stunted, runt, miniature??

I started a couple seeds about a month ago. They popped up and behaved normally, but they're not growing. They are putting out new leaves, and are on their third set of true leaves. These leaves are perfectly shaped they are just small. I would say the leaves are about an inch long. But it's like the whole plant is miniaturized. Even the stem is small.

I thought maybe the soil I planted them in which was a mix of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, azomite and compost. I am also not ph'ing. I replanted them yesterday into pure coco and I have a ph tester and up/down coming in tomorrow. I'm using Jack's 3-2-1 formula for nutes and also add a little bit of molasses.

Any thoughts on what it could be?

PS: I would post a pic, but scared of metadata.

plants dont eat molasses but pests do, the same pests eat tender seedling roots too.

molasses is ok to use when cooking proper soil during compost before planting, to feed bacteria in the soil.
that bacteria happens also when water meets compost and drains.

fertilized seedlings often fail, soil may be too hot for seedlings.

too much/often water/poor drainage will also stunt growth.

seedlings should not be transplanted until roots fill their container., doing so tears delicate root structure
which would slow growth

some common seedlings issue causes to check for

Thanks for the reply chem!!

I'll cut out the molasses. It was added to feed the bacteria in the soil. I'm not sure if that is what's causing them to not grow proportionately, but I will cut it.

I thought the soil may have been to hot for them as well, but I have other seedlings started the same time ... ( veggies: tomatoes and peppers ) and they have not reacted the same.

Drainage seemed ok ... I was watering when the top inch or so of soil felt dry, about every three to four days, at 1/2 cup to a cup at a time, and the runoff was removed.

I only transplanted once ... started in paper towels and moved to a solo cup with our potting mix. Once I saw that their condition wasn't going to change I did carefully remove the plant and roots from the soil they were started in and have them in fresh coco to see if that helps ... that was yesterday, so I'll give them some time. They had little to no roots, other than the tap root ... so going back to the molasses ... they were in an outside open shed so maybe something was attracted to them and eating the roots.

I also saw one video on youtube that said it was PH, so that's why I got the PH tester and up/down. Once it arrives I'll ph the water/nutes ... any recommendations??

What's weird is they look perfectly healthy ... just miniature like a bonsai.

First time starting seeds and this was just a test run to see if I could do it, probably won't even keep them to go to flower, so I'm not too worried about it, but would like to figure out why so I don't make the same mistake.