Paradox Blog

At my baby's nine month check up, the doctor pronounced that she had only gained one pound over three month period. She was 7 pound 6 oz at birth, well in the ninetieth percentile range for both her height and weight and now she is only in the 25th percentile for her age. Genetically her dad and I were only average in both our weight and height, so it is natural for her to drop into a lower bracket for her weight and height. However, I was still concerned that she gained only one pound in three months especially since I was still breast-feeding her. I voiced my concern to friends and suggestions poured in. "It's time to wean the baby." "Try feeding her formula." "Give her more solid food." "Supplement her diet with yogurt and cheese." I tried all the suggestions. Formula is out. My Baby hates formula. She took only so much solid food after she feasted on my breasts. She likes yogurt and cheese but only a little at a time. I had no choice but to wean her.

It was as hard for her mom to lose those unwanted pounds from the last pregnancy as it was for baby herself to gain weight. She loved to nurse and I loved nursing her. To wean her was going to be a challenge both for her and for me. Nursing her was the quiet bonding time we shared. I loved the idea that when she's hungry I would be able to satisfy her with my milk. Besides nursing sometimes was the quick way to calm her down when she's fussy. Now I cannot offer her my breasts whenever she wants it nor whenever I want some quiet time. I had to make sure to nurse her only after she had her solids. I didn't think it would be a big problem since I had been giving her those jars of baby food from Gerber, Earth's Best and Beechnut since she was about five month old and she had been happily taken them in. Well, I was wrong.

Once the resolution was made her attitude toward those commercial baby food started to change. Her head turn the other way just when the spoon was about to reach her month. Her jaw clinched so tight that a crowbar would not be able to open her mouth. It seemed futile to increase her solid intake but then again she seemed so interested in what we were eating. A friend suggested that we get a baby grinder. What a life saver it was. Out of the grinder came peas and beans in their natural green, carrots in bright orange and sweet potato in rich yellow, enticing my baby's curious bites. With each spoon, my baby showed her appreciation of the texture of a pear, the aroma of a banana and tanginess of a kiwi fruit. She is again a happy eater. Now we know my baby loves to eat. It is those bland and pale baby food from a jar that she detests.

It's been a couple of months now since her last check up. My baby has now moved on to share the noodle soup we had for lunch, the daikon and rice cake for snack, and the pasta we had for dinner. I have been weighing her on our bath scale from time to time. She hasn't gain much, about half a pound so far. I can only assume with all those things to learn, all those space to explore, she must have burnt up much of the food she ate. As long as she seems healthy and happy with what I feed her, I guess I can only let it be.