15 Realities of Raising a Small Baby

home insemination Kit

May 14, 2023

Both of my kiddos were little munchkins, barely making a blip on the growth charts. I affectionately dubbed them my “tiny turkeys” because their long, skinny limbs gave off a very poultry vibe. There were no chubby cheeks or roly-poly bellies in sight—just two lean, sprightly beings. While my birthing experience was certainly easier thanks to those 6-pound bundles, it quickly became a full-time job to ensure they were packing on the pounds.

Living at a high altitude, it was comforting to see that many other babies around us also seemed petite. At story hour, the scene was often a parade of skinny-legged toddlers with their pants sliding down. They all catch up in elementary school, so I’ve pondered why these tiny tots seem to be everywhere. One theory? They’re so busy gulping down oxygen that their baby fat just evaporates! If only that were the case for me.

Over the years, I’ve gleaned some essential truths from raising small children:

1. Prepare for the barrage of questions about whether you’re feeding them. Of course, I am! It’s my life’s mission to ensure they’re well-fed, yet even when the doctor reassures me they’re thriving on their own growth trajectory, I still obsess over making them chubbier.
2. You’ll constantly worry about the quality of your breast milk. I often wondered, “Is it just watery dribble?” I’d justify indulging in desserts and bacon with the hope that it would magically enhance my milk’s richness.
3. Those little ones can be worn in a baby carrier until they head off to college.
4. You’ll resort to some outlandish methods to get them to gain weight—hello, olive oil in oatmeal! Avocados, bananas, and cheese become staples, and you’ll know the calorie counts of everything. Full-fat ice cream? You bet!
5. The day they finally make it onto the growth chart will be a monumental occasion. My daughter hit the second percentile for weight just shy of her second birthday, and I may have shed a tear of joy.
6. Finding clothes that fit them will be a constant challenge. At 10, my son finally wears clothes that match his age—what a milestone!
7. They’ll start running long before you’re ready. With no extra weight to slow them down, my kids took off sprinting, turning every room into a miniature race track.
8. Your mom will fret more about their size than you do. Mine was especially concerned—she loves to feed little ones, and her stress about their size became my stress!
9. You’ll gaze in wonder at the pudgy limbs of your friends’ babies. I remember seeing my friend’s baby with adorable arm creases and wondering how I had missed out on that experience.
10. You’ll become loyal to brands that offer adjustable waistbands for pants.
11. They can wear the same bathing suit for years. My daughter is still rocking a 2T swimsuit bottom and she’s about to turn 6!
12. Expect meltdowns when strangers misjudge their age. Grocery store trips can get awkward fast.
13. When they get sick and refuse to eat, it will send you into a spiral of panic. They can’t afford to lose any of that hard-earned weight!
14. Teaching a skinny kid to swim can be quite the challenge; my daughter has mystified swim instructors with her sinking skills!
15. Their skinny-armed hugs are the best, and they fit perfectly in your lap for a long time.

So if you have a little one on the smaller side, rest assured that the annoying questions will eventually fade. They will grow, and with age, people will care less about their weight and growth percentile. You’ll find yourself worrying less about every calorie ingested and more about whether they’re getting their veggies!

For more insights on parenting and insemination, check out our articles on home insemination kits and resources like Cleveland Clinic’s podcast for a deeper dive into fertility and pregnancy.

Summary:

Having small children can be a unique experience filled with questions about their growth and eating habits. From the challenges of finding clothes that fit to the joys of their adorable hugs, navigating parenthood with tiny tots can be both humorous and heartwarming.