Some people need to keep their gobs shut.

Congrats on your lovely baby boy @Mynotsolittlemonkey

bluegirlgreen · 18/08/2019 21:59

*cheeky bunch of bastards, not CHEEK!

DonnaDarko · 18/08/2019 22:00

One thing I've learnt from being a mother is that everyone has their (often incorrect) opinion and should shovel it.

Unicornhamster · 18/08/2019 22:00

It’s all a load of bollocks. My eldest was born 10lbs 4oz and I got all of these comments too, he did not need weaning early, didn’t need special milk or top ups of formula or any of the other crap people said.
He’s 5 now and although he’s very tall for his age his weight is in line with his height.
My biggest complaint with his size was people expected and still do expect much more from him in terms of development because he looks a lot older. My MIL was asking where his teeth where when he was about 3 weeks old

Highlandcathedral · 18/08/2019 22:00

Please don’t let them worry you. My daughter was 10lb 14 at birth, so almost went into 3 months clothes straight away. She was a very hungry baby but grew in proportion, length, head size was all off the top of the charts. She is now 26 years old, about 5ft6 and a size 10. Her brother was over 9lbs too and he is now a 6ft 5 built like a rugby player man.

QueenofCBA · 18/08/2019 22:00

Please don’t worry, if you are ebfing you can’t overfeed your baby, he is perfect as he is!

My dd looked like the Michelin Man when she was ebf, she was enormous and fat. Once she started moving she grew out of all of her puppy fat and has been tall and skinny ever since.

youarenotkiddingme · 18/08/2019 22:02

Smile and wave

And febrile charts are just that. So if he's on 94th then he's obviously larger than 93 other babies his age (obviously statistically not necessarily at local baby centre!).

I'd only worry if he was 2nd centimetres for height and 99th for weight.

Remember these are a guide. My ds was 25th head, 50 weight and 75 height for years.
He then suddenly shot downwards to 48th height and 33rd weight. I wasn't worried as he was healthy. Paediatrician investigates but he's fine.

Now at 15 (tomorrow!) hes 5"9 athletic and muscular and weight 67kg.

Someone has always got something to say. You have to learn to filter it out

Aderyn19 · 18/08/2019 22:02

Once he is mobile he will lose some of the baby 'chubbiness' - I really wouldn't worry about it. He will eat what he needs.
And tbh if you did wean him before 6 months I don't think that's a huge problem. It used to be recommended that babies were weaned at 4 months - all my DC had solids at 4 months and are all fine and healthy (oldest is 22 years now). Advice changes all the time.
If he was born big and is a long baby and has a dad who is tall, then of course he is going to be bigger than a baby of the same age who was born at 6lb to short parents. Strangers aren't taking any of that into account.

Original poster

Mynotsolittlemonkey · 18/08/2019 22:02

Thank you again everyone :-) you are right that people would comment either way big or small!

Yes he sleeps really well and eats well too. I had a really tough time with mastitis etc at first so I'm proud that he's healthy and thriving so I'm going to focus on that and not silly comments!

OP posts:

Cryalot2 · 18/08/2019 22:03

Health visitor was a pain years ago. Told me ds was too tall for her charts. She was a typical old maid .( we had our own name for her) But at that I gave up. Sadly I have no idea about centiles and charts. My kids survived.

thirstyformore · 18/08/2019 22:03

My ds is now 6. He's big for his age, but in proportion (not fat, very athletic etc).

When he was a baby he was huge!!! 10lb 3 born, exclusively breastfed til 9 months (the little bugger wouldn't eat food til then) and literally "off the charts" for height and weight. By that I mean from 6 weeks onwards he was so far above the 99.8 percentile (or whatever the top line is, I can't remember) that if you plotted his line he wouldn't even be on the page! A very big boy.

But 5 years later and all you have left of the squidgy, rolly baby is an active, healthy 6 year old.

Try not to worry, and ignore all the comments.

Silenttype · 18/08/2019 22:04

You can't over feed a breastfed baby. He is taking exactly what he needs, your body is making the perfect balance of everything to help him grow. My DD2 was 9lb 5 at birth, exclusively breastfed an was so chunky and delicious until she was about 10 months old when she started moving around more. Don't worry about anythin, or what anyone says.

wildgirls · 18/08/2019 22:04

‘Try’ not to let it worry you! When I think back to the stress I put myself under over my daughters size and eating habits. 😔 honestly! So unnecessary! He is perfect because you’re doing everything just right. Except worrying unnecessarily! 😊 it’s hard but you’ve a new baby who you’re doing a perfect job with. Look after yourself too! X

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 18/08/2019 22:06

My second was 7 lbs 11oz I think. First 4 months piled the weight on, she was huge, 98th centile! Not long either just chubby. She as EBF as well. As soon as she started crawling she dropped back down again and is now around 70th I think. She also had massive issues sleeping and was comfort feeding a lot through the night and I think this may have contributed

I know other very big babies 10lb and in 95th centile that continue to be heavy...but very tall (parents tall as well) so they are completely in proportion

You cant tell from birth whether a child is going to be obese. I thought with ebf it was very unlikely anyway.

Ask your HV but I think they are more concerned about them staying on the same centile. If he started dropping centiles that would be a lot more worrying

Also your MIL is talking shit, it's a myth that bigger babies need weaned earlier, breastfeeding production keeps up with demand so he wouldn't go hungry just based on size. Its about ability to sit up and put food to their mouth by themselves etc that shows when they are ready

june2007 · 18/08/2019 22:08

Having had two preemies so to me a 9lb baby is big, but then mine were very small. You get comments at either end of the spectrum, as long as baby is healthy then that's all that matters.

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