Can an EBF baby be over fed?

[Barbies97]

Just that really, I have a 5 and half month old baby. One of my mothers friends saw a photo of him and he is chunky and does have "rolls". She said "have they not had a word with you about his weight? I'd be worried if I was you".

He is on the top of the chart, but what can I do? I don't think I need to do anything but it's upset me (PFB!).

I intend to start solids next month.

My EBF eldest was a very podgy baby and once she started moving about slimmed down to average size, which she still is 20 years later.

My EBF started a low weight but had rolls of fat. Even now he’s at the top end of height, bottom for weight, but has rolls everywhere. Enjoy them and don’t worry about what your friend says - too many people in this country have no idea about breastfeeding.

Definitely not, if the baby takes in too much milk they will throw it up. As he grows he will lose his baby fat 🙂

Babies of that age are naturally chubby. Once they start crawling and walking, they slim down through a combination of Moving More and Eating Less (because they won't sit down to be fed!)

DD1 was like that too. Started on 50th percentile but was on 85-90th by about 3 months old and stayed there. People commented on her chubbiness and it really worried me for a while. One theory I did have (for myself so probably untrue) was that because I used to switch sides a lot she was never getting the rich hind milk to fill her up for longer plus whenever she cried in the night I'd just feed her straight away and never really gave her the chance to see if she would settle herself as I was worried she'd wake DH. So although in theory you can't overfeed them, I think I possibly did in some ways. Anyway she's now 2.5 and is 60th for height and weight.

Hell no. Genetics play a role to how your baby looks but I’ve never heard of EBF overweight baby.
My daughter was a chunky baby with rolls. She was over 10lb at birth and was for nearly a year baby to 12months, on the 75th percentile for weight and over 90th for height. Now, like her father is very tall at 5’10 and size 8.

No, plus studies indicate bf babies are less likely to be obese adults as they can better recognise when full.

Should have asked her if a doctor has had a word with her about blurting our every thought that pops into her head.

Both of mine were on the 95 percentile with loads of rolls of lovely baby fat. Like little Michelin men. Both breastfed. .
Once they started moving around it all fell off and they were Probably skinny if anything. They’re now 15 and 19 and perfect specimens in my totally unbiased opinion 😁.
They drink as much as they need.

Nope - my little one was always +99th percentile and EBF, he was born big and has very strong so very efficient at getting his milk. If they are full they won’t feed, well done you.

he is chunky and does have "rolls"

He sounds gorgeous. Little chunky babies with little chubby knees are the best 😍

Nope, though sometimes it feels like they're doing their best. Babies are just chunks. They also go through growth spurts and plateaus. Maybe DS is just fattening up before a little gain in height

You can’t overfeed an EBF baby. Your baby is perfect and no doubt absolutely adorable. One of my babies was identical at that age and is now a very slim toddler. I look back on his chubby cheeks and rolls of fat with such fondness.

Your mother’s friend needs to wind her neck in and a) learn some tact and b) educate herself on breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

Enjoy your baby and don’t give it a second thought.

Just to echo; you can’t over feed an EBF baby. My DD was on the 99th percentile (was also very long), with lots of lovely baby rolls. She’s now almost 13 and is 5 ft 6 with not an ounce of fat on her. Ignore those ignoramus’s and enjoy your gorgeous baby x

He is "chubby" but I do think he's perfect!!

I'm sure that photo isn't identifying!

My DD has been on the 99th since I was pregnant with her!
Chubby babies are the best!

Oh my God I'm squidging from here!

Ahem
Both of mine ebf, I was annoyed as DS who has always been 95th centile for height and weight got the 'your offspring is dangerously overweight' letter when he was 5. Ignored it.

DS was exactly the same. DD is 8 months and is just as squidgy as her brother was. DS is 3 now and shot up. He's a lanky little thing now and he eats plenty. I also EBF on demand. Ignore the comments. They stock up and then shoot up

Some babies are just naturally bigger than others. Don’t worry. As soon as he’s mobile you’ll see him losing it as he grows as well. Bless him 😊he’s lush.

They're meant to have rolls! That's what makes them so scrumptious. Tell her to go fuck herself.

My son is huge...he's been off the chart at times and was checked over by a paediatrician who basically laughed and just said he's healthy and happy so 🤷🏻‍♀️ Now he has started toddling about he has lost a few pounds and I expect he will lose weight the more he moves. He's also very tall for his age (he's a year but people often think he is 2/3 🤦🏻‍♀️)

No

Thank you everyone! Next time I'll be ready and tell her to go do one!

Your friend is rude and should keep her opinions to herself! No you cannot over feed a breastfed baby but you can over feed bottle fed babies as breastfed babies have to work for it so will stop if they are full. It sounds like you are doing great so well done! I am still breastfeeding my o month old but I had to work hard at it in the beginning and struggled with low weight gain which I now know was down to being aneimic and a difficult birth. So you should be glad you are doing well and dont listen to your friend