Should we cut back on the amount of formula we feed our hefty baby?

Question

We are seriously considering cutting down the amount of formula in our baby's feedings. She is currently 2 months old and in the 97 percentile for weight (14 pounds) and 90 percentile for height. This is #2 for us, and our 1st was a portly little fellow (a 35 lb 2 year old!) until he was 3 years old. I was the same as a baby, but was very slim the rest of my life and so is my wife. I'm not interested in cutting down on our current baby's formula for health reasons, she is healthy. She is cute and we love her no matter how she looks, but it would be nice to avoid hauling around a hugh baby like our 1st. Seriously, your arms get tired. Is there any harm in putting a little less formula in the bottle? This weight gain must mean she is getting too much, and a small reduction would be appropriate. We plan to closely watch her weight to insure she continues to gain weight, albeit at a slower rate. Instead of 3 scoops for 6 oz of water, we would use 2 to 2.5 scoops. Your thoughts?

More info... She was born 7 lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long. She is no longer getting breast milk (not since 6 weeks old). Also, we have had about two days on this "reduced" formula plan, and she is just as satisfied as before, and eats on the same schedule as before. Ergo she must be getting enough??? And yes :) we are going to ask her doctor about it to take their opinion heavily into consideration. Thanks for any advise you have to offer.

Ok... You win. We'll wait until we ask the doc. :) The whole water intoxication thing freaked me out. See, who says you can't get good advise from random strangers. Thanks!

Answer 1

I am a nutritionist
yes you do need to feed your baby appropriately, but you want to do it by cutting down on the number of ounces she is drinking not the scoops of formula (altering the scoops to water ratio can kill your baby from water intoxication)! at 14 lbs (and less than 6 months old)your baby should only be drinking 34oz a day to maintain her weight.
also to comment on the health of the baby, anything above the 95 percentile is considered obese and puts her at risk for obesity related disease, like high blood pressure and diabetes (she is at risk both now and later in life, meaning you cold wind up with a 6 month old that needs insulin or a four year old that needs blood pressure meds)

If you would like to speak with a local nutritionist call your area WIC office. they regularly help over fed babies and there parents (this is a very common problem because many baby's do not receive enough non-nutritive sucking)

to figure any baby's caloric needs (for infants less than 6 months) take the baby's weight in kg X 108 = total calories needed
then take total calories needed and divide by 20 = number of ounces of formula or breast milk needed per day

In response to a comment above, never give a baby younger than 6 months old any food except breast milk or formula, including rice cereal and juices, as they cannot digest it.

Answer 2

Nipple soreness is normal when starting to breastfeed, but if it's continuing, your wife should see a lacation consultant about baby's latch. In improper latch will make breastfeeding a very unpleasant experience. Have her contact her doctor or the La Leche League for advice if she really wants to continue direct feeding. It is possible, however, to pump and bottle feed the expressed milk. I have a friend who did this for a while but stopped because it was so much more time consuming. There are some studies that suggest that some of the beneficial ingredients in breastmilk start to break down after 48 hours in the freezer (though it IS still good), so if she goes the pump route, use it promptly for best nutrition.

Answer 3

Has your Dr told you to do this? If so get another Dr. Don't cut back on formula that is like getting a glass of milk and adding water. Gross! I'm not a Dr but I have a baby that is 10 months and people are constantly telling me my baby is small. She is in the 10th percentile for weight and 40th for height. She is really active and she eats really well and a lot! I asked the Dr about it and she said she was fine and looks very healthy. Every baby is different. Don't put your baby on a diet or cut back the formula. I know that it's tiring to carry 14-15lbs but unless your Dr advises you to cut back then don't. Get a baby sling! It's easier on the arm and back and very comforting for the baby!! Take care!

Answer 4

NO! I was at the emergency room with my son and there was a mother there with her baby who was very, very sick. They didn't know what was wrong with the baby and were going to have to do a spinal tap. Well, some to find out the mother was not mixing the formula correctly (using too much water and not enough formula) and gave her baby water intoxication.

Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes. Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.

What Happens During Water Intoxication?

When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. As more water accumulates, the serum sodium concentration drops -- a condition known as hyponatremia. The other way cells try to regain the electrolyte balance is for water outside the cells to rush into the cells via osmosis. The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from higher to lower concentration is called osmosis. Although electrolytes are more concentrated inside the cells than outside, the water outside the cells is 'more concentrated' or 'less dilute' since it contains fewer electrolytes. Both electrolytes and water move across the cell membrane in an effort to balance concentration. Theoretically, cells could swell to the point of bursting.

From the cell's point of view, water intoxication produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water. Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days

Answer 5

No. Please don't do anything like that until you consult your pediatrician. As long as the height and weight are in proportion then she is fine. How big is she now? And what was she at birth?

My little boy was also a big baby but he was never considered fat. He is still a big boy but he is just that - big. True meaning of big boned. He just turned 4 now and he is slimming down so no fat but still really tall, broad shoulders, and solid when you pick him up.

Give her the proper amount of formula until you speak with the doctor. She needs all the nutrients. Just don't go over 50 oz of formula a day.

I think that 35 lbs at 2 isn't that ridiculous at all. I work in a preschool and it is just about normal.

Answer 6

If your baby is in the 97th for weight and the 90th for height THEN THEY ARE THE RIGHT WEIGHT FOR THEIR HEIGHT! If you cut back on formula you will be starving her and cause her to become underweight for her height!!!

My 8 month old is 26lbs, he was 20lbs at 4 months. 20lbs at four months is like the 120th percentile on most chats, but he is healthy for him.

Sure my arms hurt and my wrist has developed a permanent strain injury because my baby hates the stroller but seriously I would never deny him his food. He is the perfect weight and height for him with the perfect amount of nutrients

(FYI my baby is breastfed)

Also I don't want to sound like a nut job but I consider putting a baby on a diet who doesn't have a serious medical condition (like an inability to know they are full, or an inability to handle too much protein or sugar) child abuse, even if it is recommended by a doctor and this isn't even recommended by some quack doctor.

Answer 7

Never cut back on formula or breast milk without consulting the baby's doctor. Formula is formulated to be mixed to optimize the brain developing enzymes. Adding more water or not enough formula can diminish these enzymes. Also cutting back on her formula will backfire because she will be constantly hungry and crying to be fed so you will end up having to feed her more often. My husband was mixing our son's formula wrong (Too much water) and we had to feed him every hour until I realized when I saw my husband mixing the bottle what was going on. Also NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put cereal in the baby's bottle unless you get the ok from their doctor. This can be a choking hazard.

Answer 8

I wouldnt tamper with the scoops...The ratio of powder to water is calculated specifically for a reason. My daughter was always in the 96-100th percentile for weight and height and was a fairly good eater as an infant. Things like that usually taper off from month to month, especially as you start adding cereal and food. Talk to her pediatrician about her eating habits if you really think she is eating too much(sounds like she is healthy and happy to me...) If she is eating it "good" and seems to have no digestion problems or changes in behavior, it is probable that she is simply eating what her little body needs.

Answer 9

No don't mess with the measurement could cause constipation or a lot of throwing up states don't mess with mixture.... Instead of using just formula try some baby cereal in her milk will keep her fuller for long thus meaning less feedings and less crying.... My son is 11 months old and is 28 pounds so i know what you are saying.... just try the milk and if that doesn't work talk to her doctor.

Answer 10

i have been in your boat..my daughter is in the same boat..HOWEVER..ok this is the exact advice i got and it worked great for me.
Babies eat on demand, no matter how you try to get them on a schedule at that age they are just hungry when their belly tells them they are. And when they are hungry let them eat. I would DEFINATLY say to talk to you peditrician first but what my pedi had me do was add a little cereal (gerber rice) to her diet. In turn she was filled from not as much, but you dont want to really take them away from formula, they need all they can get...try adding a little bit (LITTLE BIT) to the bottle. Get Gerbers/Beechnut RICE cereal (the other cereals are hard to digest) and add a little bit, the formula alone may not be filling her up. and just in case you didnt know, Her height and weight are fine..if she were in the 50th percentile height and 97th in weight then i would worry, but as long as she is in the 90th and up for both it balances out. She just a big girl..my daughter is just 7 months old and she is 21 pounds :) but she is also 30 something inches now, so shes just overall a big girl...she is also thinning out now that she is moving around. My son who is now 5 years old is 48 lbs and 4'3" tall.
:)