How Much to Feed 10 Month Old Buddha Baby.

J.,

From my understanding kids eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. They don't know to do anything else. I was told the 'over eating' is a temporary thing and will work itself out. Food the baby and see where he is at the 1 year appt. Then question the doctor if you are still concerned.

Good luck,
L. M

Don't worry. There were times my daughter could eat more than I could in a day. I actually had to bulk up the baby food jars with cereal and she would still easily eat two whole containers at a single feeding. Now, at almost 2 and a half, I'm lucky to get her to eat 2 spoonfuls at at any one meal. It all evens itself out. If he's hungry, let him eat. Babies and toddlers eat when they're hungery and stop when full. Enjoy the new little man. You are giving him the greatest gift you can - a loving home.

I wouldn't worry about it at all. He sounds like he is fine and on target according to your pediatrician who says to feed until full.
My oldest was also in the 95-98% range at 10 months old. He had the best rolls around!
He didn't begin walking until 15 months of age as he was very verbal and could put sentences together by a year.
Now, he is turning 18, the jeans fall off his bean pole hips and he is about 5"10!!!
Obviously feed him healthy foods and avoid soda, sweets and junk. He will grow and thin out... don't worry!!!

As I am sure your pedi will tell you, babies do not overeat. THey have a natural shutoff unlike adults who have formed "relationships" with food. I also have a 10 month old and it does not sound like he is eating to much to me at all. My in laws are always telling me that they think my son is to big or eats to much but I have confirmed with my pedi that he is right on target. Rolls on a baby are not an indication of a future weight problem, if he has them at 2, I would be more concerned. Once babies begin moving (walking) they generally begin to thin out. Please, please, please do not be concerned or talk with your pedi if you are. Babies should never have food restrictions or be on diets.

Congratulations on reaching out and stretching yourselves to take care of foster kids. That's really awesome!

I think his weight will change when he is walking and then running. It's hard to tell right now but if you make him active he should balance out. At this point I wouldn't worry.

I agree about more finger foods and also making sure that he is not getting a lot of sugar - and that means quickly-digested white flour, white cereal etc., and also high glycemic index foods like yams and bananas. Use sweet potatoes instead of yams - they are not the same thing, but make sure the supermarket didn't mix them up! Try healthy fats like avocados. Give as much whole grain as you can and as the doctor says. At least figure on transitioning to those foods as he matures. Think about French toast, peanut butter, peas, blueberries, whole grain cereals he can pick up (cheerios or any similar shape), and so on. If mealtime takes longer, the brain will get the signal that the stomach is full. (A good rule for all of us!) Right now he may be enjoying the sensation of foods but getting them down too quickly for the "fullness" to register. When you introduce a new food, try to give it a few days to make sure he is tolerating it, before you introduce another one. Also, kids need to try new foods an average of 6 times before they know if they really like it or not,, so don't be upset if he rejects it at first - try it on another day.

Good luck!

I agree with the doctor, as long as he's healthy and happy, I wouldn't worry about it. My mom was a very chubby baby, but you wouldn't know it to look at her now! She is now someone who can eat whatever she wants and not gain an ounce. When she was pregnant, the doctor was concerned because she was not gaining weight or "showing" at all! (before the days of ultrasound).
So anyway, don't worry about it. Thank goodness he's not spitting out everything and being fussy. Good luck!

It is true, as he becomes more mobile he'll lean out most likely. Just give him healthy balanced meals and choices. Once he's actually walking it will be harder to pin him down long enough to eat most likely anyways ;). Make sure you let him be active. At 10 months old rolls are cute and most won't keep that as long as they are taught correct eating habits. So continue allowing him to eat healthy foods and encourage him to move around and he'll be just fine.

I wouldn't worry about it. Once he starts walking, he will probably thin out and he could be going through a growth spurt, then tend to eat a lot more during this stage.
As long as the pediatrician isn't worried, I wouldn't be either.

I really wouldn't worry about it, especially since his height and weight are proportionate, he's healthy and he's active. I think weight is something that's being focused on a bit too much with very young children right now. While think it is good to be aware of the problems associated with obesity, I think kids are internalizing it too much, which is just as dangerous. My 4 year old, who is very tall and lean, will say things like, "can I eat that or will I be fat?" And his attitude toward overweight people is something I have to monitor. They're not evil-they're just not skinny! lol

My brother was the fattest baby of the 6 of us and he is now 5'10", 155 pounds. So just make sure he is eating healthy foods and crawling...let the rest take care of itself.

He's lucky to have a foster mom that cares as much as you obviously do. He's off to a great start.

Best of luck!

C.

Babies under a year old should have 24-32 ounces of formula spaced throughout the day. He should also have iron fortified baby cereal at each meal (made with formula). I also give a fruit at breakfast and a fruit and a veggie for lunch and a fruit and a veggie at dinner. Snacks should be mini-(a couple crackers and 2-3 ounces of 100% fruit juice) twice a day. OH & water in a sippy cup any time he wants it. :)

my now 18 yr old (5'9" 175lbs) at 9 months weighed 21 lbs and was tall and thin ate 3 jars of stage 3 foods for dinner:) I switched him to table food at this point he nevr lost weight but sure slowed down on gaining at two he weighed 29 lbs and at 3 even though he ate as much as me (sometimes more) he still weighed 29 lbs... he did get a little taller though.. feed him healthy food and just let the rest go enjoy him while you can :)

I think that's a wonderful thing...being foster parents!!! :)

My baby, now 16 months and 29 pounds, has always been in the 95-98 percentile. He could always eat alot and still can. He was breastfed, which I'm told is one reason he is a bigger than average baby. However, I dont know how it compares to formula, but at 10 months, he could nurse for 15 mins every 2-1/2 hours-3 hours and would eat a stage 2 baby food and literally just about any amount of "grown up" food (mash potatoes, veggies, whatever we had soft) that we'd give him. And I too, was quite amazed that he could eat a whole banana at a time.

To help lesson the calories a little, we would mix baby cereal or rice into his baby fruits or veggies. It seemed to work for a bit, where he'd eat a little less of the other food. BUT I wouldn't worry about him being overweight. Our pediatrician always said he was healthy, and growing proportionately (i just drew a blank as to the correct spelling of that), and not to worry about his weight until a few years from now.

I'm sure, just as others have told u, that once ur baby starts running all around, in time, he'll thin out a bit. I love my baby's rolls. He's as happy and healthy as can be, and that's all that matters at this age. So don't worry one bit at this point.

My daughter was the same way! I've said this in other posts and it's true- I put her in dresses most of the time because she was too fat for pants unless I went up 2 sizes and then they were far too long! She ate more than I did some days. I was worried but I kept feeding her until she was full (as her doc recommended). She started walking at 13 months and has been slimming down ever since. The more she slims down the less she looks like a baby. Enjoy the cute chubby phase :) Give it some time and wait to see what happens when he starts moving around more on his own.

1st I applaud you for your work. I too have a graduate degree in SW but now stay home full time with my 3 little ones. 4, 2, and my baby is 1 today!! I have always wanted to do foster care, but will need to wait til my kids are grown some. Anyway, enough about me!! I'm glad you're concerned, because many people today are so enthralled with the chubby baby they give little thought to the longterm obesity problem. My advise: Let him feed himself. Give him mostly finger foods. At 10months he can eat just about anything as long as it's tiny enough pieces so he won't choke. Self feeding (is not only an important developmental skill, but) means it takes longer for him to eat, giving his brain longer to register he's full. I'd be sure he eats more like 5 small meals a day, and that each one is just a mini meal, full of all the nutrition and balanced diet of a regular meal. But most of all, just your awareness and vigilance means he probably won't have a problem, and your hunch is probably right, that once he's walking (soon it sounds) he'll be burning more calories and will probably slim down. I applaud you!!

Sounds to me like he is eating what he needs to and at 10 months perhaps should be having finger foods (what you eat but obviously cut up into small pieces) and weaned off the jarred foods. It will help with his fine motor skills and take longer for him to eat, which may leave him more satisfied.
My son was always in the 97th percentile until he was about 2 yrs. old. Now he is 12 yrs. old and very tall and in the 50% percentile...a tall string bean! As long as the foods he is eating are healthy, he will probably lose some of that baby fat once he is more mobile. :)

Don't worry about it now. My daughter was a chunky monkey until she started walking. I was also worried because she was so chubby, but my doctor told me that we shouldn't worry about her weight until she's older. He was right. While she still has a bit of a belly... she has thinned out tremendously and actually now looks very tall and thin compared to short and stalky. Give him time and when he starts walking and running it will all fall off. I actually kind of miss my daughter's chubby little cheeks!

My brother's kids were all very rolly polly as babies, and they've thinned out as toddlers/young children. My brother was the same way as a baby, and he's a thin adult who doesn't have to worry about weight, so I wouldn't worry at this point...

J., this little guy might not have the signal that says "I'm full, that's enough". You mentioned how much he can put away, but you didn't indicate what he does when he's had enough. I have a relative who, as a baby, would eat until she vomited. Now she is an 85 lb. 5 year old who can eat 5 bananas before a full breakfast.
You are the person controlling the food for baby Buddha, so I would suggest portion control, now, while he is a (relatively) tiny person. You might also keep a good record of what and how much he eats so that if necessary, you can speak with a nutritionist down the road.
And...bless you for taking care of and parenting kids when their own aren't able.
kate

I don't know if you got this advice already, but you can also try feeding him table food. (Obviously in small pieces). My son was also an eater, and got solids very well, so around 10 months he could eat "real" pasta and cut up fruit and such. It helped me figure out how much to feed him because I could make him a small plate when there was real food on it. A little more protein (dairy, meat or bean) might help him stay full longer. Also, real food's cheaper for you! But, again, he'll stop eating when he's full.