Baby Physical Development: Size Is Everything
Submitted by
Sara Mannen
I dread strangers talking to me when I'm with my baby. Why? Because of this:
"Oh, your daughter is so cute! How old is she?"
"She's 6 months."
"Oh my gosh, she is so small! Was she premature?"
When I say no, I am asked a string of nosy and condescending questions implying that something is wrong with my baby—or me—because she is small.
I don't get this at all. I am not a large person, nor is my husband. It makes sense that my daughter is petite. The doctor is not remotely concerned about her weight. However, every other stranger I meet seems to be concerned that she isn't healthy or that I'm not producing enough breast milk (as if THAT'S any of their business).
I am already self-conscious about my daughter's size. I do NOT need random strangers commenting on it. It seems people view a child's place on the growth-percentile charts as a way to grade parenting skills. If a child is above the 90th percentile, her parents score an A. My daughter is in the 10th percentile, so I get an F.
The people who make these comments about my baby's physical development are really getting on my nerves. I wish they would realize that every baby is different. Maybe I should start commenting on THEIR size, and ask them where they are on the BMI chart. That might help them keep their comments to themselves.
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