Eating to Much

My son wasn't gaining weight and was in the lower percentile also. Come to find out he has cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is when the pancreas doesn't produce a certain enzyme which breaks down the nutrients in food. Maybe see about this. I know my son's was found in his new born screening.

I would switch to someone you are more on the same page with.
Plus if she is eating more than what "the book" says and not gaining..maybe you should switch formulas. She is old enough that you could start doing baby cereal now.

If you are looking for a new doc..I would highly suggest the docs at Capital City Pediatrics...there are reviews about them on this site.

Good Luck

I think that it is okay to switch within the practice. Remember every doctor has a different style. Also, if you do the math on how many ounces she is drinking every day, it is not that far off from what she is supposed to be having. If my doc had talked to me like that I would definately be looking for a new doc.

You never know how much of the formula your daughter is able to digest. With breastmilk, they can use all of the milk they eat, but your daughter may eat more formula trying to get the nutrition she needs if she isn't able to digest it as well. That's also perhaps why she is eating only 3-4 times a day- because it takes her a long time to digest it (so she feels full a long time). You mentioned breathing problems- and breathing problems can be a sign of a food allergy/sensitivity as well- either to teh formula or something you've introduced- which if she has a sensitivity to it you know she's having trouble digesting it and not getting the nutrition she needs. Did your doctor consider sensitivity to the formula you're using? And if she needs more nutrition than she can get from the formula, that could be a reason she is not gaining weight well. It doesn't matter if she she eats a lot, it matters if she can digest what she's eating. But of course she could just be small- plenty of normal, healthy kids are in low percentiles. Mine are. You just don't want her to drop significantly in percentiles from where she was when she was born.

The AAP does not recommend solids until after 6 months. The reason is that our little one's intestines aren't mature enough to filter what they eat. That maturing happens between 4-6 months but not necessarily until 6 months, when they are almost always mature enough to handle food. Introducing solids before then can cause food allergies- that is what happened to my first son. I introduced solids at 4-5 months and some of the first foods I gave him he developed sensitivities to. And I didn't know it at the time, since the sensitivities showed up months later. I know you have already started solids, but you might considering holding off. It sounds like she was fighting you on the solids and you certainly don't need to force them. If she eats them, it doesn't mean that she can digest them and that they are doing her any good.

Doctors are there to give us advice, they are NOT in charge. WE are. I would read up about feeding, solids, and such and make your own informed decision, of course considering your doctor's advice. I would DEFINITELY look up the symptoms of food allergies to you can be on the lookout for any signs your daughter might be showing. And if you don't like anything about your doctor, just switch and don't look back. There are plenty to choose from.

I hope your daughter is well. So many things we have to decide aren't there! :)

A.,

I hate to say it, but I really dont think there is such a thing of eating too much at this age. I too have a 5 month old, and she eats 6 ozs almost every 3-4 hours. About 42 ozs per day. This is starting at about 5-7 am and going until 10 pm, She sleeps through the nite.

On top of that, she is given cereal in her formula to thicken it up, (about 1-2 of the formula scoopers of rice cereal.) Plus once a day she gets one of those plastic containers of gerber 1st foods, usually fruits, shes not to big on veggies yet.

I would say, if you are uncomfortable with the way your ped handleded the situation, I would move on... Mine has never yelled at me, or made me feel like I was doing something wrong.. afterall, you are learning for the first time, and unless you call him everyday with a new questions, you need to learn by trial and error.

I have bounced back and forth in my doctors office with both my kids, and neither doctor minds, (its simply an getting an appoitment conflict for us, but they wouldnt probally know any better)

Good luck!

Have you introduced solids to her yet? No child is the same and averages are only a guideline. My three month old eats that much in breastmilk a day and is gaining weight just fine!

Mom is always right. I was in a similar situation with my oldest daughter. I knew that she was having asthma attacks and he told me that she wasn't. When I left the office for the 4th time in 2 weeks I immediately went to the desk and told them I wanted to see another dr. Sure enough her o2 levels were at 84%.
If you are in doublt then get another opinion!!

I would deffinetly swith peds if your uncomfortable at all. I switched when my sons ped struck me wrong and I stayed in the same facility. I am so happy with my kid's doctor now I'm glad I did it. As far as the eating I would get a 2nd professional opinion. Good Luck.
C.

I haven't read any other responses yet, but if you aren't happy with the doc, by all means change to a different one, even if it is in the same place. I did that with my own doc and I got better treatment from the second doc. Maybe it was just because he knew I "fired" the first one, but I got MUCH better care and treatment. I think docs need that sometimes, because they think they are "all that" and they need to be reminded that not everyone will sit around and just take whatever rude behavior they want to hit us with.
Also, I don't think that is too much for her to be eating. If she is only eating 3-4 times a day, in my personal opinion. She will eat when she is hungry. Get a new doc.
I wish you the best! Hugs and God Bless! K.

if your unhappy with your daughters doctor switch, there is no reason for you to feel uncomfortable with them.. my kids have always been in the low percentials and they eat like horses, my youngest was taking 8oz at 4 months so as long as your daughter is happy and active let her eat what she wants doctors don't know everything about every child. Babies know when they are hungry and when they aren't i'm sure she only eats when she is hungry so let her go.

Maybe just make an appointment with another doc to hear what he has to say. It never hurts. My 5 and 3 year old are really big kids. 60 pounds they are as big as my 9 year old. But my docter has looked at them and IS NOT worried. My kids are healthy just big. The get exircise and healthy foods. My husband was big when he was young and so was his mom. Your docter is just going by the books. All kids are different. See what another docter might have to say. If your daughter is healthy and doesnt seem to be having any problems then she is probley just a good eater. Not all docters are for everybody you need to find one that is good for your familey. I went thru 4 before I found mine. Hope this helps alittle.

it never hurts to get a second opinion. what if there is something going on and your doctor just isn't seeing it? i'm not sure about the eating though. my son was never much of an eater....still isn't. but i would definately make an appointment with someone else. if you are uncomfortable, then something isn't right. you should be able to have a good relationship with your babies doctor.

I think your doctor is a little bit screw-bally. 8x4 is 32 oz, so what was his deal? My 9 month old baby at 6 months was drinking 8oz bottles up to 6 times a day plus she was eating baby food twice a day. I think you need a new doctor. When my baby was younger, she would eat a lot too, and her lung doctor (she had apnea problems at birth) was upset with me about. Luckily I was on WIC at the time too and had a great family doctor. They both assured me I was not overfeeding my baby. Your baby is in charge, not the doctor, so if she is hungry and eats it without throwing it back up, then that is what she needs. Go ahead and start some cereal too, if you havent already. Rice at first. As for finding a new doctor, you need to check with your insurance first, because some insurances have certain doctors that you are allowed to take on, then pick the best one of them. It can be whereever you want to go, it doesnt have to be the same office, if you can. Good Luck!

I just read your profile, and see that you are feeding your baby cereal and baby food now too, which is great. Again, the baby knows what it needs, not the doctor, good luck on finding a new one.

I would suggest that you ask your doctor for suggestions. If your little one is only eating 3 - 4 times per day she is not getting enough. My guess is his concern was with the amount at one time for some reason. With only 4 feedings in a day your little one is only getting 31 ounces at 7.75 ounces. Maybe try cutting her back to 5 or so and feeding her more often. I would definately be asking for clarification from her doctor though. Did you tell him she is only eating 3 - 4 times per day?

Definately YES you should switch doctors if you do not feel comfortable. I wouldn't want to keep going to a doctor that wasn't open to discussing ways to fix what they deem as a wrong path. To just "scold" you and say you are doing it wrong and not put a plan of action in place in my opinion is wrong.

Good Luck!

Hi A.!
I would definitly SWITCH dr's. Your baby needs to eat according to her not a dr. My youngest we were told to start feeding her more even a little cereal at 1 month because she was not gaining properly! Go with your gut. Just because a dr says x amount of babies only take in so much, well to me that doesnt mean all babies. explain to the other dr that you find your concerns and that this is your first child and you are not wanting someone to yell at you. You go see the dr for advice and check ups not to be yelled at. That is what I would say. Hope that helps.

A.-
Whenever you don't feel right about something your doctor tells you it is perfectly ok to switch. I switched in the beginning with my daughter and found the perfect doctor for my family. I breastfed my kids so I did not have to worry about measurements, but I think when people get obessed with how much the baby is eating and not look at their weight it is wrong. I think she should be feed when she is hungry after all everyone has different metabolism. Especially if she is in the lower percentiles! My children nursed sometimes 20 times a day an 1 hr at a time when they were younger! If someone would have told me I was feeding them too much I would have switched to another doctor. They were big babies and now my daughter is a tall, slim girl. Their bodies know when they are hungry, that is not determined by the amount of ounces a doctor thinks she should be eating. We are not all the same size and metabolic type, one adult could eat 2000 calories and be overweight and another could eat the same and be average weight. Also my son was 19 lbs 4 oz at his 4 month appointment, I would be concerned about the doctor saying to feed less when your daughter is that small.
Brekka

I am of the belief to feed your baby when she is hungry and let her eat how much she wants. If your baby was severely overweight, I'd be more concerned. My son actually drank 8 to 10 ounces at a time when he was only 2 months old, so 7 3/4 ounces at a time is no big. If you are uncomfortable by the doctor, switch. Don't feel guilty. It is your child and you alone can make the best decisions for her. Go ahead and stay at the same clinic. You don't have to answer to anyone in picking a doctor. Do what you feel is best for your baby. And don't feel bad about feeding her to much or to often. If she spits up a lot after meal times, that means she's eating too much. But if she holds it down fine, then she's eating the amount she needs.

Hi, I know you have had many requests, but I felt compelled to write. My son was born weighing 9lbs 8 oz and he has grown just as fast to this day. When he was about the same age he was trying to eat almost an 8 oz bottle! The trouble was, he had Acid Reflux....he sucked and ate more because he thought it would make his tummy feel better. So, once I got him back on 4oz bottles more frequently, he was less fussy and his tummy felt better. Did you ever figure out what the breathing trouble was? I just didn't know if they were saying it was due to being overweight or possibly due to something else. I would push to see a specialist, just to see more about the weight gain issue. Also, when an opening comes up, you should switch. You need to have trust and good communication with your doctor, or else you won't feel good your child's healthcare. I hope things got resolved!!

HI A.,
My first born was a BIG eater, to the point that he was almost 20 pounts by 4 montsh and he was born at 7 pounds. He would eat 3-5 times a day if not more it was awhile ago and I would feed him when he was hungry. He was a very chunky baby for the first 2 years of his life, then he started to slim down and now he is 9 and barely 55 pounds. I am telling you this because I had docs yelling at me for a overweight baby but he was hungry and I needed to feed him. I fired a doc once and I was alot happier with the next. Follow your insticts, if your child is hungry feed her. Your instincts will normally be right on since she is your child and you are with her the most. If it doesn't feel right what the doc says see another find someone you feel is competent and has the compassion to be a ped.
Good Luck

A question back to you have you started your daughter on baby food at all. That along with formula will help gain weight but also give the liquids more frequently. Maybe also try to cut back on the number of ounces offered at one time. And as another mother said, put her on a schedule of maybe every four hours. My boys are also in the lower percentile, so we had them on high calorie formula,and fed them every 2 hours. On that schedule they would drink 2 to 4 ounces. They started gaining more regularly once we started them on solids. And if you are uncomfortable with how your daughter's doctor approaches you and questions your care of your daughter then you have every right to change doctors, even if it is in the same office. NO ONE knows your daughter better than you. I learned that from my pediatrician. She is a great resource, but always reminds me that NO ONE knows your child and their patterns better than you the parent.

If she is only eating 3 or 4 times a day then that isint to much!
I just changed drs because the same prob...you have to feel confratable with who is taking care of your child so I say go for it. As for the same facility question.....I DID!

Switch doctors and don't worry about it looking strange. It's for the best of your child that's what matters.

Okay, so not only is putting a baby on a diet (or limiting her) ridiculous, it is also unhealthy! Any Doc that says otherwise should be fired! Who cares if it 'looks bad' if you switch, your current doctor is BAD for telling you not to feed her what she needs! Babies eat because they are hungry and because they NEED it. My daughter has also always been in the lower percentile, however she eats about 3 times the normal amount in a day! Some kids just have higher motabolisms. Your the mom, you know what your daughter needs, and trust me if you try and limit how much she wants/needs it is going to make everyone miserable! It's not like you are just feeding her cake and cookies all day or something! It's what she needs, stand up for it!
Good Luck!
R.

A.,
In response to your first question, my doctor is very laid back and has always told me not to stress how much/how often my daughter is eating as long as she is growing. He tells me she will self-regulate. Eat when she's hungry, stop when she is full. There were times we would spend 10 hours a day nursing and other times she would nurse 2 hours a day. Since you are concerned about her lack of weight gain, it would be a good idea to see another doctor. I live in a very small town, and choose the same pediatrician I had as a child for my daughter. After 1 visit and a few frantic calls to her nurse, I knew she was not the doctor for me. I was determined to breastfeed and she is not a huge proponant. I knew I needed more support. She was also out of the office alot and her nurses took forever getting back to me. I switched to the doctor that had been on call the night my daughter was born. That was 8 months ago and i am very happy with him and his staff. When I switched I politly told me ped that I felt this new dr. could offer better support for breastfeeding. she agreeded. There are not hard feelings. Sometimes you just click sometimes you don't. DR.s know that you need someone you are comfortable with. As long as you don't bad mouth the other dr. and are very polite about everything, there should be no problem switching. Good luck!

A.- I agree with the other Moms with regards to feeding your baby. As far as your doctor goes, my opinion is in support of changing doctors. The bottom line is that you have to be able to trust who is providing your child's care and be comfortable having an open conversation. Your doctor's approach is only going to make you feel apprehensive in sharing information. I don't think it looks bad at all to switch doctors and stay at that facility- it would be very inappropriate for your doctor to approach you and ask why- so you don't have to justify yourself to anyone. Our pedicatrician has an approach I appreciate; she always gives 3 opinions; 1) what reasearch/pediatricians recommend 2) what she does for her own children 3) a mutually agreeable solution that we discuss and decide will work best in our situation. I never feel judged by her or berated- I feel like we are a team making a decision. And she always answers my questions- even the ones I'm embarrassed to ask- without making me feel bad about asking. Good luck to you!

I agree with everyone, if you aren't comfortable switch doctors! On the eating issue though, my ped did tell me not to feed my son more that 6 oz. at a time, I don't remember why, but I guess smaller amounts more frequently is better. 3-4 times/day is definitely not often enough though! She should be eating at LEAST 5 times/day, same as you. 3 meals/2 snacks. Maybe cut her bottles back a little and see if she'll eat more often. If she won't I would definitely get a second opinion to rule anything else out. I also agree you could start introducing baby foods if you're comfortable with that. Don't worry about how it looks to switch doctors, stick with your gut. Good Luck!

Hi A.,
I am no expert by far and it has been awhile since my children were little but first off I wouldn't stay with a doctor if he yells at me over something I am doing. It sounds to me though that 32 oz a day would be plenty and if you put her on a feeding schedule that should work out. Like a every 4 hour bottle of 8 oz's. Are you feeding her cereal yet? I am not sure what age the doctors recommend but my son was a big boy when I brought him home he just seemed like he needed more then just formula and I gave him cereal, but with my daughter she was 1 month early and had stomach problems so I did exactly what the doctor said.
Good luck
God Bless
L.
Missoula MT

A.
I personally would find another Dr! He has no right to talk to you like that, I would also think hhe could be repromanded for somethinglike that. If your daughter handles the amount of formula fine then don't worry about it. I learned with with my child do what feels right.This is just for what it's worth and my take on it. Most of all find a dr you feel comfortable with.Another suggestiongradually start her on some baby food. I did with my son before 6 months and he did just fine and he's not overweight and very healthy. D. W

I once had a peditriton who told me, "your the boss mom" he retired and I was so sad the next docter was horrid, a control freak and a thinks-he-knew-it-all type. I hated him and switched to a docter 15 min form my home. Your baby may just have a high a metabolism... You do not breat feed? if she is 5 months she is ready for gerber baby food... try that.

I agree w/ a lot of the mom's where your dr is concerned, switch.Now as to how much you baby eats let her eat when she wants and how much, all of my babies at birth averaged around 6'6 oz's except my first who was 9'9. My babies eat a lot and my Dr told me the same thing ( he was a little nicer about it). That was with my last baby (who is number 7, but all mine have followed the same pattern) in the biginning they saty small and eat a lot 6oz'a every 2 hours with 2 bottles at night about 48-50 oz's a day, I know its a lot but they are growing not just there bodies but thier brain and they stay on the small side around the same percentile as your daughter, Then at about 6 1/2 months it changes they grow into the 50 percentile and don't stop I think they store it for the sudden growth spurts they have. My youngest is now 9 months old wearing 12 -18 month clothes mainly bacause he is long, I can't remeber his weight or height exactly but he is the 92 percent for height and 90 for weight. What I am saying is do what feels right for you and your baby, mom's really do know what is best. I do not feed my children any food before 6 months I find it really doesn't make a difference in thier formula intake plus there is enough research out there to suggest it really isn't a good thing. Baby stomachs and intestiens aren't fully developed or ready for anything heavier then there formula and can cause problems the same way regular milk can in an infant. I don't know if this helped, I hope it does a little bit.