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

[Liviam]

It got it with my DD all the time (still do). She weighed a whole whopping 8.1kg at 13 months. Like your DD she was eating and feeding like there was no tomorrow. I would just say she was a skinny minny when I was in a good mood. When people said she didn't look like a 1 year old I'd say "oh ****, you must be right and she's only 6 months. Thanks for correcting me because I'm only her mum so what would I know?"

For what it's worth my DS is a chubby bubby and people are now having digs at how I much feed him. You just can't win.

[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!

[Schmickers]

DD3 is very little as well, still only 7kg at 7.5 months! Whenever someone comments I just say "Yes, she's quite compact" and leave it at that.

[csab]

My little V is 15mths and weighs appro 6.8kg bare weight, she has always been tiny and petite. For a long time I had people stopping me in the shopping centre etc wanting to look at her as they thought I was carrying a doll. I always get people asking me how old she is, then surprise comes on their face, then the question Ohh was she premmie? Then more surprised faces when I say No!!!, full term just little.
Little V has never been on the graph, she is still seeing her pead, has been seeing Genetics, and has also been seeing dieticians. They have also been wanting me to see The Childrens hospital with her, but they are willing to wait to see how she goes first.
I actually would like them to stop picking her to bits, and leave her be, as she is just perfect, cheeky happy and healthy. She isnt a big eater, but has improved.
I have even been able to see a lovely belly forming, and even her thighs have developed little rolls. She is still in the 4-8kg nappies. Still in 000's and is also wearing some 00's however some just fall straight off her, depending on the make.
They have told me that although V is not on the charts, she is more or less making her own chart, and is still following the same direction as their chart.

[Artechim]

I find that some of the time it is just that older people forget how small babies are in general iykwim. My DD is reasonably big for her age (she is around the 97th percentile for height and a bit less for weight), but when people see her they still comment that she is little. I am sure it is just that they don't remember their babies being that small - like when you have a second bub and can't imagine your first ever being so tiny.

[Mummyof2under2]

I don't know about comments but my DD wasn't even kilos at 15 months!!!!

She is now almost 4 (in April) and she now weighs 14 kilos. She eats a wide variety and not small portions either - she is just a girl and a slender one at that, same as i was until i got halfway through high school.

[Trillian]

My DD2 was always a skinny minny - she would have been lucky to weigh 10kg at 1 and she finally got to 15kg by 4yo, and she looked so lean and skinny because she was tall but by the time she turned 5 she was 20kg. She put on 5kg in a year! I have no idea why the sudden growth spurt, she didn't eat any more than normal, but I guess her body just decided that it was the right time to grow. She is very nearly as tall as her older sister and they get confused for twins all the time.

DS2 is also a bean pole and I think he will follow DD2's growth pattern. When he was born there were 3 other boys born locally around the same time and though he was the biggest at birth (10lb1) come 12mths he was the smallest by far. One of the other boys' mums commented on how small he was in a really competitve tone and I just said 'yeah, better than being a fatso and having to worry about childhood obesity hey?" and she hasn't commented since. So as for comebacks to the 'gee they're small' comments it really depends on who said it and how it is said kwim? If someone is being competitive or trying to make him inferior simply because he is smaller, then I don't hold back, but if they are nice about it then it's just a 'yeah he is, but that's OK'

[Dotty]

Hi all,
I was so comforted reading that I'm not the only one that gets frustrated when people comment on my 'tiny' baby! (of course I know i'm not the only one out there...but i dont know anyone else who is in this situation that i can talk to!) My little Lily is 10 months old and only weighs 5.7kg. We have had a LOT of health issues though...liver fibrosis, possible metabolic disorder, feeding issues resulting in being fed via nasogastric tube plus lots more! I'm sick to death of being asked 'whats wrong with her?' and told 'she looks like she's 3 months old' As she has so many health issues that we still have no answers to its really hard to answer people. I've now just started simply saying 'she's 10 months old would you believe....yes she has issues!!!!' I love my gorgeous pocket rocket who is still in 000's but could do without constant remarks! Anyway, just wanted to share my story, goodluck to everyone with their beautiful little bundles!
xx

[jmmum]

Hey,
I'm an adult and 4 foot 8. (about 145 cm). Size of the average 10 year old. People used to look at my DD and say she was little. My response was hello look at her mum. Now they all tell me how much taller than her mum she is going to be.