over feeding my son?

Question

My son will be 9 months old november 3rd and i have been having a problem with his dad and over-feeding him. He basically feeds him whenever he wants a bottle. I keep telling his daddy that he is not a newborn, he does not need to eat like that, he is going to become fat. It's in one ear and out the other. He took him one day last week, i feed the baby at 10 a.m. and then he left with the baby...I told his daddy not to feed him for another 4 hours, if he cries...put up with it, like i do all week long. He said o.k. he and the baby came home again at 12:30 p.m. so he could "saw" for a piece for work...I went into the diaper bag and saw a bottle almost empty which means he fed him again in a 2 and a half hour period. I was so angry..It's coming between our relationship. It's driving me crazy that he feeds him like that. Now i know why, the baby screams a lot when he is with me cuz he wants to eat again after only 2 hours. what can i do to make his daddy stop over feeding him?

and please do not say he is going through a growth period, my boyfriend has been doing this for a while

my daughter is 8 now and when she was an ifant, she did not eat like that. to me, it's digusting

yes, he eats solids as well but cries for the bottle a lot

for "dik" for your information...my 8 yr old daughter's father is my best friend and we get along well together...we have a great relationship for our daughter and my daughter is happy as can be. as for my infant son's daddy...we have been togehter for 4 years and plan on getting married soon so shove it

i am not being v\cruel. even my peditrician said he does not need to eat like that

Answer 1

Here are 2 feeding guides, the first one is about his bottle intake, the second one is an actual food intake guide. I have provided the websites so that you have these guides for the rest of his stages of development.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/formulafeed/9136.html :

By the time he's about 1 month old, he'll probably be up to 3 or 4 ounces at each feeding and will consume 18 to 32 ounces in one day. From the age of 2 months to 6 months, you should be feeding your baby 4 to 6 ounces at a feeding, and he'll take in 23 to 32 ounces a day. (Some parents find that an increase of about one ounce per month works out about right.)

Once your baby reaches 6 months, you can feed him 6 to 8 ounces at a feeding, up to around 32 ounces of formula per day. At this point you should start adding solid foods to his diet, if you haven't already. You'll find that as your baby gets older, he will drink fewer bottles with more formula.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyfeeding/1400680.html#4

Age: 8 to 10 months
Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods
• Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS
• Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp)
• Can transfer items from one hand to the other
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Moves jaw in a chewing motion
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1)
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
• Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes)
• Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal)
• Small amounts of protein (egg yolk, pureed meats and poultry; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans)
• Non-citrus juice (apple or pear)
How much per day
• ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese)
• ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal
• ¼ to ½ cup fruit
• ¼ to ½ cup vegetables
• 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods
• 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices
Feeding tip
• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

Answer 2

You've let a power struggle with your baby's father cloud your common sense. Four hours is a really long time to go with no food or drink for an infant. Your 9 month old may be hungry, may be taking the bottle for comfort, or he may be thirsty (do you offer him water as a substitute?). You don't say whether you are feeding your child solids, if not, that is probably the problem. I would keep track of what and how often your son is eating. Make an appointment with your pediatrician (dad, too!) for a good diet that everyone can agree on.

The important thing is to get you both on the same page - sounds like you're developing resentment over this situation and that benefits no one - especially your son.

Answer 3

The only way that a baby (before they learn to speak in words) knows how to communicate is by crying. I always believe that there's a reason whenever a baby cries; could be that he is wet, uncomfortable, ill, hungry, etc.

I have to agree with what alot of the others are saying in that chances are if he's still crying shortly after a feed, he most likely is hungry again. I honestly don't think it's a good idea to simply let your baby cry when he is trying so desperately to tell you something's not right.

If you feel milk is too "fattening", which I find to be quite an interesting comment, why not try giving him some fruit juice? You know, sometimes a baby needs a bottle for security reasons, too. I wonder if he's finding the bottle comforting because you often leave him to cry? Do you hold your baby and comfort him?

Yes, it's not fair to compare your daughter's growing up experience with that of your son's - every child IS different. In fact, every individual is different, just as, it seems, you're so different from the most of us who answered your question.

I hope you don't become overly defensive in some of our responses because, afterall, we're all just trying to help. Please take care of yourself and your little ones.

Answer 4

Ok...I am no doctor but my son was the same way. He wanted to eat often and I fed him often. My husband did as well. The doctor told us to feed him only 6 ounces at a time (he was about 6 months) but he wanted 8. I gave him 8. He was a chunky baby and a healthy toddler. Now he is 3 and has slimmed out quite a bit, and doesn't want to eat much, now he is a picky eater. I am one who isn't for the "my baby eats every ___ hours" I fed both of the older children when they were hungry. I started both my kids on babyfood at 4 months though. I hope your son is on solids by now. And my newborn I have will be done the same way. Don't worry about him being overweight. There is nothing wrong with a chunky baby. He will slim down. That is why it is called "baby fat"

Answer 5

I am curious does the baby eat solids? He just may be thirst too. ALL children are NOT the same. I am saying this because i have 3 children and they are all different one likes certain foods that the others don't. I will also agree with you my husband use to feed my youngest daughter every two hours at that age so I would worry about obesity as much as having a happy and healthy child. And a question ot you do you eat on a schedule or when your hungry just something to think about when you get frustrated about how your baby eats. Good luck!!

Answer 6

As a mother of 3 (2 girls 7 & 4 and a boy 2) boys eat alot more than girls do. What I would suggest is giving him some baby food. Either Cherrios split in half or beans or peas. Something soft and easy for him to eat. He might be also getting teeth, and a bottle nipple is a nice chew on tender gums. I thought that my son would grow into the pudgy toddler with all the food he packed away, but he's under the 50% for his age. Just remember that a baby just trying out "real" food will reject it at first, but keep trying. A suggestion for you with your husband and him taking a little daddy/son time is not to put a bottle in the diaper bag. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

Dear God woman, he's just a baby! Feed him when he's hungry! Your only feeding him formula, milk, juice, or water for goodness sakes, (can start some solids) it's not like you're giving him Little Debbie Snacks and soda. Chill out. You are just being a control freak (which I can understand in certain circumstances, but not about this). Anyway, boys are supposed to be big and healthy. You don't want some scrawny puny little fella. LET THE CHILD EAT.

Answer 8

I'm not telling you he's going through a growth period. He needs to eat when he's hungry. He will not get fat! He's only 9 months old! And if the bottle is all he gets (he's supposed to get solids already) he'll need to eat more often than every 2 hrs. Are you trying to starve your child? He's not going to develop well if you don't give him food when he needs it.

My son is 12 months old, eats pretty much every 2 hrs (solids) and he's not fat. You can't compare you daughter to your son, every child is different. You need to wake up and feed your baby when he's hungry!

Answer 9

feed youre child, it is normal for a child to want too eat every 2 too 4 hours at that age i think it is wrong to deprive youre child of food if he is hungry, let him eat he will be fine, and if down the road you see his weight as being a problem then talk to his doctor, Maybe it isnt a feeding issue and it could be the amount of time or attetion you are not giving him hes only 9 months old hes a baby for gosh sakes if you really are having a hard time with this feeding problem go to his doctor and talk to him

Answer 10

Does your pediatrician think he is overweight? I would always go with what the doctor recommends. My sister's little boy is 4 months old and my son is eight months old. Her son weighs more than my son and wears the same size even though they are 4 months apart. He definately has an eating problem, his mother gives him a bottle whenever he cries. Maybe you child just has a fast metabolism and goes through things quicker. I would suggest to the dad (as long as you aren't against pacifiers) to try a pacifier or teething rings. Maybe all he wants is something to chew on. Maybe that would work for the daddy in training! Good Luck!

Answer 11

I think you might need to feed the baby some solid foods.... At this age and stage in the childs life. He/ She should be given solid food atleast three times per day. Baby food etc""""something that will stick to him/her for a while. maybe if you did this he/ she would not cry for a bottle.. Think about it... Do you drink someting every time you are hungery. Or do you add ample solid nourishment.