Over-feeding babies?

Question

I know a couple who have a five week old baby. This poor little thing pants like a dog and can't seem to calm down. He shakes every once in awhile and his parents feed him four bottles in an hour (COLD BOTTLES!!) and aren't adequetly keeping him warm. The baby is fussy and might be cholic but the parents just stick a bottle in his mouth and think that will solve it. Is there any serious health problems that can occur to this baby? I know I need to say something to them but they are very independent and stubborn, selfish people. How can I make them realize that their baby is suffering?

Answer 1

My son shakes when he gets hungry and when he is first waking up. Also, some babies eat more frequently and smaller amounts. If he's eating too much he'll just spit it up. My son would eat all day if I let him, but he lets me know (all over my shirt) when he's had too much. Some babies are just fussy. Also, there's a misconception that babies need to be covered in layers and layers. Yes, they don't regulate their own body temperature as well as adults, but if the temperature in the house is comfortable they don't need a sleeper and a bunch of blankets.
I guess it seems to me that maybe these parents just need to learn more techniques for calming a newborn besides the sucking reflex. Why don't you buy them a book about solutions for fussy babies?

Answer 2

There is a thin line between over feeding/ over eating. Kids who are over feed tend to be bigger than other children. One Thing I saw first hand was a parent food her 3 year old fr lunch a sandwich, chips,and soup. Now that wasn't the bad part he was a really little guy and didn't need that much. He would eat until he was sick. He would get sick in the bathroom come back down and eat the rest. Now he is overweight. As are all of this woman's children. I do feel you should feed them when they are wanting it but you need to know when the child is a baby when the cry is for food and when its just being fussy.A cold bottle can hurt the baby's tummy and why may not know that. Colic may be the reason why the baby is so fussy but they may need to take the baby to the Dr. so see if that's whats wrong they might not even know there is something wrong with their baby.

Answer 3

Well, the bottle can be luke-warm, and or room-temperature, it's not necessary to be warm, but if it's straight from the refrigerator it can slow the digestive tract, and or cause stomache crapping and pain. Sticking a bottle in the infants mouth whenever he fusses is not good parenting. This can lead to obesity, since this teaches the child to not only eat more, but to desire sustenance to calm his or herself. This is a delicate stage in the baby's life where one creates habits. As far as panting, the child might not be breathing properly for any number of reasons. It could be a respitory problem. However, children of this age have short lung capacity and therefore do breathe much more rapidly than you and I. If your concerned for this child, you might simply say, "Being a mother myself, I've noticed that this has or had worked for me....that serving the bottle less frequently and at room temperature or warmer soothes and calms colic." or simply ask "Do you think he/she has colic?"..."you can get expert advice from your pediatrician"... Just act helpful and concerned, and try to relate with them. Most parents will take to this without defense , if they love there child.

Answer 4

You can't really overfeed a baby, when they are full they overflow. (Trust me, I tried to get my little guy to take the last little bit in a biottle once, and he spit up big time, and then cried, haven't done that again, when he tells me he's done, he's done, no matter how much is left in the bottle.) But they should be keeping the little guy warm, it will let him sleep and grow. The bottle doesn't really have to be warm, only enough that the baby will eat, I usually make sure it is at least room temperature. He might be fussing cause he's tired, or maybe he has a dirty diaper (if they're feeding him that often, he should be having dirty diapers a LOT.

Answer 5

First thing is the bottle should always be warm. It might be a serious problem. They sound like they are neglecting the baby needs. You can keep talking to them and if you think its really bad. you can alert the authorities.

Answer 6

You could call and report them to child services and it isn't necessary to warm bottles anymore I always do but it isn't mandatory. Obviously the baby wants to be warm all the time so they need to pay more attention to her needs and quit being lazy with just giving him a bottle.

Answer 7

you definately need to talk to these people! if they wont listen you need to report them. what these people are doing is abuse! they are over feeding the baby and it sounds like they shouldnt have a baby to begin with! tell the authorites now!

Answer 8

YOU ARE RIGHT, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM! I DO NOT KNOW THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THEM BUT I DO HOPE YOU WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE HARM THEY ARE DOING. MAYBE FIND A GOOD BOOK ON FEEDING ONE'S NEWBORN AND HIGHLIGHT A SECTION THAT APPLIES TO OVER FEEDING. GOOD LUCK.