What to say to 'little' comments about baby...

[AllisD]

I have the most gorgeous baby girl who is turning one this week. The only issue I have is not with her but with the horrible comments family and people we meet, make. She is not even 9 kilos yet and compared to her cousin who is 4 months younger, and 1 inch taller and 1 kg heavier already, she does look little - but there is nothing wrong with her and she has even been walking since about 9 months! A stranger even told me she didnt believe that she was over 6 months!! My other children were all average.

She is still breastfed and actually feeds about 6 times in 24 hours at least and is practically always chewing on something - usually a piece of fruit or rice cracker or something... she eats healthily and normally for a one year old.

I just was wondering what do other mums (or dads) say when hit with the 'midget' etc jokes? I know I shouldn't let it get to me but it's hard not to.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Just look at them. "She's a BABY - you were expecting a giant?" Someone "doesn't believe" her age... tough. It's a fact. I'd tell that person I found it hard believing they were under 70 too, but things happen, right!

My DS is the same size (bit smaller) than his second cousin, who is 14m younger than him. I don't let that get to me: they like playing together and adults aren't the same height so why should children be uniform?

[diannescruffy]

I use to get the same with both my girls and initially it was a bit annoying but I would just say "yep, she's little but happy and healthy". People always seem to find something to comment on don't they?

Regards,
Dianne

[~*Kat*~]

I use to get the same with both my girls and initially it was a bit annoying but I would just say "yep, she's little but happy and healthy". People always seem to find something to comment on don't they?

Regards,
Dianne

Bethany was and still is small for her age and I still get comments about her size but I say the same thing as Dianne
"She is happy and healthy so her size doesn't matter"

[Nelle]

I've got a little dynamo too, compact little thing. They're cute hey! He's almost 2 and still in 0's and some 1's.

I think just be positive about it, you might be re-educating people when you reassure them there's absolutely nothing to worry about. You could refer to petite adults like Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss or the Olsen Twins, last I heard people weren't complaining they were too small. Or if you were feeling a bit narky you could always ask something like 'do you think there's something wrong with her?' and hope they squirm. Thing is, being negative can make you feel negative and you don't want that.
If people won't leave you alone, you can always bring in the professional(s), like 'my doctor and MCHN say her size is just fine'. What are they going to say 'oh well your doctor's wrong?'

[Salad]

Georgia has just turned 1 also and she weighs 8.56kg's. Alot of people would comment to me and say oh isnt she tiny or she is so little, and I thought they were saying it because they didnt know what to say, I didnt think she was little but comparing her to others her age she is tiny.
It doesnt really bother me as such and I dont really have any comebacks for you or things to say. I like the fact that Georgia is petite, she is a baby to me for longer if you know what I mean rather than being a big toddler.
She also eats and eats all day long she is an amazing eater and eats all kinds of foods so I am not concerned for her health, she is still breastfed and thriving.
You are doing and have done a great job, dont worry about what they say.

[boomba]

Oh hun people can be really hurtful sometimes.
DS1 was always tiny he still fits size ones and he is 2...whereas DS2 is a big boy and people sont belive me that he is 11 weeks lol!
xx

[AllisD]

Thanks everyone - you have made me feel a lot better. Salad & Boomba - you hit the nail on the head! I don't mind her being little as she is my last baby and I think she is soooo cute but I am so sick of the comparisons to her 'normal' older brother and sisters and cousins etc.

[~MummaBear~]

im another one who has a little bubba. DD is 2 and still wears size 0's and 1's and at 1 year she was 7.9Kgs/ I dont really have many comebacks and i know that other peoples comments are really hurtful but just know that you little one is perfect and healthy and that is all that matters!

[Nelle]

Oooh yes I forgot that - I still tote #2 around like he's a bub (although a heavy one, he makes up for height in roundness!) and he's so little and all oosy cutesy snuggly wuggly...and I do pinch his cheeks and thighs...never did that with his older bro (not chubby enough, all long and bones that lovely one!), by the time he was two he was a little man, but #2 is so cute and widdle. Feeling sorry for him yet? I can't help it, the little ones are so munchable!

[Tinks]

I also have a little tiny girl. She's 7 and still wears size 5 (just going into a 6) clothes, she's the smallest child in the whole school and when people see her in her uniform they think she's playing dress up lol. My nephew is a year younger than her and has always been bigger, in fact my sister gives me some of his old clothes for her to wear, we joke about them being 'hand me ups'.

Seriously, don't let them get to you. You could use the good old 'good things come in small packages' line or get them to focus on her positives like how she was walking at 9 mths.

As long as she's happy healthy and LOVED nothing else matters.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

It's so annoying isn't it.. my DD is 15mths and although might have FINALLY had a growth spurt has ALWAYS been the 10th% for her weight, she was small born and has just continued to be small.

I have had people ask if i feed her properly as she's so TINY blah blah blah... in the end i tell people now she's not SMALL she is PETITE there is a difference.

Seriously she is 15mths and eats like a 4yr old boy, 3 slices of toast AND a yoghurt for breakfast, a sandwich plus an apple and watermelon for lunch etc etc.

I stick to my guns now and have told people she is petite, medically she is happy & healthy and if she was overweight they would be whinging i feed her too much, i sat down and told someone the amount she eats in a day and all they could say was ohhhhh......

DD2 is 12 days old and although only 10g b/w them for birth weight she put on 180g in the first 6 days and DD1 had only put on 60g.. every baby is DIFFERENT.. what is NORMAL?

Hope people get off your back... smile, nod and know your doing everything you can for your daughter..... hopefully she's lucky enough to keep that figure for life

[sazzafrazz]

Good reading here for me too. I have another little girl here.

At 12 months C was only just 8kg and now at 2 (today!!!) she is only 9.5kg. She started life on the 10th % and now is not even on the weight chart!!!! She is healthy and happy. She doesnt look thin at all! She is strides ahead with language and comprehension and normal for physical development. She is just small. She will be thankful for it in adulthood!

My child nurse is pushing the point and sending us to a dietician but I think its all a waste of time (as do all my friends and family) I'm going anyway to appease her and cause I may get some new recipe ideas lol.

It takes all sizes to make up the graphs. Our kids are just helping contribute to the lower scale whereas other kids help boost the top end. Why have a graph to compare if they are all supposed to be the same?!!?

Gah, people and their rude comments!

[Ellee05]

Good things come in small packages! I had a shop assistant tell me that DD wasn't 3 months because she was too small. Hello! I am the mother here I think I know how old my little girl is. Babies come in all different shapes and sizes just like men and women do. That is why some women are size 6 and others are size 26. I would have a go at them, there are enough people in the world with body image issues that you don't want to make her one also.

[TeniBear]

My youngest brother was always a tiny one - even now (at 14) he's soooo much smaller than the other kids. But it seems to be working to his advantage - he's quite popular with the "ladies" because they all want to mother him Thank goodness he's not interested yet! Mum still calls him Munchkin, and is the only one who can get away with referring to his height/skinniness without a (quite painful) thump in response.

I was quite small too, though I never got comments about it. I was the shortest in my Grade 5 class, but two years later I hit my growth spurt and was the tallest. Once everyone else caught up though, I was a shorty again lol

[Taurean]

You just enjoy your tiny package hon. I've learnt you can't win. My DD was tiny for ages and plenty of people commented on how little she was. I just smiled and lapped it all up as I got to have a tiny baby for longer than most and she fit into teeny tiny cute clothes for ages and newborn nappies until she was 3 months old! I loved it!

She's just gone 4 months and has grown a lot lately but she's not massive by any means, 6kg late last week. Anyway, another mum at the paediatrician's last week asked how old she was then said 'Wow, she's huge!'. I just laughed - talk about a turn around! She went on to tell me that her DD, who was crawling around on the floor, was 8 months old and yes, she was tiny so of course my DD looked huge but in comparison to other 4 month olds, my DD is pretty average really.

Keep smiling and try to just laugh it off.

[aussienic]

I had the exact same problem with my DD. She is almost at the 12kg mark now. On her first birthday she weighed 8.9kg and thats what she weighed from 6 months to 19 months.. She gained nothing. I had my CHN tell me I needed to get a blood test done bla bla bla

I knew there was nothing wrong with Olivia as she sounded just like your DD,. Always munching on something. She was also Bf and I was also told to start weaning her.. In the end I did what I felt was right. I continued doing what I was doing..

As for the comments.. Say oh well at least I have a baby for longer this time I got pretty tired of the comments to and they were always directed at me still BF.. I just said I must be doing something right.. Just look at how happy and healthy she is..

but it is hard not to take the comments on board though..

[nickle730]

My DD was also tiny and now that she's almost 7 years old I can still carry her around on my hip. She weighs 17.5kg, the same as her 4 year old brother. She is tiny and perfect... she's heading in to Grade 2 this year and has no problem keeping up with the 'bigger' kids. She walked at 9 months and she is now faster and more agile than a lot of kids larger than her, I think because she has less weight to carry! She more than makes up for what she lacks in size with plenty of confidence and personality! (Although i really wish they made a school uniform smaller than size 4, she looked like she was playing dress-ups when she started Prep!) I still use the 'good things come in small packages line' and it works a treat.

My MCHN also wanted me to take her to a dietician, but I refused as a knew she was healthy, just little. 'Aaah, well', said the nurse, 'I guess we're just used to all those fat formula-fed babies'.... 'er, she IS a fat formula-fed baby' (two breast reductions left me unable to feed.) The look on her face was priceless. My perfect little baby has grown into a perfect little girl... and I'm sure yours will too!