Does size matter ?

[koolkat]

ok ladies, before you start getting too excited, I am talking baby here not boob !

This week I met a women who had a lovely 10 month old son, who was the same height as my 21 month old and much much heavier - 11 month age difference

DS weighs about 10.5 kilos and is 79.5 cms tall (sorry can't do imperial)

I am 5.2" and DH is 5.7"

DS was exclusively bf for first 6 months and still bf 4 - 5 times a day, never had any formula or cow's milk.

Do I need to be worried about his height and weight for his age or is he just going to be a shortie like his mum ?

i wouldn't worry too much about it if he is happy and healthy and developing in every other aspect.

is there a reason why you haven't given cow's milk though?

No, he just doesn't like the taste. I didn't give cow's milk under 12 months because I was worried about allergies.

I have tried cow's milk in a cup, with a straw, as milkshake, etc. he just won't have it.

I do give him 2 pots of full-fat yoghurt a day, so I am pretty certain he isn't calcium deficient.

ok, just a conversion:

at 21 months he is:

weight: 23.9 lbs
height: 2ft 7in

He has always been on or around the 9th centile in the Red Book.

ahh ok, just wondered! if he has stayed on/around the 9th centile then I wouldn't worry... some babies are just small!

if he had been on the 50th or something and then dropped suddenly to the 9th I might be concerned... but if he has always been light then wouldn't worry!

Hiya
As neither you or hubby are giants I think it's perfectly normal and know lots of babies of similar weights at the same age. It is of course also only relevant in relation to height so for example if baby was on the 2nd percentile for height but the 99th for weight this would give quite a different picture to a child on the 10th centile for height and weight.

Are you also plotting your babes weight on a breastfed growth chart? Many HV's use FF ones as standard and as breastfed toddlers tend to be leaner at around a year old it can be an inappropriate comparison.

There is absolutely no need for your son to drink cows milk if he doesn't like it. Human milk is designed for human babies and continues to provide all the benefits at 18 months as it did at 18 weeks.

There are as many experts reporting health risks of dairy as there is those pushing it for the calcium and (saturated!) fat content - but this information is also intended for the "majority" which means not breastfeeding at 12 months.

This link explains it better:
www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html

HTH
Berry :)

(Tiktok will go mad if she sees the FF baby growth chart myth being bandied about again ).

Thanks everyone - I guess I only get slightly paranoid when I see a 10 month old that looks bigger than my toddler !

I am hoping he will have a growth spurt when he is a teenager and end up a giant

BB - agree with you on the cow's milk thing.

Yes, I did use the WHO chart before he was 1 year old (he was much higher up on WHO centile chart), but haven't managed to find a chart for bf toddlers, is there one ?