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Baby weight worries
by Dr Jane Collins
The Times paediatric consultant solves your problems
My son, now 8 weeks, is a big baby and I am worried that he is overweight. He was 10lb 2oz (4.6kg) at birth, 11lb 2oz by day nine and weighs 15lb 6oz. He was breast-fed for nine days until I could no longer meet his needs and is on a hungry-baby formula. My health visitor advises not to give more than 37oz in 24 hours and not to start solids until he is six months. Do you agree? Nicola Courtiour, by e-mail
Your son is gaining weight consistently between the 98th and 99.6th centiles, which could be perfectly normal provided his length is also growing along a high centile. One baby in every 260 grows between the 98th and 99.6th centiles. It would be good idea for his length to be measured accurately, and if it is close to his weight centile there is unlikely to be anything to be concerned about.
I agree with your health visitor about not giving him more than about 40oz of milk each day. Try cutting out one night feed, which might encourage him to sleep through the night. If he cries in the night, comfort him but don?t give him milk. If he won?t settle, give him water.
The Department of Health?s advice is not to start solids before six months. But it might be worth starting your son on low-calorie weaning foods before then, although no earlier than 17 weeks. From 17 weeks you could try giving him puréed fruits and vegetables to replace a feed.
When you have a very hungry baby it is easy to feel discouraged and concerned that you might not be meeting his needs through breast-feeding. I know it is not possible for you, but an option for some in these particular circumstances is partial breast-feeding, with formula to top up. The milk supply increases with the demands of the baby. Mixed feeding gives some of the protection against infections provided by breast milk.