Both of my little ones were tiny, barely registering on the growth charts—little munchkins I affectionately referred to as my “little sparrows.” They were long and slender, lacking the chubby cheeks and dimpled thighs that many parents rave about. Instead, they were lean, active bundles of energy. While I was grateful to have only had to deliver 6-pounders, once they arrived, my main concern became ensuring they packed on some pounds.
Living at a higher elevation provided a slight comfort; many babies in our community appeared similarly petite. During library story hours, it was amusing to see toddlers waddling around on their skinny legs, their diapers and pants constantly slipping down. They all seem to catch up in school, which left me pondering why the babies appeared so small. Some speculate that the altitude makes it harder for them to gain weight as they burn energy trying to take in enough oxygen. I wish that worked for me!
Through the years, I’ve gathered some essential truths about raising small children. Here they are:
- People will frequently ask if you’re feeding them enough. Of course, I am! I spend every waking moment thinking about what to feed them. Even when the doctor assures me that they are on their own growth trajectory, my overachiever instincts kick in, and I still want them to gain more weight.
- You’ll constantly worry about the quality of your breast milk. I often found myself wondering, “Is it just water?” And you might find yourself justifying dessert and bacon as essential for making that milk richer.
- Babywearing will become a way of life, possibly lasting until they head to college.
- You may resort to unconventional methods to help them gain weight, like adding olive oil to their oatmeal and sneaking avocados, bananas, and cheese into everything. You’ll become a calorie-counting expert, and full-fat ice cream will be a staple in your household.
- The day they finally make it onto the weight chart is a cause for celebration. I remember when my daughter reached the second percentile at nearly two years old—I might have shed a happy tear.
- Finding clothes that fit will be a challenge. It wasn’t until my son turned ten that he finally wore clothes that corresponded to his age. I used to think all other kids must be giants since their clothes seemed so enormous!
- They will become mobile much sooner than you expect. Mine took off running at nine months, leaving me with a heart rate that could rival a marathon runner’s.
- Your own mother may worry more than you do. My mom, who enjoys feeding everyone, particularly fretted about their size, which definitely added to my stress.
- You will marvel at the rolls of fat on other babies. I remember seeing a friend’s baby with adorable arm creases—something I had never encountered before. How do you even wash those during bath time?
- You’ll find yourself limited to brands that offer adjustable waistbands.
- Your child can wear the same swimsuit for many years. My daughter is still fitting into her 2T bathing suit bottom, and she’s about to turn six!
- They may get upset when strangers misjudge their age, making outings even more awkward.
- When your little one is sick and doesn’t eat, it can be incredibly stressful. They simply can’t afford to lose any of that hard-won weight!
- Teaching a child without body fat to swim is a challenge; my daughter has left many swim instructors perplexed.
- Their thin-armed hugs are the sweetest, and they fit in your lap perfectly for a long time.
If you have a small baby or toddler, remember that the unsolicited comments will eventually fade away. They will grow, and as they age, people seem less concerned about their weight or growth percentiles. You’ll find yourself stressing less about every calorie while worrying about whether they’re eating any greens.
And yes, I believe they will learn to swim one day—I’m just still waiting for that to happen. If you’re interested in more tips on home insemination, check out this resource for some great insights. For more information on navigating fertility treatments, this site is highly informative, and this link provides excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.