Breastfeeding my baby and getting rude comments from people saying he is small

[2015mom]

I am getting so annoyed at people who are making comments about my son being small! I exclusively breastfeed and they need to educate themselves that breastfed babies will not be chubby like babies who are on formula milk!

Can't believe how rude some people are to say it!!!

I am giving my son the best possible start in life but keep on hearing rude comments by ignorant people!!

You do sound a biy judgemental about FF babies, they aren't always bigger.

DD1 was breastfed for 14 months - born on 98th centile and stayed there til 2 or so, then evened out and is now on 25th at 9. DD2 is FF, on 90th at birth and still there at 8 months. Both big babies, fed different ways.

If they are saying it as a dig, stand up for yourself and call them on it,but if it's just an observation I'd let it go, it's not an insult to be small is it!

I exclusively breastfeed and they need to educate themselves that breastfed babies will not be chubby like babies who are on formula milk!

Some are. DD (ebf) started putting on weight straight away and was chubby until she started to crawl. So was ds.

Some ff babies will be chubby; some won't.

You sound judgemental and uneducated yourself, OP.

I understand all babies are different hence the different percentiles on the growth chart... But these specific people are criticising my son for being small after I have said how old he is they look shocked and say he's small and one last kept on banging on about how small he is... Even after explaining he is fine!!

I like the comment to say babies are meant to be small lol then ask about their qualifications

I have been guilty of this, looking s ot suprised ar the age of a baby if they appear small - it's not me being judgemental, but as I described up thread I've had two big babies, so my frame of reference is them, I'be no experience of having a baby below the 90th centile. I imagine it's the same with these people. My friends DD is 6 weeks younger tham DD2 and 8lbs lighter! I can't help bit say (affectionately) 'she's so tiny!) when I give her a cuddle, because to me she is. I certainly am not being critical, far from it!

a bit suprised that should be- bloody fat fingers and tiny phone!

Are people implying your dc is small because you breast feed? I know a couple of friends who ended up ff as they kept being told by family that they couldn't be producing enough breast milk as they had tiny dcs. That is a shame imo and I agree in that sense that there is a lack of understanding in breastfeeding.

My dd was 9th centile at 6 months. She's 7.5 now and I think on 25th centile. still tiny. She's still in 3-6 months clothes. I ebf. Often mentioned by others how small she is. Newcomers to baby groups think she's advanced because she's sitting up and trying to crawl - they assume she's 4/5 months.

Have they made the comment and directly related it to your feeding choice?
I.e oh isn't he small. He must not be getting enough milk from you... Etc?

If not then I don't understand why you're relating it to BF or why people need to 'educate themselves'.

I have two dds. Both formula fed from early on as I had a BF nightmare and poor support. One was on 82nd centile at birth and then followed the 50th fairly consistently. The other born on 36th centile and dropped to 7th centile for a few months now following 20th.
People comment all the time on how tall dd1 is. That's because she's tall.

People comment ALL the time on how tiny dd2 is (she's 13 months and not yet 18 lbs). I agree because she is small. It's not a criticism. She eats well but she's just petite.
I think it's cute.

If the comments about him being small are also said with comments about BF then yes I can see why you're annoyed. If not then I don't see why you're connecting the two.

My cousin ebf her daughter who was on the 90th centile for a while and a healthy little chubby baby. My two were never, ever chubby on formula so it isn't a forgone conclusion that a BF baby will be slight and a ff baby chubby.

I know loads of beautiful chubby bf babies. You seem misinformed op.

Misinformed and overreacting.

My EBF DD 5.5 weeks is a fairly long skinny baby but I'd estimate she's around or just over 10lbs (HV weighing her on Monday). I think she's a pretty average size but she's actually quite big when compared to other babies! She was 50th centile 3 weeks ago at 9lbs 2oz. I don't think you can generalise by saying EBF babies aren't chubby - my BFF's DD is a real chubber and gorgeous to boot! Mine's just a slinky minx

DS1 and DS2 were born at exactly the same weight - within a month DS1 had climbed the centiles and was a little chubster until he started crawling. He was EBF. DS2 was EBF only until 5.5 weeks due to health issues - he's now on formula and remains on the 9th centile. He is small and when people comment on it I agree with them! I think people just make conversation - same as commenting on bump size during pregnancy. There is a little girl the same age as DS2 in baby group and she must be twice the weight of him (incidentally she's EBF) and I find myself commenting on how big (and cute) she is!