My year old baby girl is small and I'm worried

[fearfactor]

I have a little girl who is 11 months - she will be a year old on Aug. 31.  She weighed 6 lb. 10 oz at birth and was about 19 in. long.  She is now 20 lb. and 27 in. long.  I am worried about her because she is small.  She can still wear 6-9 month clothing, though she fits 12 month stuff too.  She is short and doesn't walk yet.  My other baby was really big and walked at 10 months.  She also has had lots of illnesses lately including ear infections and pneumonia.  I'm worried she has cystic fibrosis (yes, I have been googling medical conditions that scare me) but she doesn't have salty skin.  She has wheezing but the doctor says it's asthma which my other child also has.  I am so worried about my little girl!  Does anyone else have experience with your child being smaller than normal?

[AnnieBrooke]

Has your doctor said she is in a low percentile, or is this just based on wearing 6-9 month clothing?  I don't know what the norm is for a year, but in my naive way it sounds like 20 lbs. is not that bad.

[taysmommy]

20 lbs at a year old is not under weight for a little girl, my dd weighed 18 lbs at her year check up, her dr told me she was a little under weight and should weigh 20 lbs, so it sounds like her weight is ok for her age, its so hard to tell because kids grow so different, my dd is now 17 months old and weighs 22 lbs, and shes right on track (im not sure what percentile shes in, but her dr says shes doing good) many times kids weight plateaus at around 12 months, so she may not gain much in the next few months,

as for the other things you mentioned, im sorry i cant be much help, but wanted you to know the weight doesnt sound that bad for one :)

oh and my dd can still wear 6-9 month old in some things too....

[tomel]

Why would you think cystic fibrosis? I think that is a stretch. But if you are concerned there is a simple test that can be done for that.
She doesnt seem that small to me.
Is she meeting her milestones?
What does your ped. say?

[tomel]

Also sounds like she may just have allergies.

[fearfactor]

My pediatrician says it is nothing to worry about, she will grow.  I thought of cystic fibrosis because of the slow growth, small size and the fact that she has respiratory problems a lot.  She wakes up coughing in the night quite often.  The doctor says it is asthma and we give her albuterol which seems to help.  I am just a bit concerned, I guess.  The only other real experience I have with babies is my other daughter and she was always BIG for her age - she is 5 right now and weighs 57 lb. and is very tall. She wears little girls 7/8 clothing!  I guess I am just worried over nothing.  She has a checkup tomorrow and I'll talk to the doctor again.  Thanks everyone!

[Jenny100]

On of my DD's was only 16 pounds when she turned a year old. She was/is perefectly healthy---just petite. I don't think 20 pounds sounds too small to worry about.
I know it's hard to not worry when you compare things to others, but she sounds like she may just be a tiny girl. Nothing wrong with that!!! :)

[myproblem]

Try this. You plug in your child's age in mos., their weight, and height, and it will tell you where she is on the charts.
My 1st dd was 6lb 6oz at birth, and was 17 lb at her 1st b-day. She just turned 4 today, and has progressed up to the 24th% in weight,and 32nd% in height.
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/usefultools/l/bl_perc_calc.htm?gender=2&months_ten=0&months=0&cwt=6.375&chf=1&chi=7&chi_percent=.5&hc=36&submitButtonName=Calculate+Percentiles

[Crritter]

She started out smaller so she had a ways to go, she sounds fine to me too, plus some babeis don't walk till a year or later.  I have 2 boys and they are both big, my 4 month old is 16 lbs., but was almost 9 lbs. at birth, my first one was almost 10 lbs. at birth too and was bigger, but both of my boys have had their share of issues at young ages.  My first one had ear infections starting around 2 months, pnuemonia (pneumonia) at 11 weeks and RSV twice by 4 months.  This second little one had RSV at 10 weeks, and some mystery virus, he wheezes and rattles so bad, but my first one did too.  He outgrew it by 3 and hopefully this one will do the same.  I bet she's just a petite little thing and really she has more than tripled her birth weight.  My first one didn't do that by his first birthday.  Anyway, ask your Dr. if you are concerned.  Hope she's walking soon, it's so cute!

[mum2beagain]

My son has had pneumonia twice, coughing at night is often a sign that it hasn't cleared up, I would take her back to the doc and insist on another chest xray.

[fearfactor]

Well, we went to the doctor today and he said she is in the 25th percentile for weight and 50th for height which I guess is not that bad.  He asked if she is eating OK and she is.  He also said she has asthma and gave us albuterol ampules for a nebulizer which I hate to give her because they are stimulants but I guess I have to.  I am still concerned she is so small and sick all the time.  Maybe I need to feed her a lot more to fatten her up or something - I have been giving her baby food but maybe it's time for table food.  Thanks for your advice everyone.

[taysmommy]

dont try to fatten her up too much lol, i agree you should start with table food, but try to introduce things that are healthy and  hearty for her, my grandmother told me to feed my dd beans and rice to put a little meat on her (shes mexican and told me us white babies are too small lol)

one great food i started my dd on when she turned one was whole grain or wheat waffles (the frozen kind) they are full of nutrients and are easy for them to eat (i think they are high in callories also) i still give them to her, i toast it and cut it into small bite size pieces and give it to her for breakfast or a snack

[mama2kja]

I think she's fine. My daughter is almost 13 months and is 24 pounds and 30 inches tall. Her doc said she was on the big side as well. I really wouldn't worry.

[Crritter]

The albuterol really will help.  I know it's a stimulant, but it helps to open the airways.  Usually they don't diagnose it so early, but the good thing is most often they outgrow it.  With a family history though you might not get so lucky, but my first one finally did.  We have awful problems on my husband's side so it was nice to see him get better.  The Dr. didn't think he would.  When they get respitory illnesses that little it takes a long time to get over it.  My son will be 4 on Sunday and he still rattles and wheezes when he gets sick.  We just have to neb him when he needs it.  The other little guy we have been nebbing most of the time from 10 weeks on, he's a little over 4 months now and going to the pulmonologist next week.  So little and the albuterol isn't working for us anymore, so he's on Advair as well.  Good luck.  He'll grow more, mine dipped lower sometimes, they grow in spurts.  

[Tina_its_a_boy]

my 4 year old daughter weighs 29 lbs and is skinny. she still wears one skirt that is a 24month size!!!  she actually lost a pound between her 3 and 4yr check ups. she didn't walk until 15 months, she started crawling 1 day before her 1st birthday. She's just going to be thin. my daughter had wheezing problems too as a baby and had to inhale albuterol on the machine too. She's fine now. she's totally healthy, just a skinny little girl. sometimes i think she's smarter than me with the things she says. If your doctor isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either. All babies are different. My 3 month old son gains a pound a week and has rolls and weighs over 12 lbs. He'll probably catch up to my daughter by the time he's 6 months. Try not to compare the two of your children, it will only make you worry when it's probably not necessary. Good luck! I'm sure everything will be fine!

[Pearl99]

Asthma is a leading cause of slow growth.  Kids should be on enough meds so they're not having attacks every day, not even every week.  Singulair might be useable, prevents the reaction before it starts, very safe, even for pregnant women.  A pulmonologist could help, with CF scare too.  

At home, try to identify the allergens and REMOVE them.  Smoking, pets, carpet are common problems.  Foods too especially dairy,  Asthma is an allergic reaction, as is eczema.  This info is all from personal experience, esp. hard with babies who can't tell you when they can't breathe, I can't imagine how much they must be suffering.

[Crritter]

My first son was asmatic and is on the large side.  He was nebbed with Albuterol and Pulmicort and on Singulair.  He was crawling early, walking early, and is a big boy.  My second one is even on an inhaler along with meds and Albuterol and at 4 months is 16 pounds and very long.  He's starting to scoot and is so active.  He'll be crawling any day now as he is so determined and moves like a little inch worm across the floor.  I think as long as you keep up with the symptoms and stay in touch with your Dr. your little one should be fine and will continue to grow and thrive.  I would rahter keep them on the meds and have my boys breathing well than to avoid it and have them wheezing.  My poor little Cameron was at a 94 for oxygen level after being on an inhaler for 5 days and being nebbed every 4 hours.  I don't even want to think about how bad it was before.  We have dodged having to put him in the hospital twice now and it's becuase we have been so cautious with his breathing.  He went from a little wheeze on a Monday to full blown choking and turning purple 3 days later.  He just couldn't breathe and we were nebbing him, but Albuterol wasn't enough.  I vaccuum like crazy and am so careful about allergens, it does help too.  Just keep up with him, he'll sprout soon.

[jifnif]

my niece was born a mth premature and weighed 4lbs.  she is a year old next week and weighs only 17lbs.  she is perfectly normal.  tiny but normal.  I wouldnt be worried.  she sounds perfect. :)

[kris123]

My sis daughter is 4 years old and weighs 31pounds!!  She is fine.  She can where 24months clothing.  She is so cute.  Dr said she is fine.