15 Realities of Raising a Small Child

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Both of my children were remarkably petite, consistently hovering just above the lowest percentiles for weight. I affectionately referred to them as my little birds, as their slender limbs and delicate frames resembled those of chicks. There were no chubby cheeks or rolls of fat here; they were lean little beings. While I appreciated the ease of birthing my 6-pounders, post-delivery, I found myself obsessively concerned about how to help them gain weight.

Fortunately, living at a high altitude means that many babies in our community tend to be on the smaller side. During story time at the library, I often noticed infants waddling around on their thin legs, their garments sagging. They all seem to catch up in elementary school, so I often ponder why they appear so small as infants. One hypothesis is that the effort to draw in enough oxygen at this elevation causes them to lose fat. I wish I could benefit from that!

Over the years, I’ve gathered some essential truths about parenting small children:

1. People will frequently inquire whether you’re feeding them enough. Of course, I am! My life revolves around meal planning for them. Even if a pediatrician reassures you that your child is on their own growth trajectory, as an overachiever, you’ll still want to see them gain weight.
2. You will constantly worry about the quality of your breast milk. I often found myself questioning, “Is this just water?” I would indulge in desserts and fatty foods, believing it would enhance the richness of my breast milk.
3. You can carry your kids in slings and carriers until they’re practically ready for college.
4. You may resort to unconventional methods to increase their caloric intake, such as adding olive oil to oatmeal or mixing avocados and cheese into everything. You’ll become an expert on calorie counts, and your kids will become familiar with indulgent treats like full-fat ice cream.
5. You will celebrate the milestone of your child making it onto the weight chart. My son hit the second percentile at nearly two years old, and it was such a momentous occasion that it brought tears to my eyes.
6. Finding clothes that fit can be a major challenge. My son just now fits into clothes that correspond to his age — at ten years old! I used to think all other kids were giants.
7. Small children tend to be surprisingly agile. Mine began running well before I was prepared for it. Without extra weight, they took off sprinting one day, leading to many heart-pounding moments as they embarked on their little adventures.
8. Your mother might worry about their size even more than you do. Mine certainly did. She has a passion for feeding people, especially little ones, and her concern about their size often added to my own stress.
9. You will marvel at the rolls of fat on your friends’ babies. I remember being in awe of the creases on my friend’s child’s arms, wondering how to manage all that during bath time.
10. You will find yourself restricted to only those brands of pants with adjustable waist tabs.
11. A bathing suit can endure for years. My daughter, for instance, still fits into a 2T swimsuit bottom as she approaches her sixth birthday.
12. Your child may become frustrated when strangers misjudge their age, making outings even more awkward.
13. When illness strikes and they refuse to eat, it becomes a nerve-wracking experience. Watching them lose weight was gut-wrenching, given how hard I worked to help them gain it.
14. Teaching a child with little body fat to swim can be a challenge, as they tend to sink. My daughter has perplexed numerous swim instructors!
15. Their skinny hugs are the best, and they fit perfectly in your lap for an extended time.

So, if you find yourself with a small baby or toddler, rest assured that the constant comments will diminish over time. They will grow, and as they age, people will care less about their weight and growth percentiles. You’ll start to worry less about every calorie they consume and instead focus on ensuring they eat their greens.

And yes, I am confident they will eventually learn to swim, but I’m still waiting on that front.

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Summary:

Raising small children can be filled with unique challenges and concerns. From the constant worry about their weight and growth to the amusing realities of their agility and clothing fit, parents of petite children often navigate a world of undue scrutiny. However, with time, these concerns ease as children grow and become more resilient, allowing parents to shift their focus to other aspects of parenting.