I Think My Baby May Be a Compulsive overeater..........already

I see you have a lot of responses and mine would be the same. But just a funny note, when I had my son and had the same concerns the lactation consultant said to me, "you think he eats a lot now, wait until he's 15"! My son is now 2 and still eats a lot - but he's healthy and in 75% for his age. Good luck!

Normal. A baby can't 'overeat.' THey don't crave foods like we do, just eat when they're hungry. Sounds healthy to me. My son was 10 lbs at 2 weeks.

Babies do not overeat. Period. When they get into the 2 yr old stage and usually even older is when they can develope this habit and it's usually because of an adult teaching it to them.
Rest easy my dear. My baby, now 3, is a stlight little thing now but she was a BIG FAT BABY I'm not kidding you. She was huge! Her odler sis wasnt like that at all but guess what? I was! I have never been fat in my life. I'm 47(yes that's what I said with a biological 3 yr old!)and at 5'8" I weigh 127lbs.

Wendy

S.,

You are awesome!

My son fed every 2 hours up until he was about 3 months old, then it subsided and increased again at around 4.5 months old when he experienced a growth spurt.

According to my lactation consultant, ALL babies are different and some require more feedings as their metabolisms are quicker to digest the breastmilk.

Just go with the flow, he'll slow down when he's ready to!

Good luck and congrats.

Right now, at 1 month, you son is nothing but pure instincts. Everything he is doing is instinct-driven and the perfect right thing for him to do for his growing body. It sounds like he is going through a rapid growth spurt right now and needs a lot of calories and nutrients to get through it. Once his body slow down growing for a bit, you'll be able to get him on a cycle that is better for you and you'll get more time to relax.

Our son nursed every 1 1/2. Though he really only took in a couple of ounces at a time. I was exhausted. But, what could I do. I was told to nurse as often as he wanted it. They're hungry, you gotta feed them. Wether it's nursing or formula.

Totally normail. Your doing a great job (:

Hi, S.,

The amount he drinks sounds normal. My sons drank smaller amounts more often than your son (a few ounces every couple hours) but probably drank about the same amount per day as your son. My sons' weight gain was not constant. Some weeks they lost weight, some they neither gained nor lost weight, and some they gained weight. (Both sons are on the low end of the growth chart in terms of weight and height: for the first, 10th percentile weight and 40th percentile height and for the second, 10th percentile weight and 10th percentile height.) Unless your pediatrician recommend that you reduce your son's intake of formula, I would not recommend feeding him any less.

Lynne E

I'm also an adoptive mother of two incredible kids, boy and girl. Every child is different even if they are biologically related. My son also ate like your son as an infant, unlike my daughter. Babies tend to do what they need to do. If they need sleep, they'll sleep. If he needs food, he'll eat it. I always thought that perhaps my son was making up for lost nutrients inutero because I know his birth mother ate a lot of junk food. Now at 2, my son is a good eater but definitely doesn't eat excessive. In fact when we introduce solid foods, he was very picky and ate minimal amounts at the time! So the short version of my advice - Relax. Give him the food he's asking for - he must need it. Wait and see how he develops and what he does at later stages.

I think your son is too young to do anything compulsively since he hasn't had a chance to have a negative developmental step. I don't want this to sound offensive so please do not take it that way. Not all adopted children will have an issue. Please do not expect and look for one. If it happens, you seem ready and know how to help. For now, enjoy your little boy and congratulations on the blessing - you have a wonderful heart!

To reassure you - my son ate 5 ounces of breastmilk every 2-3 hours. If you are formula feeding, I think the babies can drink more formula in one sitting. My sister-in-law fed her daughter 6-8 ounces of formula every feeding. So - everything is normal!

Congratulations on your new addition! My son did the same thing. He ate and ate and ate when he was an infant. Babies only do what they need to do. Now, if only as adults we would do the same thing.... :)

~V.

all 3 of my children ate every two hours at that age. Everything I read said every 1 1/2 to 2 hours bettween feeding. I actually just feed them when they were hungry, he is to young to be put n a schedule. eed him whn he tells you he is hungry. Every child is different go by his cues he knows himself better than anyone or any magazine or doctor.

That is nothing for that old and weight gain is good. DO NOT FEED HIM LESS THEN HE WANTS! Kids this age are not compulsive overeaters. They eat what they need at this age. And not all kids eat only every three hours. There are growth spurts too. Please feed him when he needs to. Not feeding him is starving him! You need to be flexible between demand and scheduled feeding. Oh, and not all children are the same. Your son won't always do what you daughter did. My second little boy is a much bigger eater than my first and my first was a heck of an eater. Neither is overweight. Feed him please!

It's impossible for a one month old to be a compulsive eater. Fee him whenever he is hungry. If he is sucking down that much milk then he is HUNGRY. If he is fussy and then doesn't drink much, maybe he needs to be swaddled or soothed another way. But don't try to limit his food intake at this age please.

i think it is normal. today, i was told by the doc that my 4 mo old was the size of a 8-9 mo old. he said that it was okay. he said a baby can never be too big.

Hi S.. I had my second son in October. He is the same way. Only he never waits 3 hours. I'm not going to make him go hungry until his doctor says he needs to eat less. He is as big as 6 and 7 month old babies right now. His brother was nothing like that. His doctor says he's in the 95% for weight and only 50-75% for length. He said it just means he will most likely be built like his daddy! His daddy is a very good looking man if I do say so myself! So, I'm okay with that. His doctor will let me know when to worry.
Plus, once they start on rice cereal and then baby foods, then start crawling, their weight will change I'm sure. I'm happy you're writing in about a baby who eats too much instead of not enough. I wouldn't worry. It sounds like you've got yourself a happy healthy baby boy. Congratulations!

My daughter did the same thing. She was 9 lbs at birth and 11 lbs at her 2 week check-up. She was a gigantic baby. I nursed so the doctor told me as long as I wasn't supplementing not to worry. She was off the charts (about 150%) for a while.My older son wasn't like that at all but she's almost four now and perfect.

Yes it's normal!!! Listen to your baby, when he wants milk, give it to him. There is not such thing as a baby that's being manipulative. Also when babies receive love and stimulation it triggers growth, sounds like a good home!Congratultions!

I'm assuming since he's adopted and you're able to count oz that he's formula fed (yes, adopted babies can be breastfed for those out there who think that was a weird statement). And yes, that is a lot of formula for such a young guy to eat, but no I don't think he's a compulsive eater! :) Have you tried feeding him every two hours instead, and only giving two to three oz at each feeding? Maybe that way he will have a full feeling more consistently, instead of feeling starving at the end of that third hour and wanting to eat a whole lot really fast. On the other hand, he may really just be a big eater - I have friend who's baby was that same way, at three months old he was eating 6oz every three hours and acting like that was just not enough! He turned out to be a REALLY big boy - not fat by any means - but he has huge bone and muscle structure and is really tall (at two years old is 40 pounds and almost as tall as my four year old who is in the 70% on the charts)!!! WOW, so you just can't tell this young how big or tall he'll be, and he may truly be hungry! I know there are charts and measurements and "rules" for how much formula is too much, but I would say as long as you aren't exceeding that TOO much, then feed him what he needs. Don't add extra water - babies need the full fat content for brain development, and don't give him plain water - that can be toxic to babies. Good luck!

Babies aren't born to over-eat. That is taught/learned. You are doing great, he sounds like he is doing great, I wouldn't worry. Although mine were breastfed (goes through the system a bit quicker) they never went 3 hours between feedings. He is so young still. Keep up the great work and feed him when he is hungry.

Enjoy your new baby!!
M.

Sounds like he is right on target! Which means you are doing fine! My son was almost 9 and a half pounds at birth and doubled his weight purely breastfeeding in less than 3 months! He definitely ate 4-5 ounces every 2-3 hours! He is not "overweight" now at 26 months by any means, and is perfectly healthy height and weight. Congratulations, and don't be so nervous! Just love your new little one!

Gaining 1 to 2 lbs a month is normal... they say babies should gain .5 to 1 oz a day (16 oz in 1 lbs).

Some babies also just need to eat more often, you may want to put him on some two hour feedings and see if he eats less. He sounds pretty normal to me.

For breast feeding a consultant told me that they should be eating 2.5oz of milk for each pound they weigh... so 10 lbs baby should be drinking 25oz a day. Not sure if it's the same for formula.

HI, I don't think a one month old can be an overeater. He's hungry and growing!

Babies don't over eat. Feed him on demand and he will be fine. If he is stuffing himself with each feeding you can give him a break, burp him and continue feeding. Neither of my boys went three hours between feeding at that age. Just go with it and let your baby be your guide!

Congratulations!

Normal.
For me, I had a girl first and a boy 2nd. My boy ate TONS more than my girl, and I breastfed both.
For my friends, they also noticed that their boys ate TONS as well... compared with their girl children.

Your son, is "cluster feeding" which means that they eat even every hour. THIS is NORMAL. Don't worry. A baby goes through 'growth spurts' and they eat according to what they need. He is only 1 month old... feed him ON DEMAND. This is very important. DO NOT feed him according to a "schedule." Babies need to be fed ON demand... for the first year of life.

All the best,
S.

Eating disorders are emotionally based. If you are concerned, contact a pediatric psychologist or psychiratrist. Caloric demand at that age is probably biologic and not emotional.

My two daughters were direct opposites when it came to eating. My first born ate 2 ounces at a time every two hours; my second born ate 4 ounces and soon went to 6.

They are now beautiful healthy women with families. The older one thin, the younger one thin but fights the weight battle.

Sounds just like what my baby boys were eating at that age, 4-5 oz every 3 hours. Both of my babies grew very quickly in the first 6-9 months, but then really slowed down after that. Their intake also seemed to slow down a little after the first few months. I don't have any girls to compare their eating habits to, but he sounds just like my boys!

No worries, mama! Sounds like he's a thriving boy! You can check with the experts on this but I don't think it's possible for babies or little kids to be compulsive over-eaters. Even if he keeps up his voracious appetite into his teen years- It's what he's eating- not how much or how often that should be the concern. My second son was and still is(he's three) a voracious eater and I'm happy to report he's very healthy. Best wishes!