Sunday, July 10, 2011

No Chunky Baby for Me

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As Nia's first birthday fast approaches and I've been looking back at photos of her I've come to realize that I will not have a chunky baby. Nia officially reached her "maximum chunkiness" around the 5 month mark:

The most rolls Nia had as a baby!
While I was pregnant I had posted a few times about my Baby Agbai prototype and while obviously that didn't happen I still get a little sad about leaving behind my hopes of having a chunky baby as Nia approaches toddlerhood. 

The Baby Agbai Prototype

Mr. Love Bird and I were not chunky babies so I guess it wasn't in our genes to make chunky babies, but at least I was hopeful. Although he said he really didn't want a chunky baby, I sure did!



Baby Love Birds
Besides our genes, I think the other reason why Nia wasn't chunky was because we decided to breastfeed her. While I was pregnant we met a family who had very large baby girl who told us they pumped their daughter up on formula mixed with cereal to get her to sleep through the night and recommended that we do the same when we had our baby. I had done enough research on Kellymom to know that I wasn't going to do that. 

I've definitely noticed a difference in chunkiness levels of breastfed vs. formula fed babies and often DH and I have tried to guess when we're out and about whether or not babies we come across are breastfed vs. formula fed. If it's in the right environment and we're able to ask the parents 9 times out of 10 we're right.

The other night at dinner as I complained of not having a chunky baby, Uka reminded me of the health benefits of exclusively breastfeeding Nia for as long as I did especially in terms of childhood obesity. I agree I'd much rather take the long term benefits of breastfeeding vs. the instant gratification of a chunky baby!

I don't know if it's scientifically proven or not, but I definitely think Nia being "light on her toes" was one of the factors that contributed to her walking as early as she did. I also love that she's still very portable; sometimes I can even take her on errands just carrying her in my arms on the train without back pain or strain!

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3 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 10, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    I am smiling over here because I have a bean pole baby too...tall and lean. I breastfed for 18 months. People would comment at how skinny she was compared to all the formula-fed plump babies around here. It thought people were implying that she was malnourished. looking at my baby pictures helped me get over it. I was SCRAWNY!

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  2. JarmeliaJuly 10, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    I breastfed my baby girl for 15 months and she was chunky and what the old folks called "healthy" Lol! I think it has to do with genes more than breastfeeding. I'm small and was shocked at how chunky baby girl was. They said she was going to be 6 lbs. she was 7 lb. 14 oz. and short and fat. Lol!

    All this baby talk has my ovaries twitching...lol

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  3. AprilJuly 10, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    I think the same way formula makes babies feel "full" for longer, it also causes them to pack on the pounds a bit quicker... but this does NOT mean baby is more healthy. Aiden gets formula occasionally (like if I don't get to pump and we leave him with a sitter) and he is a chunky boy! But both DH and I were chunky babies so maybe it is genes? Who knows! Anywho, it is a HUGE, AWESOME, accomplishment that you've nursed Nia exclusively for a whole year! Such a blessing and she will reap the benefits in the long run :)

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