Worried about small DS (6 months)

[Palendrominca]

I am worried about my son, he is 6.5 months old and only weighs 6kg (~13ibs), this puts him at the 0.4th Centile. When he was born he was 7ibs 14oz, he was only weighed at the 6 week checkup and then recently when I became concerned with his size. The HV is telling me to go and see the Gp urgently for a referral for him.

So I’m really worried, have I missed something? Is there something wrong with him that I should’ve picked up? Have I failed him?

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any words of advice?

How’s his length OP? Does he seem to be getting longer? Is there any discomfort with the vomiting? Does he have any mucus with the poo?

If he’s eating solids, coukd you try some high calorie foods like smooth nut butter, avocado and adding olive oil or mascarpone to his meals?

Hi

I haven't read the full thread but just wanted to reassure you my ds was born on 0.4th centile & stayed there for ages! He was also a sicky baby, ended up on ranitidine & milk protein free, after switching from bf to milk protein free formula & weaning on milk free diet he is now less tiny! Hes 18months & on 25th centile, healthy & happy. We are on the milk ladder gradually reintroducing milk.
It is really worrying when your little one is tiny - all other babys seem massive!! Trust your instincts, get regular weights & keep intouch with gp/hv, - remember some one has to be on the 0.4th!
Best wishes

Mine too! Started at 50th then went down to the 7th centile. Now a strapping teenager - one of the tallest in his class.

Obviously follow the medical advice but by definition someone has to be at the bottom of the charts so I’d say no need to panic. The fact he’s happy and content sounds good.

Definitely go Back to gp, see if you can be put under paediatric care as they can do more thorough tests/ reviews.
My son has always been small and a sickly baby. He was born at 42 weeks at 6lbs, and is now 18lb 8oz at 15 months. He is on anti reflux milk which has helped a bit, but when we started weaning him his reflux got a lot worse. I had to take photos of him covered in sick and crying just to get the doctor to listen to me and refer to a paediatrician. He finally got to see the paediatrician at 11 months old and was given omeprazole to help, which it did a bit. He has only just started to outgrow his reflux in the last month, and we are starting to wean him off the omeprazole (has it every other day now). We had trouble at 1 year introducing cows milk as a drink, as he just threw it back up, but he is finally managing to drink it in the last week. I'm happy I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel, but I was so worried when he was younger.

I’d get the GP to weigh and measure him and put it in his red book, if you have one and refer to a Paed.

Please be relaxed about this. It’s extely likely that he’s small because you’re small. It’s genetics

I’ve spoken to the doctors and they’ve booked him in for Wednesday. So we will see if he Refers him like the HV asked or if he will be monitored for another few weeks.

Thanks for everyone’s advice on this, I am feeling more relaxed about it, but with a plan of action to rule out if anything is going on.

Just a quick update,

Took him to the doctors explained all my worries and how the HV has told me I had to come in to request the referral, he was really nice and supportive, weighed DS again on same scales as last time and he’d put on over 100g, so I was really pleased. So plan of action is to keep going with the ranitidine and solids and see how he is in a few weeks.

I feel so much happier about everything now, so for that reason alone I’m glad I took him to the doctors.

That’s so reassuring

Resurrecting this thread as we’ve been seeing the GP monthly about his weight, and after some initial success, DS has not really gained any weight and actually weighs less than he did in August.

The GP has now given us a paediatric referral, does anyone knows what happens next? What they will be looking out for and what tests they’re likely to do.

I was so deflated at the GP after DS was weighed that I didn’t ask any useful questions.

Mine (now 3) was small and also had some allergy problems - that he has now largely grown out of - that made feeding him up more of a challenge.

When he was 1, he was tested for growth hormone deficiency, various other standard blood tests I can't recall, and for cystic fibrosis.

All came back clear and they concluded he is just naturally small (DH and I are of average height). He is still short for his age but is a completely average toddler in every other way.

Thanks 60sname, I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

So I will wait for the referral and try not to worry in the mean time.