Chunky Monkey Mama's (our kids are that is!)

[LyLMyssChaos]

I know that there is a group for small babies and preemies, and I love that one as my DD is tiny, and I was wondering if there were any other mommies interested in sharing experiences with large/fast growing babies?
Here are our stats:
Mom: LMC
DS: Timothy III 4-19-05
Birth Weight: 8 lbs. 6oz.
Birth Length: 20.5 inches

Current Age:4 months, 13 days
Current Weight: 22 1/2 pounds
Current Length: 28 inches
Current Clothing Range: 12-18 months
Current Diaper Size: size 4
Feeding: BF for 1st month, now formula, juice, cereal, stage 1 food, and soft/mushy table food.
Growth Chart Percentile: Greater than 97% for both height and weight

[Megande]

We even call DS chunky monkey! :)

Mom: Megan
DS: Dean 6/27/05
Birth Weight: 9 lbs. 9oz.
Birth Length: 23 inches

Current Age:2 months, 5 days
Current Weight: 14 lbs 5 oz (>95 percentile)
Current Length: 24 3/4 inches (>95 percentile)
Current Clothing Range: 3-6 months
Current Diaper Size: size 2
Feeding:exclusively BF

[HGMorgann]

We call our DD "Chunky Monkey" and "Chubby Bubby". I do think we probally should stop doing this by the time she reaches about a year so she doesn't have self-esteem issues. I love her chub!!

DD - Morgann 2.26.05
Mom - HG
9 lb. 3 oz.
22"
14.75" head circ!

Current weight:
Probally about 19-20 lbs at 6 mo.
Length - 25.5"
(Short and chubby!)
Clothes: 3-9 mo stuff fits her well for the most part if its elasticy!
Diaper: 3's
Food: 99% BF, .5% bananas, .5% cherrios

[LyLMyssChaos]

Welcome Megan!!
It sounds like Dean is a lot like Timothy!! I think the funniest part has been that he wears the same size diaper and clothes as his 26 month old sister!! LOL It doesn't help that she is at the opposite end of the spectrum! You haven't hit it yet, but for us? One of the hardest things has been finding diaper change friendly clothes in the sizes that he needs! LOL

Oh and I'm Tiffany btw! :)

[Koala_Gurl]

Well, DD sure looks the part of Chunky Monkey!!

She was 8lb 9oz and 21.5" at birth...

At her 4 month appt: 16 lbs and 24.5" (I think!) Basically 95% for weight and 50% for length (hence the chunky look!)

She is in size 3 diapers and wears anywhere from 3 - 12 month clothing (it all depends on the outfit / manufacturer). :)

But, I want to eat them thighs! :)

[LyLMyssChaos]

Welcome Koala and HG!!

Here are some pics of "Thunder Chunk" as DH calls him! :D on his 4 month birthday:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d602b3127cce93f66c2a183400000016108AbOHLNy1bM9
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d602b3127cce93f66c0e181000000016108AbOHLNy1bM9

Laying with his 26 month old sister:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d602b3127cce93f66cf599db00000016108AbOHLNy1bM9

[gizzyntaz]

Alan is definitely a big boy:

Born: 12.20.04
9lbs 7oz.
21.75"

Now 8 months old
>27lbs
~30inches

Exclusively breastfed.

Do you get sick of the comments? People are always asking, "What does your mom feed you?" Of course I barb back, "BREASTMILK. Exclusively!" Shuts them up.

I've had random old ladies in the grocery store call him "Fatty"! :mad: So freakin' rude!

I'm thankful my DS is large. I don't worry about him. He's obviously thriving.

A problem we do have is that he has outgrown all of his age-appropriate toys because he is too heavy. What do you guys use to entertain your large babies (other than floor toys)?

- Alison :)

[firefly]

well my Megan has gone from below the growth chart to on top of it so I gess I belong here now...

she's 7 mo old and weighs about 21 lbs
she's about 26" tall

and she was born 5 weeks early at 6lbs 7 oz and only 17 inches long she was in preemie clothes until she was 3 /4 mo old and somehow just spent like a 3 weeks in 0-3 and jumped to 6-9 mo clothes although there are already a few 12 mo clothes that fit her 'perfect' as in no growing room... she wars a size 3 diaper and is just beautiful ;)

[Daniel's Kitty]

Well my little boy is only two weeks now.

Ben 8-18-05
8 lbs 11 oz
21 1/4 inches

We are in a combination of 0-3 and 3-6 months clothes. well the socks are 0-6 months. We are in size one diapers since he was taller than what would fit well in newborn and have been for a week.

I think he is starting into his 3 wk growth spurt though, I can't keep up with feeding him today! He is a stomach with legs!

Is there a large 0-6 month sock somewhere? His feet get so cold, but he curls his toes under since they don't stretch a lot. Maybe a 3-6 month sock?

I think he will keep this up since Daniel was a chubby baby and I just grew too fast.

[Renrel]

I had a chunky monkey but he is not so big anymore.

Born - 10 pounds, 6 ounces
22.5 months - 26-27 pounds ( based on him standing on my scale at home)- last visit at 18 months he was somewhere around the 75% for weight and height, though all the other toddlers look bigger to me then he does.
24mth or 2T size
size 4 diapers

He is very solid. Not fat, not thin, just solid. Always has been.

I loved having just a big baby. Nobody was scared to hold him and he had neck control very very young. I just worried alot less about him than I think I would have it he was a wee one. These days if someone lets me hold a newborn I tend to almost toss them over my shoulder because it shocks me how very very light they are.

[Koala_Gurl]

Just curious...

How are our "large" babies doing with respect to developmental milestones? DD is a bit advanced, and has had excellent head control from the beginning. I wonder if that is because she is a chunker, or if there is no correlation! :)

[Natasha]

My son was 9lbs 6oz, 21.5 inches at birth. He is 2.5 now, and weighs just about 40lbs, and he is 38 inches tall. Last time he went to the doctor (couple months ago), he was in the 90%. People never believe me when I say he is 2.5. He looks at least 3, and has a very big vocabulary, and is very social.

[HGMorgann]

Development - Morgann has always been advanced in this - She basically could hold her head up from birth. The nurses were suprised at her head control (She was also almost 2 weeks late). She started sitting unassisted at 3.5 mo. At 6 mo, she has the pincer grasp down pretty well. she just wants to grow up toooo fast!

[Natasha]

My son had great head control by 7 days. he has always been fairly advanced, and strong! He was 17 days late.

[cgmom313]

Well I know i belong here. We call my DD the munchkin but she is far from it.

DD: Catherine Grace
Born: 3-13-05 (2 weeks Early)
8lbs 9ounces (Imagine if I went full term :eek: )
21 inches long

At her 4mth WBV
20lbs and 24inches long.
(Formula Fed)
She has her 6mth WBV on the 14th of this mth so I am anxious to see an update.

She is in size 3 diaper and fits great in 6-9mth clothes as well as some 12 mth clothes. She was in 0-3 mth clothes for let's see, umm a whole 2 weeks if that.

Do you get sick of the comments? People are always asking, - Yes, I sometimes do. Once lady in the grocery asked me how old and when I told her, she said only 5mths old she looks almost 8 or 9mth old I guess you are Formula Feeding. :eek: I was stunned. It is nobody's business what I feed my child or how I feed my child it is an individual choice. I just looked at her and said I am happy she is healthy and a happy little baby.

Developmental Milestones - My DD is hitting the milestones right on target and some even a few weeks before the books say about the milestones. She will be 6 mths old in a few days and she sits up on her own already and almost crawls. Which leads me to my next vent. My SIL said to me, she may have a hard time crawling because she is so fat. :rolleyes: I gave her the weirdest look.

Look forward to talking with everyone regarding our great children.

[LyLMyssChaos]

Wow, this thread took off!! Welcome everyone!! I'm going to start agroup for us in the group section with everyone's stats at the beginning, later today. I just KNEW I wasn't alone in my big baby dillemas! :)

Sick of the comments? Not really, only because it's such a nice change from my DD who everyone thinks is tons younger than she is because of her size. But that is okay too, because people think she's a genius(she's very developed for her age) ;) The only thing that I really don't like is how people think I'm nuts for "having another baby so soon!" My DD and DS are only 2 1/2 pounds and 5 inches apart, BUT they are almost 22 months apart in age, so to me? That is not "so soon!" :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Milestones: Timothy held his head up from day one, and the ped. even commented on how awesome his head control was at his 1 week check up (he was at risk for jaundice.) He laughed at 2 months, smiled early, rolled at 2 1/2 months, and just crawled for the first time earlier this week, so I'd say he's right on target with his sister! Whether that is normal/will last, who knows?? LOL
*Off Topic*cgmom: Your DD has a VERY good birthday!! I share the same one(just a few years earlier! LOL) :D

[Renrel]

development - yeah an invitation to brag!

As I mentioned earlier good head control almost from the start. I remember the other moms were shocked at my first new mommy group at around 3 weeks because I had Gabe in my lap sitting up and I was not supporting his head, he was doing it himself. He was also 2 weeks late.

He was average for walking but it was more lack of interest than ablity. He decided to concentate on standing by himself, no pulling up, instead of walking. Would just cry if you held his hands to help him walk. He liked to sqat in the middle of the room and try to stand up. He took a few steps around 10 or 11 months but really did not care. About a month after his 1st birthday he got serious about walking. Daycare helped with that I am sure. Seeing older kids run made walking seem worthwhile.

He started sitting up on his own around 5-6 months if I remember. We still provided props to help, if I remember. Average on this one I guess.

Pincher grasp was early and his fine motor skill have always been advanced. He is very coordinated. He was putting legos together and stacking blocks very early. He was doing 12 when the books were talking about 2-3. He master spoons and fork very quickly too. He can eat a cup of ice cream without dripping any on him now, not that we can always count on that happening.

He has an amazing vocabulary in Engish and a small one in sign and Spanish as well. It would be bigger if we could expose him more. I have to learn each to teach them.

He was a little slow on things like ball throwing, riding toys and other gross motor stuff. He prefered to play with blocks and puzzles and toys that used his fine motor skills. As far as the riding toys though, I think he has short legs and the toys were just a bit uncomfortable and harder to push then for some other kids his age or younger. He has definately caught up now though. He loves thowing and kicking balls and throwing them into any kind of basket. He also seemed a bit slow on jumping but once he got it was thrilled and we can't stop him. (Of course most of the kids in his daycare were older than him, so he may have just seemed slow to me. )

He is also showing signs of being good with numbers. He has mastered the concept behind 1, 2 and 3. Well 3 is just a bit shaky but there is definately understanding. He is showing signs of getting 4 but it is far from being mastered. He can count in order to at least 11 in English and to 10 in spanish.

[HGMorgann]

renrel i totally hear you on "yeh! an invitation to brag"...cause thats exactly what i was thinking when i read the question. As moms, its so crazy how proud the littlest things can make you when it comes to your BABY!

Comments - I get a lot of "She must be breastfed" or "What are you feeding her?" I just say yes or breastmilk. Mostly comments are "Look at those legs!" (The girl has got some legs!" Mostly, they are positive like "Oh, she is just so soft and huggable"

[Lobeth]

Can I join?

DD: Tori Yvonne
DOB: 11/13/04
7lb 13oz (39 weeks)
19.5 inches

@ 9 month visit, she was
23.5 pounds
29 3/4 inches

Re Comments: The comments can get a litte annoying. I'm always asked what I'm feeding her, that I need to be giving her water instead of formula, etc, even though I was told by her ped to not give her water. Her ped is not concerned at all about her weight. He said her growth is beautiful and consistant which is more important the actual weight. He also takes into consideration the size of the parents (we are chunky ourselves!).

As far as milestones, she has been hitting them ontime and sometimes a little early.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Ben can hold his head as long as he is awake enough. He has been turning onto his side from when he came home at one day old. He gets so mad during tummy time cause he keeps trying to push himself up onto his hands and knees and he can't do both at once.

I think some of the comments are funny so far. I thought it was great when people couldn't believe I gave birth to him and they won't believe he really is the age he is. I am so excited to find out Tuesday how he is doing.

[cshaysharp]

I would like to join as well. I have 2 big girls

Sophia
11\7\03
8lbs 14 ozs at birth
21 inches

She is now 22 months and is 29 lbs. I can't remember what her height is but she is over the 95% for both height and and weight. The kid eats me out of house and home. I just make sure she has healthy meals and snacks - she loves all food so it's easy to do.

Stella
5\19\05
10lbs 3ozs
21 inches

At her 2 month WBV she was 14lbs 4 ozs and 23 inches. The 95% as well. She is exclusively BF. I can't wait to see what she will be at her 4 month appt as I know she has grown tons since then.

I don't really get that many comments. However I had a family member ask me what it was like to give birth to a first grader :rolleyes:

As far as milestones, Sophia was delayed in all her physical milestones due to low muscle tone. However, it seems Stella is going to be quite advanced. She is already starting to sit up fairly well at 3 1\2 months.

I'm Charlsie by the way.

[gizzyntaz]

Development - Alan was born 19 days late, so he came out pretty strong. He could hold his head pretty much from birth. He was sitting up unassisted at 3.5 months, but I think his "spare tire" helped him. He is amazingly strong for his age. He also has 8 teeth already (working on two more as I type this) - but that has nothing to do with his size.

He seems to be doing things more in line with his peers now (crawling, pulling up, standing on furniture, pincer grasp, etc). He's not so advanced on the gross or fine motor skills anymore, and I don't anticipate that his size will have any bearing on his cognitive development.

I'm a little concerned that people will expect too much from him because he is so big and looks so much older (especially with all of the teeth). We keep thinking he will slow down eventually... it just hasn't happened yet. Also, because he developed so fast at the beginning (leaps and bounds ahead of his peer average) people like MIL are constantly asking me if he's doing things that are not yet age-appropriate for him (like walking :rolleyes: ) It frustrates me, because while I am happy he is so developed and strong, I just want him to stay my baby, KWIM? I end up getting snotty sometimes with the ILs, especially, when I say, "He's already growing up too fast... don't push it!"

[Renrel]

The comments never bother me, but I don't think we even had that many. Though Gabe was a big baby he never looked that big. He was always perfectly proportioned and people always refered to him as "solid" rather than big. He did not look all pudgie and full of baby fat. And I liked the comments about how such a small woman could grow such a big baby. I was very proud of him and me and I aways choose to take comments in the most positive light I can, whether they are intended as such or not. I forgive people who are clueless that their comments are intrusive or hurtful assuming they don't realize and enjoying annoying those who might be intentionally mean but refusing to hear the insult intended. But Gabe also went from being something like 95% to 75% over his first year, so he does not generate size comments anymore, just vocabulary ones. And the decrease in size was fine and normal for him, once he got to around 75% he stayed steady, given that DH and I are both small people nobody really expected him to stay in the 90's. Don't know why he was born so big, other than I was a big baby and he was very late.

[Koala_Gurl]

I guess one trend I have noticed with our bigger babies, is that they were born on time or late. I guess that would help, eh? (DD was a week late, and like many of you, has been able to hold her head up pretty well from day one.)

She is 5.5 months now, and is pulling herself to standing in the crib; has been army crawling for about a month, real crawling now for about a week, and sitting up on her own (thanks for her large desire to get her feet in her mouth!) ;)

[shipgirl]

Can I join? I need a place where chunky is "normal" :p .

DS: Emory
DOB: 4/5/05
9 lbs 14 oz
20.5 inches

4 months
20 lbs 11 oz
27.5 inches
Clothes: 9-12
:eek:

Lylmysschaos I am glad to hear that you are already in size 4 diapers. I was just looking at DS last night saying boy he needs size 4. My big boy can also suck down 8oz of formula in one sitting. I mean where do we go from here 2 bottles in one sitting :rolleyes: .

Comments
Yeah getting a little tired of the "Oh my he is huge!"

Development
Does seem to be a bit ahead of the game. Has always been very alert, already has 2 teeth, babbles up a storm and rolls all over. As far as holding up head/sitting up, not so much. I keep thinking boy that is a big head to hold up or a big belly to get off the floor, that I wonder if it will take him a bit longer?

[LyLMyssChaos]

Lylmysschaos I am glad to hear that you are already in size 4 diapers. I was just looking at DS last night saying boy he needs size 4. My big boy can also suck down 8oz of formula in one sitting. I mean where do we go from here 2 bottles in one sitting :rolleyes: .


There must have been something in the water this April, eh? LOL As for where to go after 8 oz of formula? That's when we started introducing cereal and stuff. It was really hard because he was downing 6 to 8 oz at a month old, so we bought bigger bottles, only they come with the high flow nipples, so we had to go out and buy extra nipples for those bottles!!! :rolleyes:

I got the thread started in the group section, but not too much info is there yet, hopefully I'll have it done this weekend!

The Chunky Monkey Mama Club (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=5887)

[linda_loo]

My dd (Marissa) has been 75th-95th% ile (height and weight) since she was a month old. I happen to have her entire growth chart on my Palm, so I cut-n-pasted:

11.21.03 - birth - bm
Height - 20 1/2"
Weight - 7 pounds, 13 ounces
Head Circumference - 36 cm

12.16.03 - 4 weeks - bm + formula
Height - 21 1/2" (75th)
Weight - 10 pounds, 1 ounce (75th)
Head Circumference - 38 cm (75th)

1.20.04 - 2 months - bm + formula
Height - 22 1/2" (50th)
Weight - 12 pounds, 5 ounces (75th)
Head Circumference - 40 cm (75th)

2.10.04 - 3 months - bm + formula
14.4 pounds

3.24.04 - 4 months - formula
Height - 25" (75th)
Weight - 17 pounds, 1 ounce (97th+)
Head Circumference - 42 cm (75th)

5.12.04 - 6 months - formula + solids
Height - 26.5" 67th
Weight - 19 pounds, 2 ounces 93rd
Head Circumference - 44 cm 87th

7.1.04 - 8 months - formula + solids
Weight - 21.6 pounds

8.31.04 - 9 months - formula + solids
Height - 29" 95th
Weight - 24 pounds, 5.5 ounces 97+th
Head Circumference - 46 cm

2.22.05 - 15 months - whole milk + solids
Height - 32"
Weight - 28 pounds, 1 ounce

5.24.05 - 18 months - whole milk + solids
Height - 33" 90th
Weight - 28 pounds, 7 ounces 90th
Head Circumference - 49 cm
Head Circumference - 48 cm

Currently (almost 22 months), she is about 30 pounds.

She's been wearing a size 5 diaper for a while now. I actually put her in 5s before necessary, because my oldest was in 5s at the time, and it was just easier to have only 1 size diaper in my bag. A lot of her 24 month clothes are too short, and some are pretty much too snug. I have lots of 3T and some 2T stuff around from her sister (who is now moving into 4Ts), so she wears some 3T stuff as well. (she won't be 2 until November).

Do you get sick of the comments? Not now. When she was younger, I got a lot of "my goodness, look at those thighs, I love chubby babies." But, I knew they meant well. I did get bugged when someone would ask "do you think she'll favor you and that Ana will favor Evan (dh)? Meaning: will Marissa be fat like you? That sort of pissed me off, because I don't really feel like addressing the idea of my fat assedness and comparing it to my 10 month old baby, kwim?

People are constantly asking if the girls are twins. Partly because I often dress them alike (especially when we are at a playground, it's just easier to keep track of both of them, when they have the same color on), but partly because they weigh about the same. Ana is a couple inches taller, but when they are both in a double stroller, SBS, they look like fraternal twins.

When they were younger, people would say "how far apart are your girls???????" Like that, with 15 question marks at the end. After a while, I began to figure out that they were thinking my kids were like 10 months apart, and you know how idiotic people are about that (thinking you have no self control or are just plain stupid for having kids close together).

Developmental Milestones - She was born at 41 weeks, and was fairly strong since birth. I don't remember when she started crawling, I'd have to look that up. First words at 9 months. Walked around 10 months. Currently speaks in nearly full sentences and knows her colors. I'm-not-saying-my-kid-is-a-genius here, or that any of that has anything to do with her weight (as far as I know, there is no correlation there). She is what she is, seeing her sister (18 months older) walk and talk constantly.

[catmom]

Ok, now I feel really bad. I am always telling people how big their babies are. I thought I was paying them a compliment! It never occured to me it could be meant any other way. I guess I always thought having a big/chunky baby was a good thing.

[Daniel's Kitty]

There isn't anything wrong with having a big baby. I still think it is great. It may get old someday, but he looks so healthy and happy. Some people still think he is so tiny though.

[HGMorgann]

don't feel bad catmom. i for one, am not offended. i know my girl is big- and healthy!

[dal]

I think that comments will come no matter what size babies you have. People are forever commenting on how small my older daughter is. And now people are always saying how my youngest must love to eat...

My oldest is 2 years old, weighs 23.5 pounds and is 32.5 inches. Roughly 10th percentile in both.

My youngest is 9 months old, weighs 19.1 pounds and is 26.5 inches. She is short but heavy which makes her look even bigger than she actually is.

[LyLMyssChaos]

dal~ I swear, our kids have so many things in common!! LOL I actually had someone make a comment to me the other day about "having kid's so close together" and I got the typical "how far apart are they????" as well. I was like "umm, they are almost 2 years apart, she's just petite and he's a big boy!" LOL Madeline is now 26 months weighs 23 pounds and is 33 inches tall. So comparing that with her "baby" brother that is almost 5 months and currently 18 pounds and 27.5 inches, I can see how they'd be slightly confused. But come on, the way Madeline talks, walks and acts, she is clearly much older than 16 months! Then one lady said "well, if they didn't look so much alike, I wouldn't have even thought they had the same father!?!?!" Now, I thought that lady overstepped the boundaries and I swear, if my kid's would not have been witnessing it, I would have smacked her! Of course my kid's have the same father!! Grrrr (sorry if anyone here isn't in that situation, I didn't mean to offend anyone! :) )

[Daniel's Kitty]

Aww come on doesn't everybody have kids with different guys? I got asked if I knew who the father was while I was pg so don't feel bad.

[gizzyntaz]

I got asked if I knew who the father was while I was pg

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[LyLMyssChaos]

I just wanted to let you ladies know you can now find The Chunky Monkey Mama Club (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=5887&page=1&pp=10) in the group section. I am going to be asking to have this thread closed. If anyone is interested, feel free to join us in the group section!