Overweight 9 month old baby

[rab3331]

Our foster baby came to us for the second time a week ago weighing 10.4 kilos. Her grandmother who had been looking after her for two months is morbidly obese as well as not being able to cope. The problem I now have is that bubs is too heavy to carry for more than a few yards unless I use both arms which means I then can’t carry anything else. Even a handbag and change bag over my shoulder becomes too much. Getting her into the car seat is a challenge and I wonder how long my back is going to hold out. If I had been her birth mum then I would have developed muscles as she grew (but then if I had been her birth Mum I expect she wouldn’t be overweight).
Question is, does anyone know a safe diet I can put her on? She loves her Formula which I have been diluting. I have also given her diluted fresh juice as she doesn’t like water and a mashed banana for breakfast, spaghetti hoops and mash for lunch (small portion) and small jar of apple and oatmeal for supper. She doesn’t seemed to have been given much in the way of solids so the usual apple pieces, carrot sticks are probably over ambitious at this stage.
Any tips welcome!

[rab3331]

Again you don’t have all the facts. She put on the extra weight very quickly and needs a highly nutritious low sugar low fat diet. She had scabies severely when with the birth grandmother, it became infected and the folds of skin aren’t healing. I wasn’t going to explain all that but clearly there a lot of trolls on the site. I only joined this morning and I wish I hadn’t except for the fact one kind lady suggested a sling and I’ve already ordered one.

[TammySwansonTwo]

As I said, get a high quality baby carrier designed to take this much weight. If your DH is a GP you should really know it’s not safe to dilute formula so I would strongly advise against this - I know in some countries if a GP finds out that formula is being diluted they report it to the equivalent of social services, it can be very serious.

If the baby likes spaghetti hoops, make a healthier version - fresh tomato sauce with small pasta like orzo. Similar with baked beans.

If they’ve been having incorrect nutrition up until now and they have legitimately gained more weight than they should for their centile, that will balance out when they start having proper nutrition and an appropriate intake.

My family on one side are Maori and I understand the potential issues but the weight in itself is not necessarily problematic, depends entirely on their birth weight and gain since.

[TammySwansonTwo]

Sounds like a very difficult situation. With proper nutrition any excess weight will resolve, but I do recommend dropping the processed foods if you can, especially if they need a low salt and sugar diet (babies do need fats, but not too much obviously).

Vegetable purées with small pastas are your friend I guess, also porridge and other fortified cereals. Definitely get them started on soft finger foods.

[teainbed]

I don't think any baby even an overweight one should be on a low fat diet. Agree there's no need for sugar at that age though. Can you see a paediatrician to advise further? What do you eat as a family? Lots of babies do well on baby led weaning and basically eating family meals just without the salt added.

[oldbirdy]

Is low fat advised for babies? I thought full fat was important for brain growth. Low sugar, yes of course.
Are you aiming for weight loss or to hold it steady whilst she grows into her weight?

[wafflethedog]

If baby needs low sugar I'd lay off the spaghetti hoops

[YouAreNotImportant]

I admittedly don't know any GPs in Australia but I know many in England. I don't think any would suggest diluting formula for a 9 month old baby.

[pinkpantsrock]

both my boys where monsters and off the charts on their weigh ins,they naturally massive and they had good diet.

try www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/beef-lasagne/ for recipe ideas and starting weening onto solids from scratch

i personally wouldn't give my boys anything with added salt in or unnatural sugar until they where 2, just wasn't needed.

i would recommend seeing back dr to get tips on strengthing your back if this is too be longer term. My child minders had to see one after having my boys

[sar302]

I have a book called the Baby Led Weaning Cookbook, by Gill Rapley. Putting the "baby led" stuff aside, it has a load of recipes that are made without sugar, salt etc. And can be eaten by the whole family. If baby has been used to sugar, might take a while to wean them off the taste of it.

[RemainOptimistic]

A 9 month old cannot be considered overweight! My DS was heavier at that age and neither me nor DH are obese.

Do not dilute formula, I am shocked you would even consider doing that.

Simply introduce baby to simple natural foods, take your time and don't panic. You have to keep offering foods many many times for baby to become familiar with them. At the start most of the food will end up on the floor, this is normal.

[DreamingofSunshine]

OP, I have a condition affecting my muscles, at the same time DS went from 25th to 91st percentile as we fixed his allergies/reflux which was causing him to not gain weight properly. I had a baby who weighed that at that age in top of wrists which didn't work properly so i wasn't used to it.

-use a sling even for short carries

-backpack changing bag

-upper body strength exercises, press ups are good

-can a dietitian give nutritional information?

[sar302]

Ok, and don't ever dilute formula - if your husband is a GP he should know this. Baby can be offered correctly made formula, or cooled, boiled water if thirsty rather than hungry.

[INeedNewShoes]

At 9 months I'd be avoiding anything premade and try not to make the meals too sweet. The emphasis needs to be on veg rather than fruit. All three of the meals you describe are sweet (Heinz stuff is full of sugar).

Vegetable purees are good and you could start finger food off with very soft cooked butternut squash (or similar), carrot. Cucumber is great as it doesn't need cooking. Toast.

I think at 9 months their bitter taste buds haven't developed so don't fall into the trap of thinking everything needs to taste sweet to be accepted.

[amymel2016]

Her weight sounds absolutely fine, in the UK she would be nearer the 75th/98th centiles but that’s still ok. Also, she’ll be crawling soon (if she already isn’t) and will drop weight then. Instead of all the processed stuff I’d give her mashed veg mainly, I assume you can get some frozen stuff? Then give her good fats and carbs for energy, wholemeal bread with cream cheese/avocado etc Don’t water down her formula, just give her less.

[eurochick]

I'm pretty horrified by this. Get a sling. Stop diluting formula. Stop feeding needless sugar like hoops and fruit juice.

[mummabearfoyrbabybears]

If you're her foster mum surely you have training and support by professionals instead of being so clueless on here and diluting formula. Putting a 9 month old on a diet?? Just feed her her proper formula. Never dilute it then just healthy food. Ask your support team! Reported this to

[MissReginaPhilange]

If your dp is a partner you should know that diluting formula leads to constipation and in turn can cause pain and discomfort. Purreed fruit and vegetables would be your best bet . And offering up water instead of juice. Don't lessen milk as if the child isnt eating properly they still need milk . Offering up a variety of purreed fruit and veg will expand the taste range the baby is used to. Also I found food like falafels are good for finger weaning

[MissReginaPhilange]

Oh and to odd to this my son weighed a heap more than this at 9 month old. He's now 17 month old almost coming out of 2-3 clothes and weighs 15.5kg.....and he's not fat he is just built like the proverbial brick shit house as is my other son. Genetics play a part in build weight etc

[mummabearfoyrbabybears]

And if she's been so poorly and your husbands a GP the. You should know better. Spaghetti hoops and mash isn't going to build her immune system. Wish I could report you to Social services and not just Mumsnet HQ

[TillyTheTiger]

It sounds like you have the best intentions and you're trying to do the right thing for your foster child's health. Is she moving around much yet? Once she's crawling everywhere at full speed or starting to walk you might find her weight balances out a bit anyway. I got my son a walker around that age (the type you push in front of you not the sit-in ones) and he never stopped. He was 98th percentile but he's dropped to 84th now he's almost 2 because he's so active.
You've had lots of good food and nutrition advice already, so I'll stick to tips for handling baby. Try to limit the stuff you take out and about with you. I have two bags: a small rucksack which has my purse, phone, keys, baby wipes, one change of nappies, cup of water and snack in it; then another bigger bag which I can leave on the pushchair or in the car with a couple of changes of clothes, more food, suncream, loads more nappies, toys, and various other paraphernalia.
If you're picking up baby from the floor then squat and lift pushing straight up with your legs, and holding the baby close to you, then sit her on your hip with your arm round her for support rather than carrying her just with your arms, and switch sides when you need to. Slings are brilliant and will help spread the weight evenly -if you need to walk any distance carrying her then pop her in the sling. The big thing I struggled with was getting DS in and out of the cot because it had to be on its lowest setting and there was no way of doing it without leaning right over which is bad for your back. A cot with a drop side will help, but we didn't have one and my son went in a toddler bed from 12 months and loved it.
I'm sure your arm strength will develop pretty quickly, good luck!

[MissReginaPhilange]

Also re the folds healing perhaps try oatmeal baths or cream. My son has skin conditions and numerous steroid treatments failed however aveeno oat cream worked a treat. Then top it up with something like zerobase or diprobase as an emoilent

[GinIsIn]

If you know a child needs a nutritious diet, why are you feeding spaghetti hoops?!

[SoyDora]

It really is dangerous to dilute formula.
If the baby needs a low sugar diet, spaghetti hoops are really not the way to go. Absolutely full of sugar (and far too much salt for a 9 month old).
If the baby hasn’t had many solids before then go back to basics. Puréed veg and some fruits etc. Scrambled eggs. Start introducing some meat and finger foods.

[SoyDora]

In fact everything you are feeding her is high sugar.

[OhFucko]

Definitely lay off the processed sugary foods and puréed fruit...!

Try scrambled eggs, mashed veg and chicken.