Can you actually overfeed a baby?

[RooneyMara]

Hiya,

well this is baby #3, and tbh I have been wondering the same thing since having baby #1 nearly 10 years ago.

In both cases, they have been really little - not teeny, but small - 6lb9 for ds1 and 7lb1 for ds3. (ds2 doesn't count - he was 8lb12 and totally different in every way!)

Both times they have put on so much weight very quickly. Ds3 put on 10g in his first 5 days and then another 10oz by 2 weeks old. He's visibly getting quite chubby. Which is nice but then I remember ds1 being really, really chubby at about 3 months - and never really getting into a normal, non chubby shape till this year. All that time he was not overweight but on the very high side of normal iykwim - couldn't get school trousers that fit, or any trousers really except jogging bottoms.

He still has a habit of eating for comfort/boredom at times.

I'm worried that I have caused this by overfeeding? I breastfed all of them, exclusively and didn't start weaning till they were almost a year - even then it was mainly just milk, none ofthem has been that interested in proper food.

And I'm feeding ds3 a LOT, because he is a very clingy and cry-y baby and I try everything - jiggling him in different positions, winding him, swinging him etc etc and as part of that he ends up on the boob even when that's probably not what he wants, I mean, the comfort yes, the milk, no.

I'm sure I did this with ds1 as well. Am I causing eating issues? Is this one going to be fat chubby as well?

Or is it just one of those things you can't overdo?

Fwiw he is 3 weeks old, now - ds2 was very contented and calm and I don't remember any crying really till he was about 6 months old. He's slim/almost skinny, confident, no eating issues afaik. He's 5 now.

You can't over feed a bf baby no. BF babies are shown to be better at regulating their appetite than ff babies.

If there are food issues then they do not stem from being bf on demand.

I would perhaps look at the attitude to food as a family though and curb eating for comfort and boredom because that isn't healthy. Nothing wrong with bf a baby for comfort though!

No you're right, you can't overfeed a breastfed baby.

Babies often have a bit of a growth spurt around 3 weeks so that could be why you feel like you're feeding alot.
Breast milk isn't just a hunger satisfier, you can look at it like a comforter, a painkiller and a soother to get them to sleep.

HTH

Thanks guys. It's just the seeming correlation between ds1 being as unsettled as this one, and still using food as a comfort - when I don't police it! - and ds2 not having had those issues at all.

Perhaps it's something else I have done.

Can't over feed a bred baby.

My boys sound very similar to yours, lots of milk, not into food till over one, now eat like horses. They were big chunky babies and toddlers and are now skinyy skinny things esp ds2(10) and ds3(8).

You are responding to your babies needs :)

Can I say I have seen you on a few threads and I think you are doing great esp as ds3 is a high needs baby but you do seem a bit anxious/worried? This is normal but do keep an eye on it and see HV/go if you need to xxxx

Thanks so much 5. That is really kind of you, yes he does seem to have a lot of struggles and it's pretty tough! Just on my lap at the moment, we've been up since about 5/6 and haven't been able to put him down yet!

I'm glad you have had similar children...it helps to know it's normal.

Very normal! Do you have a good sling? I found a Moby wrap a life saver when mine were little or a close caboo is good.

Lol at bred that should be bfed bloody autocorrect!

Yes have got a Close, which he seems to tolerate sometimes - and a wallaboo which I think he liked at first but now is very squashed and he gets upset when I try and load him into it

I'm going to persevere with the close - he's currently asleep (shh!!!) in the bouncy chair thing. I feel drugged!

but have had a (very quick) bath. At least I shouldn't pong any more

I was given a baby swing when ds3 was a baby, he was a baby that had to be held and also you had to stand up or jiggle him the entire time!

The swing was a godsend so I could have a shower!

Funnily enough I've just dragged out the Graco swing I got before Xmas on ebay. No batteries in it yet but given a gentle kick it seems to make him go off temporarily....

It's a bit rubbish for a newborn though as the angle isn't right, he was slumped in it before I got in the bath - luckily ds1 was about and held him for 10 minutes. I think once he's a bit older it will be Very Useful!

Thanks for all your support - you've been great x

Lots of bf boys put on weight very quickly, don't worry about it. Just as others have said pay attention to what's happening with the others and attitudes to food as a family if you're concerned - there's some good stuff on the baby and toddler forum (I think? Will check name) eg about making sure you eat as a family away from distractions, good tips on avoiding comfort eating etc. It might be good to try weaning this baby a bit earlier - around 6 months - as between 6 months and 1 year babies really rapidly expand the number of foods they're willing to taste whereas it's a lot harder after 1. Also baby led weaning is associated with less childhood obesity and a better ability to self-regulate appetite (you might have already tried it though).

It's infant & toddler forum www.infantandtoddlerforum.org/

Thankyou very much Tolly, I'll have a look - I didn't know about the weaning thing. That's good to know. I was going to do BLW with this one so will see how we get on.