[annaguat]

My babies came home in that range but are now at three in a higher weight and height range witht eh exception of head circumference for the youngest, which is still that low. Essie looks a lot like my petite one. She will most likely gain in all areas but also still stay petite. I might consider using formula a little longer and slowly switch to a more comon formula. Welcome home Essie!!!!!!!! Anna

[lou0728]

Thanks guys! You all made me feel so much better.....the reason for leaving her on the Nido for now is that we didn't want her to have too many changes at first....we'll give it a few weeks then swap her to milk or another formula.

[annaguat]

That is so funny as I call our littlest one peanuts too. Anna

Originally Posted by amymole36

I haven't read the other posts, but Tessa is 15 months and only weighs 20lbs...which the Dr.s and I aren't worried about. She is just a peanut!

[Dawnb93]

Madelyn was 11 1/2 months old when she came home. At her first pediatrician visit, she wasn't even on the charts for height, weight, or head circ. We had some concerns about possible neglect in the foster home, though. Not necessarily because of her small stature, but other things. Anyhow, we started feeding her age appropriate formula/foods and eventually switched her over to whole milk (at about 13 months old). I also continued to mix formula in her milk for several months. She has been home for 8 months now and is currently 50% for height and weight. This is where I believe she should be as her birthmother was tall for a Guatemalan woman (5'5"). Her head circum. is now in the 5th percentile (at least it's on the charts!)

Dawn

[au06]

My daughter has always been small for her age. She came home at 4 months old and has always been under 5% for both height and weight. She is 8 years old now and still only weighs 44 pounds and is about 45 inches tall. She is definitely one of the smallest in her 3rd grade class but... she has only missed 2 days of school in 3 years for illness.. so I will take small and healthy.
Her brother on the other hand is only 2 and is almost 30 pounds and only 10 inches shorter than her. You should see her try to pick him up.

[cmfayz]

David is pretty tiny and has always been between 0% and 5% for height and weight. As long as your daughter grows at a steady pace, I would not be too concerned.

[debhorner04]

Marissa has been in the 3%ile for weight since she was born. She has continually tracked along her own curve. She has increased over the last year to the 10%ile for height. At a year, she was 17lbs. She eats well,tons actually! But, she is always on the go! We give her all table food and she eats tons of fruit. She is on whole milk and I don't give her any juice due to all the sugar. We have her on a healthy diet. the IA dr. and the reg. ped. both agree that as long as she continues to track on her own curve, there is nothing to worry about.

[2xaround]

Lili was in the 10% in weight and the pediatrician had me switch her to Infamil in an attempt to put some additional weight on her. Two months later she was in the 25% in weight. Had her height been comparable, the doctor probably wouldn't have been as concerned, but her height was in the 75% when she came home has stayed around the 70% to 75%. The other positive since she's been home is that her head circumference went from the 5% to the 25%. I think the most important thing is that our children continue to grow and as long as they stay healthy, that is the important thing.

[nannyisme2004]

I would not worry too much. My DD was in the 1-3% for height and weight until she was like 3 yrs old. I met her birthmom and she is very petite. DD is still petite, but now at 4.5 yrs old she is 40 pounds and 40 inches. Part of DD's issues involved parasites and issues with milk so I could rarerly get her to eat the first 1.5 yrs she was home. Peditrician thought that her not eating was that she always felt full and bolted. What I started doing was making smoothies using water, bananas, frozen mangos and a few frozen strawberries and added a protein powder to it, vitamin c. That is her breakfast every morning. My DS who is 20 months has been drinking the smoothies the last few months too. This has replaced his morning bottle of milk. He loves drinking from a straw. My DS is on raw cows milk otherwise.

[TeeTee]

According to a lot of these posts the growth charts must be different. My dd weighed 20 lbs 14 ozs at her 15 month check up and she was like 30th percentile. I guess the docs use diff charts bc some of these posted that they are in really low %tiles dont seem to be THAT small. My dd weighs 23 lbs or so and she is 19 months now. She is NOT a good eater and that is what concerns me. She still takes bottles due to the fact that she doesnt eat well. I also give her pediasure daily. The whole milk in her bottles helped her gain some weight. I left her on formula until she was 15 months old for nutrition reasons....I am sure now that your little one is home she will gain some weight...Congrats on having her home Lou!!

[RGirl]

I can't tell you whether or not to worry, but I can tell you my experience.

My daughter was small when she was born (4 pounds, 8 ounces). She was small when I visited her at 1 month old, small when I visited at 3 months old, small when I visited at 5 months old, and small when I picked her up at 6 months old.

She is 19 months old now and still small - not quite 20 pounds yet. I don't worry about it at all. She eats well, she is growing steadily, she is very healthy. Her first mother is very petite. I have no desire to fatten her up - I think she is the size she is supposed to be. If she wasn't eating well and/or wasn't growing, however, I would be concerned.

[jeck]

DS came home at 15 1/2 months and weighed a little over 20lbs.. Dr was a little concerned with his weight and suggested we supplement with 2 pedisures a day. At his 18m and 2yr check up he had consistantly gained weight.

I asked if we should still continue the Pedisure and he said it wasn't hurting him and plus at this stage they don't always eat as well as they should so it wouldn't hurt. He likes his milk-milk in the mornings and before bed.

Good Luck!!

[karen nickols]

You know I think Essie is as cute as they come. She is such a peanut. In my work as a nurse we would often try to help ill people add calories without eating more as often they had no appitite. Suggestions that maybe would work for a child. Add butter to foods. Add cream to foods. Add wheat germ to foods. (Can a little one have that?) I always like to think it was pretty much the opposite of diet. Any way she looks good and healthy. Lots of your love and she will grow like a weed.

[mcnay1]

Cant tell you not to worry, but I think Essie is just fine. Especially if your pediatrician isnt concerned. Will, our youngest, was born 3 lbs 8 oz. He turned 2 in July and at his 2 year check up, he was 22 lbs. he isnt on the charts for weight, but is in the 25th percentile for height. He is doing well, eats very well and fairly noutrishously as well. Anyway, in the year that he has been home, he has gained 8 lbs and several inches. I think when children are "small" if the are gaining some weight with time and not losing, you are doing well. Take your cues from your ped...

[Amber76]

My Guatecutie came home to me (through domestic adoption) at 6 days old, and he is barely hanging on the growth charts at a bit over 5th percentile. I KNOW that he has had the BEST formula money can buy (he's lactose intolerant, so the expensive Enfamil Lipil Gentlease is the only thing he can take.) I wouldn't worry at all. As our pediatricain pointed out, those growth charts are for American babies and just don't necessarily apply. She says staying on the curve is the important part, it doesn't matter where the curve is on the chart as long as your child's growth stays fairly consistent.