Raising a petite child can be incredibly stressful at times. My first two kids are what I would consider “average” size. My oldest is a giant, consistently towering over his friends and weighing several pounds more. My middle child sits right around the 50th percentile—if you check online for the average height and weight for his age, it’s almost always spot on. I’ve never had to worry about their growth; they’ve steadily followed their growth curves without issue.
Then came my third child.
She’s so small that she barely registers on the growth charts. At birth, my daughter was just six pounds and eighteen inches long, and she’s never been a big eater. While she nursed well and has grown at a slow but steady pace, she hasn’t experienced any significant growth spurts.
Food is not her priority. She’ll eat almost anything, but she’s content with just a couple of bites, and will humor me with a few more. It doesn’t matter if it’s gourmet avocado toast, broccoli with pesto, Greek yogurt, chicken nuggets, or an ice cream sundae—everything is met with indifference except for her one true love: blueberries. Everything else? Just “meh.”
Despite her size, she manages to eat enough, though it requires a lot of planning on my part. To her, mealtime is just another item on her to-do list, squeezed between playing and chasing the dog.
Whenever we venture out, someone always remarks on her size. She behaves like a one-year-old but is the same size my older kids were at seven months. This can be confusing—what is she, an extra tiny toddler or a brilliant baby? (And let’s be honest, this constant commentary is quite annoying. Let’s make a pact to stop commenting on anyone’s size, especially a child’s.)
While her doctor isn’t overly concerned yet, her growth is often a topic of conversation during check-ups. Each time, she’s slightly bigger than before, but the doctor emphasizes the importance of keeping her on the chart. I’m committed to making that happen.
My husband and I have invested hours online searching for inventive ways to increase the nutritional value of the foods she will eat. But turning mealtimes into battles won’t help anyone. We offer her plenty of food and follow her lead, which has been our approach since she started solids.
I felt relatively calm until her recent 12-month check-up, where we learned her iron levels were slightly low—common for breastfed babies. However, the prescribed iron supplement was a challenge. It tasted like rusty steel wool, and after I tried it, I knew my baby would refuse it.
The nurse suggested hiding it in orange juice or chocolate pudding, but my clever little one wasn’t fooled. After spitting it out, she went on a three-day hunger strike, nursing only and even rejecting her beloved blueberries.
Now, I find myself with a tiny child who needs extra iron but refuses to eat enough or take the medicine. How do I convince a one-year-old to consume larger portions or cooperate with medicine? This child has never cared about anything in her year-long life, and I doubt she will start now.
This is a whole situation. My anxiety urges me to fret, but I have to remind myself not to obsess over her size. She is healthy, and it’s perfectly fine for her to be small. Growth charts don’t define health; they simply compare her to others. We can address the iron deficiency with other supplements and food options now that I’m aware of her needs.
If you’re also parenting a tiny child and your doctor has flagged changes in their growth, you might be feeling stressed as well. Just remember: as long as your doctor isn’t worried about your child’s immediate health, it’s okay to monitor their growth without letting it consume you.
Ultimately, this will all work out. Toddlers can be tricky, but they do grow. Many parents of small children assure me that even the tiniest kids eventually grow up—some become quite tall, while others remain petite. It’s perfectly normal; someone needs to occupy the lower end of the growth charts. All bodies are good. As long as your child is getting enough to eat and shows no signs of deeper health issues, being small is just one more aspect of what makes them unique.
While I wait for my little one to grow, I’ll embrace the fact that her clothes last longer and she’s easy to carry. She’s not too small; she’s just adorably miniature. And for now, that’s exactly how she’s meant to be. For more insights on parenting and managing your tiny child’s needs, check out this helpful post on Home Insemination Kit.
If you’re looking for authoritative information on home insemination, visit Make A Mom for their expert resources. Another great resource is March of Dimes, which provides valuable information on pregnancy and home insemination.
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Summary:
Raising a small child can be a unique challenge, especially when it comes to feeding and ensuring they receive adequate nutrition. While growth charts might cause anxiety, it’s vital to remember that every child grows at their own pace. As long as they are healthy and happy, being tiny is simply a part of who they are.
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