Overfed Breastfed Baby????

I don't think you can overfeed if breastfeeding exclusively. My DS was always in the 95th percentile to off the charts. And we always said he never missed a meal. He went through chubby, lean and chubby stages and even now at 5-1/2 years old, he is in the 95th percentile for weight, but he is lean and solid (like DH) not obese or fat or even chubby. As long as you are not 'pushing' food, I don't see a problem (except with the people giving unsolicited advice).

Hi D.,

There is nothing wrong with it. My son was born 9lbs 2oz, at 8 weeks he was 14lbs. I was getting comments too about how big he was and I would continuously ask our Pedi if he was okay. He basically said "Are you going to stop a baby from growing?". There's nothing you are doing wrong. Once your son begins crawling and moving around more, his growth will start to slow down in terms of his weight because he was will be active and will slim down. You always want to make sure his weight is proportionate to his height...or else that is bad. Right now my son is 15 months old and is 28lbs and 32.5" tall.

When people make comments to you, simply smile and say something like "Yeah, isn't it great?! He's going to be a hockey player when he grows up" or something like that. And for those who are negative about it like the obese comment, simply tell tem it's none of their business.

But don't worry, you are doing just fine!

-Char

I breastfed both my kids. My firstborn, was over 8 pounds at birth....and she was always in the 95th-97th percentiles for growth/weight.

My girl was a big baby....and even chubby perhaps. ANd I couldn't believe how 'robust' she looked just by exclusively breastfeeding. She was healthy. And so is my son. Both of my kids were "big" sized babies who were born at over 8 pounds each and 22" in length. They are still 'bigger' and taller than most kids their age. Some people even think my son is 3 years old, because he is bigger than many 3 year old kids, even though he is just 2 years old.

If your Pediatrician says he's fine, then he's fine.

You are nursing on demand, and that is the way it should be. You must have a lot of milk, being your baby is growing so well! Just go according to your Pediatrician.

All the best,
Susan

Good for you for breastfeeding! Babies go through cycles, where they chub up, then lean out. Perfectly normal, you are doing fine. I look at the pictures of my daughter at that age and think "Wow, I don't remember her being so chubby!" She also looked like she had rubber bands around her wrists. When people commented on her weight, I would say, yep, she is chubbing up for another growth spurt, and the ones with kids would nod or smile and you could tell they remembered their kids going through that... Your son might back off eating periodically and sleep a little more and then you know he is working hard at growing. They need the chub to help them get through it, cause it is really hard work to grow!
good luck!
R.
P.S. AS for the obese comments, that person is probably envious and resents the time and effort you are putting in to make sure your son has the best possible start... If it is your mother-in-law, she wants to hold the baby more...

GOOD FOR YOU!!!

Okay, so when my son was around 4 months old, I got those comments because he was so TINY (born 8 weeks preemie)...then out of nowhere he bloomed into a little chubster, and people made comments about how HUGE he was. I looked at people, and in my head thought the worst things, but out of my mouth came...'thank you for your opinion' or 'oh, really wow, I hadn't noticed' or 'i know isn't he super healthy'. I was sassy and didn't let it bug me, because my son's Pedi said it was totally normal for babies to get chubby before they leaned up...especially breastfed infants.

Motor skills shouldn't be affected by his weight, just keep him active. Like moving his arms and legs in stretching moves, clapping and jumping up and down. I know he's not yet mobile, but I did these things with my son to help him along and it's good bonding too!

I think the thing is that people forget what I 'healthy' baby looks like...and, open their mouths when they shouldn't. You are doing the best for your son! And, if they doctor isn't concerned than don't worry! Babies aren't supposed to be thin!!

You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work, Mommy!

My little one was 8/13 when he was born. At his 2 month he DOUBLED his weight (more or less) and weighed 16/8! He was wearing 3-6 month clothes at 4 weeks old!! I breastfed exclusively too. Here is my point...at 4 months he was 18-something. Then at 6 months 19 something...then at 9 months he one gained like a half pound in three months! Once they start moving they slim down. My Dr. went as far as to say that she beleives there is no such thing as an overweight breastfed baby. Keep breastfeeding...it is 100% the best thing you could be doing for your baby right now. The comments got under my skins every once in a while...but people love a chunky baby- have you ever seen anyone comment how "healthy" a little skinny baby looked? By the way, in adulthood- people who were breastfed have much lower rates of obesity! keep it up!

Tell all those people who make nasty comments to go screw! lol. Seriously though, don't worry about it! You're doing a great job and just keep breastfeeding "on demand". I've know lots of chubby babies and actually, some of them crawled/walked VERY early because they are so "solid". Also, once he becomes more mobile he will burn off more calories and grow more in length and not so much in "chubbiness". As a mom you will hear lots of negative comments and you need to learn to brush it off, take what's constructive and leave the rest behind ;)

I read the other responses, and they all had good advice. I would like to pass on my experience, however, should you run into this.

My daughter was a very avid eater and had doubled her birth weight really fast. We fed every 2 hours. Well at 3 months she started arching her back while eating, latching, unlatching, crying, and being very uncomfortable. She appeared to be in pain, spit up a lot, was gassy and was very difficult to feed. She was so fussy!!

I went to the doctor after a week because I was worried she might have reflux. The doctor said that my daughter was a little piggie and was eating too much. She gave the analogy of eating a Thanksgiving meal every day, how would you feel? Boated, groggy etc.

She recommended that since she was gaining weight at a greater rate than average (1.5 ounces instead of the normal 1/2 ounce a day) that we move the feedings to every three hours.

I thought that my baby would scream at extending the feedings. The doctor said that if she appeared too hungry I could give her some tea, like chamomile to satiate her eating habit. She wont starve. Well we did it, and we slowly moved the feedings to three hours about 5-10 minute stretches over a week. Boy was it a change!! Her mood improved, she was less gassy, less spit up and I felt a little more rejuvenated.

So if you run into this behavior, you may want to extend the feeding, just a little at a time and see how he does. Congrats on your healthy chubby baby!!!

Stick with your instincts. Breastfed babies have higher chances of NOT being obese as adults because of what breastfeeding teaches them. Feeding on demand helps him to learn to eat only when he's hungry. And breastfed babies choose to stop eating when they are full, not when the amount of food served is finished.

Chubbiness usually isn't a concern until the late toddler/preschool years. I'm sure your pediatrician knows a lot. But sometimes they can have a hard time conveying that information to us concerned moms.

I think you've made an excellent choice of breastfeeding & feeding on demand. Remember, healthy children won't over eat or starve themselves. You might find that information helpful down the road when his taste buds start to mature causing him to not eat how he used to.

The weight gain will slow down when he learns to roll and then even more when he starts crawling! My baby was the same size as yours. He was gaining almost 1 lb a week if not more. Now he gains 1 lb a month.
My 8 month old is wearing 12-18 month old clothes.
Don't buy more than one huge box of diapers at a time, and clothes will be grown out of super fast. I got the same comments. Just tell people - Yes isn't he chubby and very healthy!-
Hang in there sweetie!

My first baby (daughter)was born 8lbs 3oz and by the time she was 4 months, it looked like she had 6 rubber bands going up and down her arms. She was always in the 95th percentile. My second baby (son) was born 10lbs 6oz and had the rubber bands by the time he was 2 months. Both of my kids sat up at 4 months, crawled at 6 months and walked at 9 months. Their chunky little bodies didn't slow them down at all!! My daughter is now 3 and every time someone sees her that hasn't seen her in a while, they comment on how much she thinned out. (My son is only 11 months and is a little chunkster weighing 25 lbs.)

Breast fed babies can not over eat! You are doing a great job and do not worry about these crazy people that think or say otherwise!

Yeah tell them to screw..... I was in the same exact situation, except my baby weight 6lbs 13oz by his two month physical he weighed 13lbs. He is approaching 6 mos in less than a week and has actually become leaner and stretched out, but still a solid baby (very active). I would not worry about it, you are giving your baby the best nutrition.

I wanted to pipe in because I agree with everything except for the suggestion to give your baby tea!! Your babys digestive tract is not ready for anything other than milk!! Even the aap suggests holding off any other foods until 6 months!

As for me my son was 8 lbs 13 oz at birth by 4 mo he was 18 lbs! My dr (dr bob sears) said he doesn't even ask parents how often a bf baby eats as long as they are healthy and thriving which sounds like your little one is. Continue to feed on demand. You are doing everything right for your baby

those people need to butt out. as long as his dr says hes fine then i wouldnt worry. you cant ovr feed a bf baby since you basically feed on demand every few hours. chubby babies are cute. your son is big but hes a growing boy what more can you say. my daughter was 8lbs 15oz at birth and was always on the bigge side like your son and very tall. now shes 22 months old and is about 25lbs. her dr has never been worried. i also keep her very active. when she was a baby she did a lot of tummy time and was rarely on her back so she pushed up with her arms and lifte her head a lot and was very strong. she was sitting alone and crawling at 4 1/2 months and cruising at 6 months. as long as your baby boy is active on the floor and doesnt just sit in the swing or bouner all day he should be just fine. tell anyone whos rude to just hush up because hes very healthy and its better that he be a little on the heavy side then being malnurished!. good luck!

I agree with the other responses you have gotten, tell those people to mind their own business. Your son is growing and getting the best nutrients his little body needs. My son had rubber bands on his arms until he was like 9mo., then he started crawling and then walking at 11mos. and they were gone. The best and funniest advice I got when my son was a few weeks old and eating (I thought) a lot was from the lactation consultant and she said, "if you think he eats a lot now, wait until he's 15 and comes home from soccer practice and cleans your fridge out!"

Don't worry. One day you will miss those chubby thighs!

Can you overfeed a breastfed baby? The answer is simply NO!. Milk is provided, whenever needed. Isn’t it perfectly awesome?
I wrote a long story here : https://momwoot.com/can-you-overfeed-a-breastfed-baby/
Check it out