DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

DS went for a well visit today, and the ped told us he was in the 5th percentile for weight for a 9 month old (he was a preemie) however he is 10 1/2 months old. He weighs 16 1/2 lbs and is 28 inches long, which was average. He wants him to have about 24 oz. of formula a day, but right now he is lucky to get 14-15. So, today he had his regular morning bottle with 6 oz., gave him an extra bottle with 6 oz. before nap, took about 3 more oz. after nap, gave him cereal which he hasn't been eating, using approximately 2 oz, and he then refused a bottle before bed. I hope he is still going to sleep through the night. He has come such a long way from being so tiny when he was born (4lbs. 11 oz.) so I'm not sure how to get him extra formula to gain weight if he won't take it. He eats 3 regular meals already through the day and 2 snacks. Any suggestions?

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

What about giving him higher fat snacks like avocado and full-fat dairy (cheese sticks, yogurt)?

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

DS at his 9 month appt was 29.5 inches and 18.9 pounds , so less than 25%. the doc was not worried at all, she said since DH and I were both thin, he is probably going to be like that. she also said tha tonce he starts walking he will probably thin out even more

ETS at his 9 month appt he was closer to 10 months

Message edited 8/6/2009 9:38:40 PM.

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

If you DS is eating well balanced meals, why is the ped concerned? (just curious - not a BTDT mom).

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

i know girls are different from boys but at 9 months DD was 15.4 pounds and in the 10th% for weight ( i forget her height). the ped was fine with that because she was going up the scale at her own pace) he also said that once she starts crawling/walking she too might not gain more weight (thin out even more)

if your DS does not want more milk/formula you can't force him to drink it.

i was thinking of keeping her on formula instead of switching to whole milk for a little while

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

My 7.5 month old doesn't drink much milk either. But
he LOVES solids.

He has at least 3 jars (4 oz. each) of solid a day. And seem to want more after he's done with each jar! I also add about .2 ml of polyvit into each jar to make sure he gets enough vitamins.

Is your baby exclusively formula fed? The reason I ask is because some babies prefer BM over formula. I know mine does...

Also, some babies get real distracted during a feeding and may not drink more as a result. Try to feed your little one in a quiet environment if so. Good luck!

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

Posted by lovemy2boys

DS at his 9 month appt was 29.5 inches and 18.9 pounds , so less than 25%. the doc was not worried at all, she said since DH and I were both thin, he is probably going to be like that. she also said tha tonce he starts walking he will probably thin out even more

ETS at his 9 month appt he was closer to 10 months

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

DS is FF and will sit and drink his entire 6 oz. bottle no problem. He also loves his solids and wants to eat anything that we are eating. I am not that concerned because I know my neice is a peanut as well, and she eats all day every day. I guess it's just a little frustrating to hear that the ped thinks he may not be getting enough of what he needs. The dr. did say, he will probably just be a small baby. While DH and I are not thin, we are not obese either. I figure, in time, he will catch up to where he is supposed to be. He isn't mobile yet, so I don't know if that makes a difference either, so I guess I will just try to give him more cereal than usual, and whatever he takes he takes.

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

I find the ped comment to be odd, unless there has been a growth problem all along. Is that the case?

At 10 months, jacen was 17 pounds. He's always been in the 9th percentile for weight since he's been born.

My ped is not concerned at all because he's growing. It may be on the slow side compared to most, but all within the normal range.

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

Maybe you should try to mix in the fruit with the ceral? I find DD will eat more ceral this way.

Also, you can try to increase the regular 6oz bottles to 8oz?

What I find with my DD is that she can take 8 oz in the 1st AM feeding as well as the last bottle of the night. With the other feedings she may or may not take the full 8. I also find with giving the 8 oz is that she can self compensate for taking less formula in another feeding. You may have alot more wasted formula but it will allow your DS the opportunity to have more if he wants.

My DD was also born premature at 32 weeks and weighed 4lbs 14 oz at birth. She is 6 1/2 months and at the 6 month check-up she weighed 15 lbs 7oz, which is in the 25th percentile. So I am no expert but I can sympathize.

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

Re: DS is 10 1/2 months and ped wants him to gain weight

Maybe he is just petite. Andrew was 16 lbs at 15 months old. He is a small boned kid and that's just the way he is.
At 3 yrs old he is just 30 lbs. He left the hospital when he was born close to 6lbs.