overfeeding...need opinions on what the doc said

Kate CP - posted on 02/27/2009

Lots of kids get chubby and then they suddenly grow and get skinny again. I did it as a child and my daughter is doing it now. I'll look at her and go "Huh, she looks like she's getting a little chunky..." and two days later she's 3 inches taller and I have to let the hem down in her pants. If you're really worried about it I would stretch the feedings to every 3 hours maybe and give her plenty of tummy time. She'll be fine. :)

Kayleigh - posted on 02/27/2009

Honey don't you mind what the doc says!!They said the samethings about my twins....Feed her what she wants when she wants!!! That is truely whats best for her.....you could try adding a little baby cereal to her bottle just be shure to cut at least 1 nipple a little larger and use that one when the cereal is in the formula........your baby knows how much food she needs to grow,let her eat....the cereal will help keep her full between feedings...the doc will tell you not to but it will help A LOT!! I have twins and we went throught this!!! Just because someone has MD after thier name doesn't mean that they are always right or know your baby anywhere near what you do.Feed her don't make her go hungry because some doc says you should!!!!!!!!!!!Good LUCK!!! Do what you feel is best YOU are her MOTHER!!!Don't let anyone else tell you diffrent!

Amie - posted on 02/27/2009

I take everything our doctor has said about each of our kid's with a grain of salt. They mean well and do have the best of intentions but they are not the know all and end all. My kids were/are big kids too. Though for mine they have the height to compensate too for their weight. They take after their daddy, I'm not looking forward to puberty and their last growth spurts. It's going to be weird trying to discipline while looking up at a kid. LOL! Our oldest is 8 and she's almost as tall as me! She comes up to my chin and I'm 5'5" so I'm not horribly short either. We've actually been asked if we're lying about our kids ages at one point or another too. It's ridiculous. ANYWAY.. .sorry started to ramble. LOL!... You could try stretching the feedings to every 3 hours instead. Mine were on that schedule until about 4-5 months and then because they were such big and healthy babies our doctor said it was ok to start pablum. Before that I just had to deal with getting them fed every 3 hours. It was a hassle, some house work suffered but my hubby was good about helping out when they were babies. =) I'm a paranoid mom though, I never put pablum in their bottles nor gave it to them before our doctor and public health nurse said it was ok. I was worried about this mostly because I know there tummies can only handle so much and solids are harder for them to digest than formula or breast milk. Also if your bottle feeding (which it sounds like) get dad to help at night if he isn't already and when he's home so you're not so tired and worn out. Don't worry about baby being a rollie pollie either, it's healthy. Though of course to a certain degree but yours doesn't sound that bad! Enjoy the pudgy days as soon as their able to move (especially walking and running) it'll just melt off. =)

Millie - posted on 02/27/2009

Sarah, l read the younger moms opinion's and it looks like we are basically on the same page (I'm a grandma with 6 grandsons.) In addition to what I previously posted, I think it would improve her sleeping and lower the crying if you gave her 8oz of formula and see how that works. Don''t take the doctors advise as the ultimate! Let HIM come and care for her 1 day and see if he would stick to his own advise!!! :) Seriously, try the 8oz. instead of the 5 1/2oz. Thats not enough food for her!

Millie - posted on 02/27/2009

Being a new Mom is so stressful. When my youngest son was 6 weeks old, he weight 14 lbs! My doctor put him on Karo syrup and milk. He didn't grow up to be a fat person.Some babies are just this way! The Pablum wouldn't make her tummy stretch! I would feed her BUT make sure she does have colic. Babies that have colic do cry/scream a LOT. Have you taken her into the doctor to have her checked out? It's easy for the doctor to tell you NOT to feed her but I'm not sure that is realistic. Babies have their "own time schedule" and I would let her scream like that! She needs to have the security of her Mommy and letting her scream for hours isn't right either! Personally, I would put a little of the pablum into her bottle (maybe a tablespoon every other bottle and see if that helps. Sounds to me like she is just a hungry baby! My oldest grandson, who is 2 1/2 years old hasn't eaten as well as his little 11 month old brother, so each child is different! God gives us Mommies a natural ability to know what to do for our babies, in spite of what the doctor says!!!!! My son is now 6''2" and slim, so don't be concerned about the weight right now. My Best Thoughts are with you! Is this your first child?

Nadia - posted on 02/27/2009

HI Sarah, My son was feeding every 2 1/2 hours and I was only giving him 5 oz which was not enough. I have now increased it to 7 oz and he feeds every 4 hours during the day and he has recently started doing his nights. He only weighs 11 pounds, so you should definitely increase her milk intake. As for the cereal, I'm sure she loved it because it filled her up, but she's way too young to be having cereal as her digestive system needs to build before she can start having it. I gave my first son cereal at about 3 1/2 months to start him off. This is my suggestion, hope it works for you...good luck!!

Brittany - posted on 02/27/2009

I just found out my 2mth son is now 14lbs!

Feed her when she's hungry..get anoth opinion because not one doc said he was over weight or that i was over feeding him. He eats about 6oz every feeding and wants more. Since I've found a happy balance for him, he sleeps longer at night and is happier during the day. Go with you gut on this..seriously.

Ilkay - posted on 02/27/2009

I think 4 hours is a long time, but you can try feeding her every 3 hours instead. I wouldn't worry about her weight too much as babies vary in their development.

http://www.legacyofpearl.com/tag/Mama+Kn...

Loni - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Loni:

My son is 4 months now but at his 2 month visit he was 13.2 and i am breastfeeding and at that time i was just pumping and feeding him in a bottle and he was eat 5 to 6ozs pretty much every 2 hours sometimes 3 and my doc said he was right on track. He was 24" long though, I'm not sure how long your daughter is but my doc was very happy with his weight gain!

My son was also sleeping through the night at that point too.

Loni - posted on 02/27/2009

My son is 4 months now but at his 2 month visit he was 13.2 and i am breastfeeding and at that time i was just pumping and feeding him in a bottle and he was eat 5 to 6ozs pretty much every 2 hours sometimes 3 and my doc said he was right on track. He was 24" long though, I'm not sure how long your daughter is but my doc was very happy with his weight gain!

Cindy - posted on 02/27/2009

Give the baby all the food she needs!!!  I would hold off with the feeding because the nurse at the hosptial said she was eating to much.....wrong thing to do...all she did was cry....My 2nd daughter had acid reflex to cure that I put 1 tsp rice cereal to 2oz bottle (per docotrs orders).  I still use the cereal now she is completely satisfied, strong, I believe in the cereal!!!  This will definitaly help with sleeping at night!!!

Claudette - posted on 02/27/2009

Sorry to hear you are having problems.. But I would do like the doc says.. I know it is not easy, but try rocking her, giving her a soother.. It will not take long before she gets used to it.. I know because my daughter spent 6 1/2 months in the NICU ( my twins where born at 26 weeks) and when she came home she was feeding every 4 hours.. Well this was very hard on me, one eating every 5 and the other every 4. So the NICU changed her feeding time.. Her 4 am was cut out.. For two nights in a row she was up.. But on the third night she was fine.. As long as the baby gets the correct amount of food during the day, she will get used to what ever time you set for her.. But keep in mind it will take work to get her there.... 

Also with both of my babies when I go to feed them I can hear their tummies growling.. It is a good sign.

Kelly Ann - posted on 02/27/2009

my son is 7 1/2 months now, but weighed about 14 lbs at 2 months. when he was 2 months we started feeding him 8 oz. every 4 hours 4 times/day and he wouldnt wake up for a bottle at night. we also started adding 2 tablespoons of rice cereal to every 4oz of formula around that time at his doctor's direction because he was spitting up so much, so i really dont think your daughter is eating too much at all.

Marisa - posted on 02/27/2009

My son is just under 2 months, he was 7.7 at birth, and two weeks ago he went to his doctor and weighed 11.8 . He eats 4 oz every 2-3 hours, but his doctor has not said anything about him over eating. I get told by family members he eats too much, but I'd rather not starve him. Your babys doctor knows children, but you know your child better than anyone else. Stick with your gut feeling.

Ashley - posted on 02/27/2009

Babies usually go through growth spurts at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months.  I would feed her when she is hungry.  Each baby is different.  My oldest was smaller and not a very good eater, but my youngest is bigger and loves to eat.  If you don't feel comfortable with your doctor's advice then maybe you could find another doctor.

Jennifer - posted on 02/27/2009

Does your baby's doctor have any children him/herself? I mean, I can see maybe stretching a feeding a half an hour or so, but the doc is asking you stretch it an hour and a half. I'm not going to tell you to go against a doctor's advice, but it does seem a little odd. You can try other ways of comforting her instead of food, though. Sometimes a baby will act hungry when all they want is some love and cuddles.

Jenny - posted on 02/27/2009

When I had my boy (obviouslly different then a girl), but he was never full, I felt like I was feeding him ever 15 minutes. Reading a lot of articles about what to do and what not to do I found that you need to do what you think is best. Babies brains are developing so if you decide to withold food you could be damaging that development (in a worst case scenerio).  You are also not "supposed" to give your kid any cereal/rice until they are at least 6 months. If I were you I would get a second opinion. Babies are allowed to be chubby. She will grow into her own shape soon enough. One thing that really helped me was babycenter.com they have a lot of really good articles about feeding etc..

Shelly - posted on 02/27/2009

I say follow your gut instincts. Some kids are just fat. She should grow out of it. You never know if she'll just shoot up and be twice as tall in a few months.

Ashley - posted on 02/27/2009

I say feed her what she wants, doc's are full of opinions! it is very good that you have an eager eater, You can also start adding cereal to her bottle at night and maybe that will keep her satified longer. Good luck with this, and go with your gut a mothers intuition is always right!

Dana - posted on 02/27/2009

Our daughter is know 13 years old but when she was a baby she weighed in at a very BIG baby.

She was 27lbs at 5 months old.

She was a litlle Rollie Pollie, but know she is very tall and is at her normal weight for her size.

We fed her whenever she was hungry(which was alot) but she was healthy and happy.

I hope this helps you