Dear Abby Letters Unit 2 1
Dear Abby Letters Unit 2
CHAPTER 5:
Dear Abby,
My baby was 6 pounds at birth and now, four months later, weighs about 9 pounds.
The doctor said his weight is in the 20th percentile. My husband and I are both large people
so I was a little surprised. I’m breastfeeding and have not yet introduced any supplements or
solids. Should I be concerned? Most of the growth he has experienced seems to be in his
head. Does the head grow at the same pace as the rest of the body? If it’s because of the
brain, why does it grow so much in early childhood? After all, he hasn’t learned that much
yet.
Tiny in Tallahassee (Chapter 5, Letter 1) [Body Size, Brain Development]
Dear Tiny in Tallahassee,
I think you shouldn't be too worried since according to Stanley and Spinner, "from
birth to 6 months, the typical baby will double their birth weight" (2017). Your baby is only a
few pounds away. Your baby, who is growing at the 20th percentile, is having normal
growth. A lower or higher percentile doesn't mean there is something wrong with your baby.
Whether your child is in the 95th or 15th percentile, what matters is that they grow steadily
over time. In case you have been feeding it improperly, the body stops growing; however, the
brain continues to grow as the baby's fat is stored for the brain to nourish. That is why the
weight of the head is greater. Normally, when a baby is born, his brain already has 25% of his
