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!

[MollyDaydream]

Do you have a child health nurse and social worker who can offer you some support?

This baby needs 3 or 4 bottles of formula a day made exactly to the instructions on the tub.
Three meals of fresh unprocessed food -carbs, protein, fruit and veg, full fat dairy.
Water to drink.
Her weight will sort itself out.

[sleeveface]

Your DH is a gp and he's advised you to dilute formula

[TimeToDash]

Tinned spaghetti! So much sugar! Try slow release energy foods like porridge and soft fruit like banana or cooked apple for breakfast, toast fingers, scrambled egg, soft steamed broccoli spears for lunch, that sort of thing. Surely you shouldn't dilute formula!! I think you can get special formula for overweight babies? But is he really though? My eldest was such a chunk and on the 95th centile but now he is perfectly proportioned (very tall). And try to get the grandmother on board for continuity if you are allowed. Not sure the protocol.

[rab3331]

What is the science behind your comment?
None of course.
Bubs needs water. She won’t drink it straight but she is getting it in her diluted milk. There is no difference whatsoever between 5 x 260mls of Formula a day and 5 x 260mls water a day compared to 10 x 260mls bottles Formula diluted 50%.
GPS don’t recommend it because they have to assume we are stupid and can’t do simple maths and will underfeed the baby.

[neonyellowshoes]

So, you're in the outback with free resources and the baby has been raised on McFlurrys?

[neonyellowshoes]

*few

[BlueLightPanda]

How much do you dilute the formula?

[rab3331]

She has other health issues which I can’t share for confidentiality reasons that mean she needs to lose weight or at least even out. I know plenty about babies don’t worry but my back is suffering and if we can’t have her she will go into a home so I’m desperate for some tips that’s all. Someone advised a sling and I’ve ordered one so that’s great.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

I am shocked that Australian child services would have such low standards with their foster parents. The racism is appalling.

[reallybadidea]

Diluting formula by 50% can cause hyponatremia, Google it. It's not about underfeeding, it's because if babies are given too much water it can cause organ damage and death. It's not about calories, it's about electrolyte levels in the blood which can become dangerously low if you don't make up formula as instructed.

[honeysucklejasmine]

Jesus. You are dangerous.

[SoyDora]

You are not currently feeding her a healthy diet. Spaghetti hoops do not constitute a healthy diet for a 9 month old.
Is she having them every day?

[Branleuse]

i dont think its wise to put such a young baby on a diet. My second baby easily weighed that at that age, but he was 4.5kg at birth. Hes now a very slim 11 year old.
Just feed her normally, it will balance out when she becomes mobile

[RideOn]

You don’t put a baby on a weight loss diet ever.

You give them formula undiluted at amount recommended usually in 3 bottles, then 3 meals a day of things like porridge. Mashed veg with cheese. Slices boiled egg and toast, followed by a (non diet) low sugar yoghurt.

In between you could give some breadsticks or fruit if there was a longish gap between meals.

You don’t feed a baby spaghetti hoops and of course they don’t “like” water but keep on offering and they will get used to it. Don’t give them juice at this age.

9 months is peak “chubby” in my family and when they get active they slim out.

I think you should be aiming for them to grow into their weight. I see you have used a sling, also a buggy, there is no need to carry them long distances if your back can’t take it.

Pushing a buggy with a good posture is supposed to be good for your core muscles. So maybe get out and do more walking. Think positively every time you get the chance to do this workout, this baby is going to get you stronger!

[ProjectInsanity]

My DS was also his heaviest around this age, just before he started moving. If you don't want a full sling you can get some which are side-carry slings, so you can carry him on your hip but it spreads the weight and you just need one arm to hold on to him.

Lose the processed food. There's nothing wrong with offering cooked broccoli florets or carrot sticks at this age. There's loads of baby recipe books for finger foods. Some don't need food mashed at this age, some will only eat mashed. I had one of each. Weight alone is a bit of a red herring at this age, you need to look at height percentile and weight percentile (and take into account the parent's height).

[TheRealMotherGoose]

Don't dilute her formula, it is still her main source of nutrition and it is dangerous for you to do this.

You shouldn't be giving her spaghetti hoops :-( they are highly processed and contain high levels of salt and sugar.

Ideally not mashed potato either.

Try mashed pureed carrot, mashed avocado, mashed peas, pears, apple puree. Plain canellini beans, butter beans, chickpeas. Pieces of cooked broccoli. Pieces of cucumber.

I kind of hope you are a troll because this makes me so sad.

I am glad you are getting her back on water rather than juice, which is awful for teeth and should never be given to babies or children.

[Eledamorena]

I'm afraid I can't help with much advice, though I agree with PPs about possibly changing some of your current foods eg spaghetti hoops for less processed alternatives. BUT - you have taken on a baby who may well refuse healthier options and needs weaning onto them slowly, which I am sure you aim to do. I would never give diluted juice to a baby but as you say, this is a means to an end, as you are aiming to get her onto water. Keep going with this. As others have said, I do think babies tend to even out as they grow - my first seems to get a bit tubby then 'stretch out' a bit as she grows, and she's now 3.5 and this still seems to be a pattern. The amount she eats also seems to vary and she seems to eat loads more when she's having a growth spurt.

You do, however, have my sympathy regarding the difficulties of carrying a heavy baby - my son is almost 9 months and weighs more than your foster daughter! I have obviously got used to him as he grows but the difference between carrying him around and carrying my first is huge (and she was never a small baby).I don't think he's particularly overweight, just a bit of a beast! I expect things will even out once he starts walking.

I try to carry him as little as possible, which is a different approach for me as I wore my first regularly til she was about 15 months old. No way my back would survive that with this one! We are also encouraging lots of floor time/crawling/standing up holding onto our legs/the sofa in the hope he might walk sooner rather than later.... because even things I did easily with my first like carry her from the car into nursery or to a supermarket trolley before she could walk, I will struggle to do with my son.

Best of luck OP, and you deserve praise and support for taking in a foster child.

[Jenala]

The food you're giving her won't be helping, which multiple people have said but you are not responding to this.

Plenty of soft steamed veg, scrambled egg, fish and meat where possible. As little processed food as possible.

Why dilute the formula so it's the equivalent amounts that milk and water? Why not give them separately. Just fewer bottles of formula.

This is really quite bizarre.

[ProjectInsanity]

What about fruit infusions (like tea, but the ones without the tea in) instead of juice. Would that not be better for her teeth, but maybe more acceptable as not plain water?

[Eledamorena]

www.hippychick.com/products/hippychick-hipseat?v=19&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3NLMayddWFa7BB_vVSnHJKrhFQmX9lGC9ML2a2tAKcnm7lYwPbsY7oaAlMDEALw_wcB


Sorry I don't know how to link properly but have you considered something like this? It's a sort of hip carrier that provides you with a bit of support when carrying a baby/toddler so would perhaps free up your other hand, at least for short periods. One of the twin mums near me manages to carry both babies (who look about 1 year old) for short distances by having one on a hip carrier and the other in her other arm. Quite impressive skills! But if she can do that maybe this would work for you?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Do not dilute the formula. That's dangerous.

The vitamins minerals fat etc are all formulated for the directions given. Adding more or less water messes it up and if they leave bottles they miss out on vital nutrients.

You need to feed proper food not tinned and jarred stuff.

Takes minutes to steam veg.

[Kardashianlove]

I would still give her apple pieces, carrot sticks, etc, she will soon get used to them. Also, give her a whole banana or chopped up banana instead of mashed. It will take her longer to eat so she will probably feel fuller. I wouldn’t be spoon feeding her anything if you are concerned over her weight, I would do baby led weaning style, keep offering her a variety of healthy foods-peas, steamed broccoli, green beans, hummus on toast, avacado, etc.

Please stop giving her tinned hoops, no 9 month old needs these.

Can you get a swivel car seat to make it easier to put her/in out the car. Put her in first then go back for your bags. Get a sling / use the pram. I don’t think most people try to carry a baby plus handbag/change bag for any distance do they?!

[mummabearfoyrbabybears]

Did anyone else who pointed out OPs failing get a nasty PM??

[Fatted]

Jesus, my two were both a similar weight around that age. Both were 8 and 9lbs at birth. They have always been very tall boys and neither were considered to be overweight. They have always been a healthy weight and regulate their own appetite.

It's normal for babies to pack on a bit of weight at this age and then they usually lose it when they start moving more. I wouldn't put him on a diet or water down his formula. Feed him healthy foods and let him regulate his own appetite.

[LoveProsecco]