feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

Hi....need some help here. My ds who is 3 1/2 mths old is a very big boy. At his 3 mth appointment two weeks ago he measured in at 16lbs 15oz and I am positive he is heavier now. He eats a TON! 8oz bottles every 3-4 hours...ends up w/ about 5-6 bottles a day....we just started him on cereal which I don't believe curbs his appetite at all. It does however make him fall asleep in the middle of feeding him lol. Ped doesn't say much...just says he is a big boy and that it in no way implies that that he will be big later on. I am just concerned b/c there is obesity in my family. Anyone else have such a hungry baby?

eta: i also hate the comments i get about him being so big....makes me feel like I"m doing something wrong.

Message edited 1/21/2009 10:03:52 AM.

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

My DS weighed 18lbs 6ozs at his 3 month appt. and was totally off the charts when it came to weight. His last appt. at 5 1/2 months he weighed 21lbs. My ped. basically said the same thing as yours he's not concerned because he is in the 75% for height. We started cereal last month and it doesn't really hold him as long as the formula does but the doc. says he will slown down eventually and hopefully shead some lbs. when he starts moving around more and crawling. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Message edited 1/21/2009 10:19:31 AM.

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

My DS will be 4 mos on Oct 3rd and is probably a bit above 16lbs. He is a big kid. I just started feeding him cereal as well. He has a little reflux issue so I am still doing 6 oz bottles every 3-4 hours. My DD was also in the 95% in weight. It all levels itself out--she is now a healthy sized toddler. No worries

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

My guy is a chunker too- he has two chins and some big ole thighs. At 16 weeks he was 16 pounds. At the time we were feeding him 8oz bottles and our ped suggested cutting him back to 6oz more often (not that we were feeding him too much during the day, just too much at one time). He actually does very well with this and he is eating less during the day because of it (30oz instead of 32oz). We have been giving him the cereal since 8 weeks which has helped with the reflux. Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the weight- once they start moving they slim up and the weight gets distributed properly. I don't think obesity is something you have to worry about until they get a little older

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

Mommy of a chunky Monkey here..at two months he was almost 14 pounds...her currently eats 7-8 oz every 3 to 4 hours...yesterday he drank 40 0zs!!! Some people say I am feeding him too much and should stick with the guidelines for his age...whatever...my kid is hungry and I feed him. You need to feed your kid if he is hungry..society today is so weight obsessed and this is why we have such young girls with eating disorders...it's a shame it's now happening with worrying about feeding a newborn too much. You have plenty of time to teach him healthy eating and exercise habits...but for now...feed your baby when he is hungry!!

Message edited 1/21/2009 11:31:32 AM.

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

how long is he? It's not important how much he weighs relative to his age... it's important how much he weighs relative to his length....

At 3 months, DS weighed 16 lbs... but he was 27".... Relative to that super-long height, he was only in the 10% for weight... he's a skinny boy!

I wouldn't get concerned unless your Ped gets concerned. Babies go through a lot of growth spurts in the beginning, and they get very hungry during them. Eryk was eating very similarly to your DS..... but obviously he's tall, not heavy.

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

Unless you are feeding the kid McDonals French Fries - the people making those comments to you should keep their mouths shut!

The formula is good for them and packed with nutrients. If your ped isnt concerned, then try not to be

Re: feeding advice for my 31/2 mth old

My son was always big. He was 10lbs when he was born and all he wanted to do was eat too. I think by the time he is 8 months he was 18lbs. He was always off the charts...but he was also very long. Dont worry, as they get older and start to move around more they slim out. I was worried too, but he is fine now. He is going to be 3 next month and is 41 lbs....and 40 inches tall.