Baby climbing the weight percentiles. Bit of a long one but lots of info...

[bonzo77]

DS2 was born at 35+5 on 25th pc for weight for a baby of that gestation. All the further ages I'm going to give his adjusted age (and then his chronological age in brackets) as it seems all the HCPs use his adjusted age. Anyway, by 2 (6) weeks he was on 50th pc, and he stayed there until 28 (32) weeks by which time he was on the 75th pc and we had started weaning. Now at 39(43) weeks he is just above the 91st! The last weigh in was at home (i got on the scales with him, then weighed myself alone). My DM says he looks fat, but I think she's just forgotten what babies look like. He does seem to fill his (sized 6-12 and 9-12months) clothes lengthwise, so I get the impression it's not just fat but length growth too.

He's a good eater, and actually eats far more home cooked food than DS1 ever did, and less puree, more proper solids. I also have tried to learn from my mistakes with DS1 (a whole other thread), and stop offering him food as soon as he refuses.

Do I need to speak to the HV? I've not had his length measured, and I'm not sure they'll do it even if I ask... DS1 was 2nd pc at birth (39 weeks) and rapidly got to then maintained 50th pc thereafter. DH is slightly taller than average at 6ft, and I am short 5ft1. Build wise we were both skinny kids but are average now (13st and 8.5st).

Honestly it sounds like that's just what your babies do... start off smallish and then ramp up later. I wouldn't worry at all.

DD was born at 34 weeks, at 50th centile for that gestation, then dropped in first few days to 25th, then stayed there for a long time but since 5 months has gradually climbed the centiles. at 9.5 months adjusted she is now 75th centile (actually a fair bit above, nearly at 91st like your DS). She's only 50th centile length wise though so is short and fat basically

I asked the paediatrician if this was a problem and he laughed at me

Is he mobile yet? DD started crawling 3ish weeks ago and I've noticed she's getting thinner.

ps funnily enough DH and I have very similar heights and weights to you...

Well that makes me feel a bit less concerned. He's not crawling yet, but sort of rolls around and slithers like a snake. He's only been sitting for a month or so, which the paed said was normal.

I look back now and realise just how chubby a baby ds1 was! He was always a good eater and seldom rejected food. At 3 now he is more likely to get distracted by toys than food and eating has slowed, he is extremely active and has thinned out. I realise what a blessing a good eater is! But also I think I did over feed him, used it a little for comfort... But at the end of the day he is no worse off for it now. As long as you keep it healthy. Could you try reduce portion size a bit?

I've become a firm believer that they eat as much as they need, so if you stop offering when they show a lack of interest you're fine. My son has steadily dropped down the chart since being born overbaked by 2 weeks! So he probably benefitted by being inside too long & has been correcting down, whereas yours has been catching up, so to speak.

Mines a human dustbin and I couldn't get him to eat more if I tried, but he physically resembles his dad (long & lean) so I'm not worried. The HIV helpfully told me to feed him more carbs & less fruit (hmmm, which one will stand him in better stead throughout his life?!)
They all slim down as they move more. It's too early to get worried & putting little one on a diet IMHO.

Your babies just haven't read the books so they aren't following instructions. Very norty of them, setting a life time's precedent of not doing as they're told.

Ha - mine hasn't read any of the books lljkk! especially the ones that day babies need 14 hours sleep a day

Don't worry!!! Mine was 50 percentile when born at 38 weeks (3.4kg). Climbed rapidly up centiles - doubled birthweight by 8 weeks, tripled it by 14 weeks, had nearly quadrupled his birthweight by 7 months when he weighed in at a whopping 12.6kg, or nearly 1.5kg ABOVE the 99.6th percentile for weight. He was really chubby. HVs not worried.

He was a real pain to wean as he'd already done all his growing by 6/7 months and just wasn't hungry (was still 95% breastfed at 1 year, I was amazed when he ate a yoghurt at his 1st birthday party). However his weight just stayed pretty stable for the next 1.5 years while he caught up in height. At nearly 3 he is now still tall for his age but only on 75% percentile for weight. You are doing the right thing by not forcing him to eat more than he wants - he will regulate himself.