Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

People keep commenting on my baby's weight

26 replies

Laura1990111 · 28/04/2021 15:18

So my almost 6 month old weighs 19 nearly 20lbs. I give him the recommended amount of formula and have just started him on solids as he was never satisfied after a bottle (would scream).
He was tiny when he was a week old as he lost loads of weight due to my milk supply not being much. He was hospitalised which I felt awful about and so he was weighed every week to make sure he put weight on. Now the health visitor has said he's gained too much weight 🙄
Do you think that's too big for 6 months old? I get so many comments like "blimey what are you feeding him". It's making me feel awful 😔
Could maybe some of you give me an example of milk and solid feeding schedule that you have?
Also do you feed through the night?
He currently has two night feeds. Normally at midnight and then 5am.

Thank you

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
somewhereovertherainbow88 · 28/04/2021 15:23

My little boy is just over 5 months now and weighed in at 17lbs when he was only 18 weeks so you're little boy doesn't sound too big to me. Does he match on his centiles for height and weight. People comment on my DS too but honestly I think people just say it to have something to say half the time. If he is gaining weight along the same centile curve and his height and weight roughly match up I wouldn't worry too much & ignore the silly (and probably well meaning) comments - chubby babies are super cute and it will even out once they start moving around more.

Starlightstarbright1 · 28/04/2021 15:30

Honestly ignore people.. big babies weight is not a worry. .

My Ds looked like a sumo wrestler. Once he started moving it dropped off him. He has been.like a drainpipe since.

You also have to learn not to take everyones opinion personally. Most probably mean nothing by it.

Thereoncewasababy · 28/04/2021 15:36

Big babies are so cute with their little rolls! My babies were huge and have turned into tall, strong and slim children. I look back at photos and they were gorgeous fat babies. I used to get comments about it and am glad I didn't change what I was doing or restrict their food. It's fine as long as their diet is generally healthy they regulate their own appetite and slim down when they're running and climbing as toddlers.

Original poster
Laura1990111 · 28/04/2021 15:37

Thank you. He's 75th centile for height but 91st centile for weight.
He was 91st centile for weight when he was born

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 28/04/2021 15:38

It’s just something to say, I’m sure they don’t mean anything by it. One of mine was really chubby but exclusively breastfed so it was obviously just her make up. She slimmed right down naturally when she started running everywhere!

TwinMum35 · 28/04/2021 15:41

I don’t believe you can over feed a baby this age. They innately know what they need and can’t be forced to have more.

Ignore them all and remember his body will change lots as he becomes more mobile anyway x

PegPeople · 28/04/2021 15:41

If it makes you feel any better at all my DS is at the opposite end of the scale hes approximately the 20lb and is 16 months old and people also comment on his weight and size constantly. I honestly think it's one of those situations where you cannot win.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 28/04/2021 15:43

He's probably coming up for a growth spurt. All our family are quite tall and there are a lot of pudgy babies. All have slimmed down as soon as they started toddling and shot up in height.

luciles · 28/04/2021 15:54

I weighed my nearly 6 month old at 5 months and he was 20lb 5oz. He was 10lb 4oz at birth though. As PP say I don't think you can overfeed a baby. Please don't feel awful, you're feeding your baby there is nothing wrong with that.

name674398 · 28/04/2021 15:58

My DS was a fat baby, 20lb by 6 months (EBF) 90th percentile, he wasn't that for height 😂 he did look very chubby. I have to admit as I BF I wasn't worried, sure enough he dropped down the centiles after weaning, and has been a skinny child since, around the 10th centile worrying if he's eating enough!!

Mammymar · 28/04/2021 16:01

My niece was 20lbs at 4 months old. The health nurse told me sister she was setting her up for a life of obesity and heart problems. My niece is now 16, 5ft 10 and a size 6,there's not a pick on her. Don't be worrying op.

emi93 · 28/04/2021 16:05

My daughter was like this. Always bigger, etc. After 2.5 she lost it all and grew taller

She is now 3 and slim and "normal range"

Ignore them. As long as baby is happy that's all that matters.

If he was underweight, you would hear comments as-well

Numnumcookie · 28/04/2021 16:05

Yikes! Wonder what they'll say about my boy then.
He's 4 months old and over 20lbs. Last time I measured him he was 97th percentile for both height and weight though and looks pretty well proportioned.

Scottishskifun · 28/04/2021 16:11

So it is possible to over feed with a bottle as where it hits in the mouth causes an automatic swallow reflex. It's easy to mistake this for being hungry still and giving more when actually it's a auto reflex.

If your sticking to the recommended volume then it's fine, but if giving more then you might want to reduce. If you tap his top lip with the teet and he doesn't open up he's not hungry. He might also cry after a bottle for other reasons being uncomfortable or wind etc.

As you wean you will need to reduce feeds it does get a bit easier as they self regulate more the older they get.

Aria999 · 28/04/2021 16:23

DS was similar and he's now a tall, strong, lean 5yo.

It's actually good if they have a bit of extra weight in case they get sick. When DS got hand foot and mouth he couldn't eat for a week and he needed the reserves.

Excitablemuch · 28/04/2021 16:25

This makes me so angry. HVs did this to me with my first. He was a massive chunk until about 2. He’s now 2 and a half and skinny and tall. You know your baby- if hungry then feed :) don’t listen to them if you aren’t over feeding!

Original poster
Laura1990111 · 28/04/2021 17:31

Thanks everyone. He was 8lb 13oz when he was born. When I had my scans they always said wow he's a big baby and that he had long femurs.
My bump was huge 🙈 everyone thought I was carrying twins 😂
I think it's because I'm a first time mom so worried that I'm doing something wrong.

OP posts:
SpunBodgeSquarepants · 28/04/2021 17:52

My 2.5 month old is 14.5 lbs 😳

HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 28/04/2021 17:54

@PegPeople

If it makes you feel any better at all my DS is at the opposite end of the scale hes approximately the 20lb and is 16 months old and people also comment on his weight and size constantly. I honestly think it's one of those situations where you cannot win.
I was 16lbs at 12 months, always a skinny lat as a child and limbo'd between 6 and 7 stone during my teenage years, then early twenties boom it was as if I suddenly gained half my body weight overnight. Mind you I have an appetite now whereas before I never did
endoftherow · 28/04/2021 17:55

My babies were chunky. DD1 especially, femur length of the chart too. Mine seemed to store fat and then grow tall and thin.

LittleRa · 28/04/2021 17:56

I actually think people mean it as a compliment when they say a baby is big/fat. It’s seen as a good thing. I think some of us then project society’s views on obesity/overweight/fat in adults and hear it as a negative comment. As others have said, it’s good for babies to be fat. Once they start crawling and walking they slim out. I have a 7 week old DD who was born on 9th centile, jumped to 25th and then to 90th! She’s EBF and when people say “oh she’s really packing the weight on, well done you!” I take it as a compliment. We call her a little chunk.

Sading · 28/04/2021 18:04

I bottle fed and had a 91 for height and 75 for weight baby. I was also told they were too fat at about the same age. My wonderful mum was annoyed on our behalf so dug out MY baby height and weight chart. I was breast fed. My DC and I followed the same curve almost exactly.
I was still freaked out but DC grew taller and dropped the weight when she started to move. She’s never been that far off her percentiles. Well not until she hit the teens when she was too light....

TwinMum35 · 28/04/2021 18:11

This reflex wears off between 8 and 10 weeks 👍

TwinMum35 · 28/04/2021 18:13

@Scottishskifun

So it is possible to over feed with a bottle as where it hits in the mouth causes an automatic swallow reflex. It's easy to mistake this for being hungry still and giving more when actually it's a auto reflex.

If your sticking to the recommended volume then it's fine, but if giving more then you might want to reduce. If you tap his top lip with the teet and he doesn't open up he's not hungry. He might also cry after a bottle for other reasons being uncomfortable or wind etc.

As you wean you will need to reduce feeds it does get a bit easier as they self regulate more the older they get.

Sorry pressed reply not quote 🙈

The reflex you’re talking about wears off between 8 and 10 weeks x

Cactusowl · 28/04/2021 18:18

My DS was chunky, he grew out of his clothes rapidly for the first 9 months at which point he wore size 18-24 months. His weight gain then slowed, he didn’t stand out from his peers once he started school nursery. He’s nearly 13 and for a long time has been tall and skinny.
People will just find something to comment on when you have a baby.