Health Vistor says my 8 month old boy is over weight.

[Lauracrazygirl]

So last week my HV said my son is over weight and I need to change his diet to make sure he doesn't gain any more.

For the record my son is
8 months old
25.3 lbs
Head to toe measures - 76cm (he is a long baby)
Wear a mix of 6-9 and 9-12 clothes

This is what he eats in a 24 hour period.

5am - 6oz bottle = 115 cal

9am - breakfast -
rusk - 70 cal

4oz - 80 cal

1pm lunch -
one jar - 120g - 70 cal
Yog pouch - 80 cal

3-4pm
4oz - 80 cal

5pm lunch -
one jar - 120g - 70 cal
Yog pouch - 80 cal

6.30pm - bedtime bottle - 6oz - 115 cal

7pm - 5am - sleeps for 10 hours

So all that equals 760 cal per 24 hours for an 8 month old baby.

My HV says I should cut out the 3-4pm bottle. Which I have been trying to do for the last week but my son has been so upset without it so I have just been giving him it.

I feel she was really hard on me, she kept saying "over weight babies struggle to crawl and have all sorts of health problems" she also ended our phone call with "remember I'll be weighing him when I see you next so I hope hes in a better place".

But I googled how many calories an 8 month needs and most sources say between 750 - 900. Also the average weight of an 8 month old boy is apparently between 17 - 22lbs. So he's a little over but not much.

So my question is, do you think she's right?

Should I keeping trying to cut out that 4oz bottle.

OP there's a really good cookbook we used called 'The Baby Led Weaning COokbook' by Gill Rapley that we used. It's discounted on Amazon at the moment. It has meals that can be cooked for the whole family that are really good for weaning as well. We still use some of the recipes and my children are 4 and 2.

I never weighed or measured my son's portions but just used to cook family meals like spaghetti bolognaise or casserole and put some in a bowl for him that he could feed himself with.

Sympathies as I had a big baby son too and the health visitor always used to warn me about his weight as well. He's 4 now and on the 91st centile where he's been since birth.

I used to take a little lunchbox out with me for things for him to nibble on but I did use pouches too - some of the Ella's kitchen meals are fine - just have a look at the ingredients as a lot of them are sweetened with fruit when really they don't need to be - but it will say so on the back of the packet.

My DS was huge, probably bigger then yours, but I breastfeed on demand so no one said anything. I think formula mums get a much harder time. Have you tried him on non pureed food at all? They seem to self regulate their intake better that way. Chopped up banana is a great place to start, and before long you can just give bits of your meal. It saves you time making puree, plus you get to eat in peace as their busy with their own, and don't need you to spoon feed.

I don't think anyone should count calories for a baby or small child. Nutrition is more than calories and macros.

Fresh is of course best and you have done the switch. Explore soups, stew, and of course all the veggies you would like him to eat growing up.