LLLI has said 4-7 oz/week  for many, many years.  Over the long haul I've
found this to be a good, minimum  guideline.  Many BF babies gain more, but
I sort of get very uncomfortable with babies gaining less.  Another rule of
thumb is double birth weight by 6 mo and triple birth weight by one year.
Interestingly your sample of two didn't do that, but ended up the same grown
up, with 2 different starting points (8lbs and 5 & /2 lbs).  Go figure :-)

I think in our very overnourished society (US & CA) people would do well to
quit overnourishing babies!  It seems to be a matter of honor to stuff
babies, even my own staff in my office and some local WIC  counselors get
this idea across to moms by focusing on weight gain and growth charts in an
incorrect way.   I see tubby toddlers every day!  I can't seem to get the
idea across that 64 lbs at 3 years isn't a great idea :-(

I look at the overall baby/child.  Is the baby proportional? is the baby
active? on target developmentally?  do we know if mom, dad or siblings were
unusual sized (big or small) as a baby?  Sincerely, Pat in SNJ

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