My Little Jack Man

Jack is a big baby. People have asked if he is 6 months old; some even asked if he is 9 months old! Nope, my little man is only 4 (almost 5) months. He is tipping the scales at 19 pounds and is 29 inches in length. He is almost too big for his infant car seat. His swing goes up to 25 pounds, and he is almost too long for it. Why is this problem? Does size matter?

I think so.

Why? Because he is bigger than the average 4 month old, he is quickly outgrowing all of the things that were meant for infants to use. For example, he sleeps so well in his swing. I know, I know, he should be in the crib for naps, but the little man loves his swing time. It allows me to get things done around the house, or play with Lily for a good 1.5-2 hours. For an average sized baby this would be fine, but Jack is almost too big for the swing. The infant car seat isn't too big a deal; however, it means we will need to buy a convertible car seat much sooner than expected. He is in 9 month clothing, and is closing in on 12 month sizes. His head is almost as big as his sister's (and she is 2!).

But he is a little baby.

I think this part is going to be a challenge. When people see a bigger baby, or kid, they assume things about that child. About what they can do. And, therefore, their expectations of the child change. I know Jack is 4 months old. I know what he is capable of, and what he is working on being about to do. When others see him though, when they think he is 6, or 7, or 8 months old, they might think he should be able to do other, harder things. I don't know that is a problem now, since he is only an infant. I do see this becoming problem if he stays in this growth curve as he gets older.

Why?

Because some might look at my 4 year old and think he is older. When they do that, they will assume he should listen better, or do more, or be more. I know not everyone will act this way, but I have seen it with other kids. The kids who are just bigger for their age. They are only 2 or 3, and people expect of them what they would expect of a 4 or 5 year old because they look bigger, older.

It is hard for me, now, because I look at him and all his baby-ness. I love his baby-ness. His laid back personality. His willingness to just melt into me when we cuddle. He is a momma's boy, and I am soaking all of that in. But when I hold him, it's like holding a 1 year old (tricky, sometimes, because he cannot be held the way I would hold a one year old...).

To put things into perspective: Lily is 2, she is 26 pounds, 36 inches (she is 90% for height, 40% for weight). Jack is 7 inches shorter, and 7 pounds lighter and he is only 4 months old (he is 99%+ for height, 89% for weight).

Maybe this all seems a little irrational. I sort of hope it is. I love my little man. I don't always love getting up at 1:00am, but when I look at him and see how much he needs his momma, how much he needs a snuggle, 1:00am isn't quite so bad. I know he will only be little for a very short amount of time. Infant-hood is so, so fleeting.

I hope that I am wrong.

That size won't matter.