Small baby- comments very upsetting

[purplegal]

My baby was born @ 37 weeks at a small 5 lb 6oz. He lost quite a bit of weight at the start and was slow to gain- he is now just 8lb. complete strangers constantly comment on his size and how tiny he is. I know it shouldn't bother me as he is completely gorgeous, happy and content, but it is so upsetting. When asked how old he is I sometimes knock a few weeks off in the hope of avoiding these comments but thats just awful. It's getting to the point where I don't want to go out with him. I feel like a bad mum who's not feeding him properly :( (although he really does puts it away!)
I know the majority of these people mean no malice but any words of wisdom for politely shutting them down?

This. And bigger babies are also just as cute and gorgeous. I just love babies. They’re such a blessing and full of hope.

i think you’ve come to the conclusion a witty disparaging remark will do you more damage than the person commenting. Maybe try something like ‘I know, he’s my little cutie.’

I think it's not meant as a criticism.

Ps My 5lb 9oz baby is now 6ft 2!

My son was born at 1lb 10oz, he came out of the hospital at just under 5lbs. Everytime I took him out he was the star of the show. Older ladies would flock to him and just adore him. I never once took it as a criticism when they said how tiny he was. In fact it was lovely to see the joy he'd being, you could see it in their eyes as they looked at him, they'd be reminiscing about their children as babies. It sometimes got tiring but never to the point of pissing me off. He brought a lot of joy to people.

OP, my baby has consistently been pretty much bang on the 50th centile and I’ve had everything from “I can’t believe how tiny she is” and “is it normal for her to be so small?” “Is she feeding properly?” Etc right through to “wow, what a big baby” “you’re over feeding her” and my personal favourite “you know the fat cells that you get as a baby never go, you should stop feeding on demand and set a schedule.”

My point is that even for very average babies, people will always make comments.
The truth is that most people have no idea what an “average” baby is for their particular sex/age, so no matter where your baby sits on the scale, those comments will come!

Most people make comments to make conversation or to try to make you laugh, or because they’re genuinely trying to help (even if unsolicited/way off base!) so unless a trusted medical professional is the one giving the comment, just let it enter one ear and fly out of the other.

Enjoy your beautiful baby 💐

But all babies do look tiny when you are no longer used to them, Especially when they are fairly newly born. Nobody was saying she was small for a baby. Just that she was a tiny cute thing.

I know what you mean but it wasn’t this - because there were follow up comments and questions like “was she born really small?”, “were you small?” etc.

What an odd thing for her to say 😳

My baby was tiny, too. People commented how small he was but it was more in wonder and a sort of sweet excitement. This was in lockdown #1 though when I’d pound the streets and supermarkets (only things open) hoping that someone might coo over him as no one from my family had met him yet. He cheered up lots of grandparents who were missing their grandchildren.

In your case, you’re bound to be sensitive as he arrived a little ahead of schedule. He’ll make up for it in no time. Give his corrected age if it makes you feel better but also know that they’re not judging you, just making slightly inane comments.

Such a beautiful baby.

@28andworried - I didn't post the pic with my NG tube where I was yellow with jaundice

Bet you were cute there also !

Congratulations OP! My little boy was also a 37 weeker at 5lb4.05oz. I had these comments constantly as a baby but he soon caught up. He’s now a fiesty toddler still on the smaller side. Ignore comments, I got to a point I didn’t bother responding when people said he was tiny. As if
it wasn’t fucking obvious 🤣. Enjoy those baby snuggles whilst he’s still tiny. I wish I took advantage because I constantly fixated on how small he was. He was a little dream and I had nothing to worry about. I struggle now to keep mines still!

Thank you so much @Mammma91 xx I do feel lucky that I get to enjoy him being small for longer. I know mums with babies on the other side of the scale who have missed out a lot on this time. May I ask how long it took your baby to 'catch up' my little one is 3 months and still just below 1st centile :( x

@purplegal , he was around 6 months and when he started weaning and sitting up and he really caught up then as he was consuming more food and milk. I really do remember how sad it made me feel but honestly he will catch up, I hope you’re both keeping well!! Xx

@Mammma91 oh thank you so much!! So many people have told me 'don't worry mine was only such and such and he caught uo' but I didn't know if by three months he should have already 'caught up' whatever they actually means! I'll keep doing when I'm doing and try not to worry xx

In a few months he will catch up and it won't be an issue. Don't get upset of silly comments.