he was 9lbs 2oz when he was born now he weighs about 14lbs i dont want him to get to fat so i havent tried cereal some people tell me to
2006-09-18 07:51:21 · 20 answers · asked by alysiac78 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
At seven weeks, he's doing a lot of growing, and that burns up a lot of calories. It sounds like he's trying hard at being able to sleep through the night for you, which generally means having a nice full tummy. Establishing good eating habits is the least of your problems right now. Go ahead and keep feeding him till he's full. He may be working on a growth spurt and when it's over, he'll slow down a little. If he keeps it up, ask your pediatrician. He may be able to recommend a formula which could give your little guy more calories and help you both sleep better.
He'll give you some physical cues when he's ready for solids... Best one is less drool, which means he's mastered swallowing including using his tongue to work things back into his mouth. Until he gets that down, solids will just be a big frustrating mess for both of you.
If it makes you feel better, I thought my son was crazy for downing 10 ozs at night when he was 4 weeks old, but he's slept through the night since we started giving in to his cries. He now sleeps from 9:30 to 7:15 am on about 10-15 ozs.
2006-09-18 08:08:15 · answer #1 · answered by suzy7o7 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
talk to a lactation consultant. i would encourage more breastfeeding during the day. it is also a time for a growth spurt and your milk supply will increase. i'm still breast feeding my todler at 18 months and i didn't give him any baby food till he was 6 months, the milk supply will increase with demand. so no worries, just offer the breast more during the day and your beautiful baby will let you sleep more at night. if it is a growth spurt it usually lasts a week or so.
i read alot of the answers that you got and many people say feed him cereal. i wouldn't talk to a lactation consultant and not your doctor. doctors are not experts on breastfeeding. go to the professional!
SLEEP WHEN HE SLEEPS...THIS IS HOW MOMS MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OR 2!!!!!!! NEXT IT WILL BE TEETHING!
2006-09-18 07:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by carol anne 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's cluster feeding. During this time, the fat in your breastmilk is in it's highest concentration. This is a good thing! He needs all the healthy fat he can get at this time for brain development.
Also, around this time, babies go through a growth spurt.
Breastfed babies fatten up in the beginning and then when they start moving, they become skinny. My own dd was 20lbs at 6 months, 25lbs at 9 months and today at 21.5 months is still 25 months. She grew long between 9m and now and is a skinny little thing (I miss the chubs!)
Don't do cereal until at LEAST 6 months! And never in a bottle, that's a chocking hazard!
2006-09-18 08:33:40 · answer #3 · answered by Erin H 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DO NOT feed your 7 week old cereal! You baby is way to young to have anything except breast milk (or if you absolutely have to, formula). If your baby wants to nurse every hour from 9pm to 2am, then do it! You baby is going through a growth spurt now and needs nourishment. Also, babies not only nurse for nutrients, but also for bonding, touch, safety, sucking (they have an innate urge to suck), and simply being close to their mother. If you only breastfed your baby, it will not get "fat". Breast milk and feeding on demand are the best ways to prevent obesity later in life (including childhood). Babies that are breastfed cannot get obese.
Once again, DO NOT feed your baby cereal! Those that are advising you to do so are completely wrong.
For further breast feeding information, go to http://www.kellymom.com/
2006-09-18 08:09:30 · answer #4 · answered by Atikina 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
MY kids were big too at birth. ( 9lb 12 oz and 9lbs 7 oz) I started adding cereal to the formula at 4 weeks. OTHERWISE, they were drinking almost 16 oz of formula at a sitting. TOO MUCH. He won't get fat until you start feeding him junk food like candy and chips.
IF you are breastfeeding, then the milk is alot "lighter" than formula. I would suggest you pump and add that milk to a little cereal and feed him through a bottle. You might have to make the hole in the bottle a little bigger, but this should do the trick.
2006-09-18 08:03:09 · answer #5 · answered by sewshawn 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
My oldest nursed all the time too. She also gained a lot of weight while nursing. She never got "fat" (as defined by her doctor - not the neighbors). I got a LOT of "let her cry it out" advice.
I wouldn't give him cereal unless his doctor has suggested it - it seems a bit early to me.
My advice to you is to do what feels right to you - I really think that our instincts work a lot more than we give them credit for. I kept feeding mine when she wanted it. Now that she's four, she's tall and skinny - and every once in a while I really miss our "cuddle" time. :)
Best Wishes
2006-09-18 08:00:02 · answer #6 · answered by Tragedy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree--do not give your baby cereal! Also, do not supplement with formula. Your baby is in a growth spurt & supplementing now will not increase your supply to keep up with his growth. Part of being a new mama is sleep deprivation. It is not about sleeping through the night, it's about giving your baby the best you have--breastmilk. Supplementing with formula is a good way to start the end of your nursing relationship. Keep up the good work & follow your instincts mama!
2006-09-18 09:00:16 · answer #7 · answered by TheMommyMarketplace 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
During the day is he feed a lot also or is it just nights? You may not be producing enough milk and that is why he is so hungry. I would not try cereal until 3 months old. His stomach is not ready for it. You may want to try formula at night and see if that may help. Best of luck.
2006-09-18 08:02:32 · answer #8 · answered by Jessica p 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Talk to your pediatrician before putting him on baby cereal. The standard for starting them on it changes regularly. Older people will tell you six weeks and newer moms are told not to start for a couple of months. He just sounds like a healthy, hungry baby to me....don't worry about him "getting too fat". Unless there's a serious underlying health condition responsible for his weight, there's no cause for concern.
2006-09-18 07:54:29 · answer #9 · answered by Mara 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my oldest daughter did the same thing within the first 2 weeks she was home from the hospital. I started cereal when she was 2 weeks old, it worked for about a week. Start with the regular rice cereal. When she was 3 weeks old I started her on fruits, her first one was bananas. She loved it and I loved that she slept longer too. Hope this will help. Definately start him on cereal.
2006-09-18 07:58:56 · answer #10 · answered by stormykathrynserenity 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋