Should I be worried about my child’s weight

[TGNL]

Hi everyone,
My DD is 4 & a half months old I had a HV appointment today and she’s 17lbs! The HV made out like it’s a massive issue and I need to cut down on feeding her as she’s too big ( she’s also a long baby as I’m 5’10 and my partner is 6,3).
It’s got me really worried and I feel bad cutting her bottles down as she’s screams and scream and screams until she gets one..
She was only 5 lbs 6oz born so she’s come along away in 4 months really!

Any advice

[dementedpixie]

Your HV is mental! At 23 weeks my ds was 21lbs and never got any negative comments. You can't put a baby on a diet so I'd continue feeding according to the demands of your baby.

P.s. how much is she taking and how often?

[TGNL]

She has 8 oz every 4 hours but has a little bit of reflux so I’d say half an oz or so comes back up as well! She also sleeps from 6pm-7am and only wakes up for one bottle during that time as well!

[riotlady]

I wouldn’t be that worried if she’s long as well.
My HV always said if they took in too much food they’d throw it back up, so if she’s keeping it down that’s the amount she needs. There doesn’t seem to be much consistency between them though!

[PMmehunx]

Mine was exactly the same, and health visitor told me to feed her less but I refused. I wasn't comfortable with leaving a 4 month old crying to be fed and ignoring it.

Mine was long as well, and the weight issue was a thing for ages, even though they never actually measured her height to see if it matched or was way off. I did it myself eventually and it was fine.
I don't know why so many of these people do this, and don't even bother seeing if the weight is fine with the height. And even if it wasn't, loads of babies are podgy little things and slim down when they start walking or being more active!

[TGNL]

Yeah they’ve never done her hight either! She In 6 month clothes purley because 3-6 is too short In the leg! She doesn’t seem over weight to me but then again I’m her mum so don’t think I’d ever see an issue with her weight!
She just made me feel like I was doing it all wrong

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Do you know what length centiles he was on when she was born TGNL?

[PMmehunx]

I know how you feel, I felt the same. It's really bad, but I think it's just what they're told to say so they say it. It can really make people worry though.
I don't think you can really do much wrong at this age anyway. If they've had enough milk they'll let you know. And it's not like you can feed her some sort of junk food milk, baby milk is baby milk and that's it.
I have known a few babies that were very chunky though, but by their toddler years they'd all slimmed down. A couple are still a little chunky, but you can see it's their build.

She'll be fine. She's either tall for her age (very likely from what you say) and her weight is higher to match, or as she gets older and starts eating real food and running round she should slim down. I think 4 and a half months is too early for this sort of thing.

[TGNL]

She was on the 9th when she was born @jiltedjohnsjulie

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Is that the 9th centiles for length?

[TGNL]

Oh no sorry haha that was her weight and don’t think she’s ever had her length done the length page is blank @jiltedjohnjulie

[SlimGin]

I don't understand why HVs have such conflicting advice from one another. My DD is almost 5 months and at 4.5 months was 17lbs same as yours OP. She's EBF and I feed on demand as she snacks rather than has big feeds. Every time any professional, including HV, has seen her they say what lovely big thighs she has! She has rolls everywhere! She isn't long though so everything is rather condensed haha. Once they start crawling their weight gain slows down anyway.

[MummEE2]

My DS is only just 4 months old and weighs 17lbs 13. He looks like a chubby but very cute baby, quite a few rolls of fat on arms, big chunky legs. I'm EBF on demand. I asked HV if this is ok or if I'm over feeding him. She said he's perfectly fine and not over fed and that he'll work it off once he starts crawling and walking.

She completely put me at ease so please don't worry and if your baby is hungry then feed the baby.