below 5 percentile on head circumference

[kopal]

My 4 month old son has fallen off the 5 percentile graph for head circumference. his weight is on the 10th percentile graph and height on the 50th percentile graph. these two have remained constant since the time of birth and have been on the same graph. he is on breast feed entirely and is being given multivitamin and iron drops. should i be concerned about this head circumference? both my husband and me are of normal stature and do not have any disorder. also his stools are semi liquid and of dark green color, at times mucousy. should i put him on formula?

[boo_mommy]

i can't comment on the small head, but my son was around the 50th percentil height and weight at birth and untill he was close to a year at which time he dropped to the 5th percentile weight and jumped up to the  75th percentile height. he is slowly closing the gap (he is 4 years old now) but the percentiles can change in a heart beat and i wouldn't worry about it! if there is no medical reason why he has a small head (like premature closure of the soft spots on his head) then i would talk to you doctor about it and follow whatever he suggests. if you doctor isn't worried about it, you sholdn't be either.

[chigirl29]

Don't worry.  My second one never took a bottle as she hated them.  In time, the baby will ween itself--

[kopal]

Thanks chigirl29 , this has really helped me stay calm for my child. even my child is not drinking formula and is not getting habituated to bottle either though he is quite active.

[chigirl29]

My second child was/is this way and she is developing normally.  She is still listed as failure to thrive--although she is now gaining weight.  She is 2.5 years old and wears 12 month old clothing.  

We were so worried.  She, too, was breastfed.

My husband is South Asian and small, and I am small.  Our doctor, who is foreign, said the charts that American doctors use included infants who were given formula (ours would not drink the formula), and that our child could be normal since we are of small stature.

I have Indian friends of normal stature and their son was listed as failure to thrive, and he is still small.  He was breastfed too, and he is very intelligent.

Keep up with the iron supplements as that is needed.  That can also cause the poop to turn a greenish/blackish color.

Chances are--your son will be fine.

Take Care.