Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Size Matters

My daughter is 3.5 months old. Last week, she weighed 14 lbs, 15 oz. Whee! I am so excited that she is gaining weight at such a steady pace. It is still amazing to me that my body provided that sustenance for her.

However.

I am frequently getting comments about her weight, how she looks "bigger" for her age, how she is a "big girl", how she will "slim down" once she starts crawling. Why does this bother me?

Because she only weighs one ounce more than my son at the same age. ONE ounce!

Yet, I rarely got such comments about my son's weight. Oh no, folks commented on his hair, his big eyes or how healthy and husky he was. Rarely about his weight.

Good grief - my poor girl is just over 3 months old and already has to worry about her waistline?? This after I was told by a variety of folks throughout my pregnancy that Anjali would probably weigh less than Arun since girls are "always smaller".

I am calling bullshit on this.

13 comments:

Monkey McWearingChaps said...

Umm, wow. This makes me so sad. I think my parents would have given all their molars for my sister and I to be as healthy as she is. I will scan a picture of a teeny-tiny baby for you when I go home at Christmas. Me. It's scary-looking. That people could even suggest a baby slim down like that is sick-my sisters and I were all very sick children. It was NOT attractive.

lorib said...

Andrew is three months tomorrow and I'm sure he has surpassed 14 lbs. We get the same comments about what a big boy he is, looks big for his age, etc.

My favorite comment -- "he must be on formula." Ahem, NO! That's all from mama's milk, thank you very much. And each and evey pudgy roll is such a blessing.

Moderndayhermit said...

People infuriate me.

People are SO concerned that a child might have an ounce of fat on them, how disgusting. Like Monkey states, there are people who would give their eye-teeth for such health.

I usually take comments and let them pass as just a slip of the manners - but this really pisses me off.

Your daughter is so beautiful...for someone to mention her slimming down is so RUDE.

Dooneybug said...

Oh for fuck's sake! (this is a time to use those bad words) I can not believe people sometimes!!! I got the whole "he's so small" comments all the damn time with my son. It drove me crazy. I hated it, like someone was judging my son based off his size. And you look at him today and he's average, right along with all the other toddlers. I really don't understand what gives other people the right to make a comment about my children's size. I've gotten to the point that if anyone else says anything about either of my kids bodies, that I have the right to make a comment about theirs.

People are just so stupid sometimes.

Leah said...

Yup. D is a big girl, and I think I have heard EVERY comment there is. Mainly about how when she starts walking she'll get nice and skinny. Great.

caro said...

Both my girls are bigger than average, and we've gotten our share of comments. Usually I can write it off as people not knowing what to say about a baby other than how cute she is, but sometimes I think you're right ... there is a yucky undercurrent of the all too familiar size obsession.

Anju sounds petite to me, though ... Iris just weighed in at 14lbs 8oz ... at 2 months! Woohoo!

aibee said...

People are idiots.

There. I think that about says it all.

Unknown said...

I hear the same thing. Our dd is 22 lbs and 27 inches at 5 months. I try to ignore them and somedays ot os easier than others. But I always proudly tell them that she has never had anything but mamma's milk!

Mamma Sarah said...

Why can't people just mind their own business... maybe you should ask them what their problem is then since they are/have been walking for years...

Christy said...

I remember lots of people making comments like this to me too.

Another mommy I know has the exact opposite problem. She breastfeeds and her daughter is very small. She is 9 months old, but can still fit into 3 month clothing. She is constantly being told that her baby needs to eat more. Its very frustrating for her.

M the Mommy said...

That SUCKS! And I totally agree. I have boy/girl twins and people are idiots when talking about size and weight. Just tell me how beautiful they are and MOVE ON!

Mojavi said...

yeah.. wait till you go and try to buy her pants! You remember all my posts about that? I still get comments on Kya's weight and how she will GROW out of it. I am sick of hearing it.

I am just proud my milk can make her so healthy.

Jenn said...

Luke is 2 months old and is already 12 pounds! He's been gaining a pound a week since he's born and all on mamma's milk.

I must say (not on topic) that when I go to the doctor and get his weight that is feels like so much more of an acomplishment for me that I was the one that enabled him to gain that pound! With Allie (formula) I was juts like oh...ok. she gained weight....*shrug* good.

To your other point....I love how already all the boy clothes that I've gotten are so comfortable. Allie's clothes were always cute but form fitting......it's sad that is already the case at such a young age.