Advice please - My Little'un is a big'un!

[smoggii]

My DD is nearly 17 weeks and she's gorgeous and huge! She was on the 91st centile when she was born, lost weight after her birth (I tried to BF but was too ill and it didn't work - formula fed from 5 days old) and at her 16 week weigh in was 19.5lbs putting her on the top of the 99.6 line.

Up to now the two HVs i've seen have said - not a problem she's healthy and developing well so don't worry just feed her when she's asking for it she will regulate it herself when she starts moving, the HV I saw at this visit said - 'be honest - what might you be doing to create this situation' I was mortified because i've been doing everything I've been told to do and i've been completely honest. I'm feeding her when she's hungry letting her decide when to stop, and she does stop when she's had enough - I can't count the amount of formula that's gone down the drain.

She has fallen into a routine which the HV made me write down then told me to try and drop 3 oz (90ml) per day and force her to drink water instead.

We are on day 4 of this now and my previously contented baby has been grumpy and crying all the time.

I measured her length this morning and she is very long (nearly 70cm putting her above the 99.6 line - me and DH both tall) and I'm wondering whether the HV should have taken this into account before telling me to drop her food?

I've read the red book and that says babies over the top line are usually healthy and they would only consider a baby overweight if it was over the top line when over 12 months.

I guess i am just wondering whether i should just carry on doing what i was doing and have a happy big baby or should do as i was told by the HV and drop some food. If anyone has had a similar experience i would be greatful for your wisdom.

You don't have to go to the HV. Baby clinics aren't compulsory

If she is happy and healthy and growing out of her clothes you don't need to get her weighed. At all.

Any HV that suggests reducing the intake of a 4 month old baby that is only on milk is barmy IMO. Especially where the baby's birthweight was so high, and where the length and weight are in proportion.

Your baby is telling you herself that she doesn't like having her milk reduced, so listen to your baby and not the HV and give her what she wants, when she wants it.

She's your baby and therefore you know what she needs. I had exactly the same thing with my DS when he was a baby. HV (who was as mad as a box of frogs) told me he was putting on too much weight but refused to measure his length saying it was not relevant - of course its relevant you daft ol'e bint! He was obviously growing as Clarkes was doing very well out of me every five weeks

Anyway he is now a very slim, healthy active six year old.

I must admit I ignored my HV (although would never advocate it) and followed my DS's lead and my instincts - babies don't come with instruction manuals (although would be much easier if they did)

The registrar pead told me that my dd was overweight, I asked how could that be as her weight and height were on the same centile doesn't help that I'm a short arse and mine were tall, dd2 was 6 months old before she hit the centile charts for height!

Just ignore the HV, don't go back!

Thank you all for the advice.

Maryz I actually ordered the BLW book yesterday after doing a bit of research into weaning I think it's a really good idea, have to get my head around it though and the bundles of freezing pots i've bought will probably come in handy for planting a windowsill herb garden

She has very good neck/back strength so I've staarted to put her in her highchair for 10 mins a day to play with her toys (which automatically go straight in her mouth anyway!) so she associates the highchair with having fun and it's not new to her when we start on food in a couple of months.

I agree with all the comments above. My little one (13 months) was very big and reached the 91st centile, but as soon as he became active he started to equal out, crawling etc- he is now just below the 75th centile- so I wouldn't worry- although I did at the time!

I also agree with the comment, that I would rather a chubby baby than a skinny baby who never ate/ drank etc :o)

I think you're getting your baby weighed too frequently - no need for such regular weigh-ins at all. My DD is huge, she's 11 months but looks about the same as an 18 month old. She too was FF from early on due to me being ill, and has just grown and grown, although she is long too. She's not getting around that well yet so no doubt that's a factor, but as she feeds herself solids and decides how much milk she wants I really don't see what the issue is.

My dc are now incredibly slim/slight - their heights are on much higher centiles than their weights! Two of them are so slim I have to buy gap slim fit jeans as nothing else will stay up however much you adjust the elastic. The podgiest one is not on 50th centile for both height and weight.