Pediatrician Said Baby Is Gaining Too Much Weight

[Anonymous]

My son is a little over 8 weeks old and went for his 8 week appointment today. The pediatrician said I’m feeding him too much and he is gaining too much weight. I think he is gaining weight fine. What is an appropriate amount of weight gain from both 8 weeks old?

[Anonymous]

How much did he weigh at birth and now at 8 weeks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a little over 8 weeks old and went for his 8 week appointment today. The pediatrician said I’m feeding him too much and he is gaining too much weight. I think he is gaining weight fine. What is an appropriate amount of weight gain from both 8 weeks old?

You can get a second opinion from another pediatrician, but it's ridiculous to ask the internet what your kids' weight should be, because we can't see your kid. Height matters, along with other things. Is this your first kid, OP?

[Anonymous]

Are you breastfeeding or formula feeding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a little over 8 weeks old and went for his 8 week appointment today. The pediatrician said I’m feeding him too much and he is gaining too much weight. I think he is gaining weight fine. What is an appropriate amount of weight gain from both 8 weeks old?

If you trust anonymous dcum posters over your pediatrician, you need a new ped so you have someone you trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a little over 8 weeks old and went for his 8 week appointment today. The pediatrician said I’m feeding him too much and he is gaining too much weight. I think he is gaining weight fine. What is an appropriate amount of weight gain from both 8 weeks old?

JC now its feeding too much? OP- are you breastfeeding or formula feeding and what chart is the ped using for growth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much did he weigh at birth and now at 8 weeks?

OP here. He was born at 7lbs 12oz and 20.5in. He was 10lbs 14oz and 22.5in. The pediatrician said weight gain should be 1lb a month and he gained a little over 3. He is fed mostly pumped milk and has a bottle of formula ( 4oz) a day. He eats 7x a day and usually eats 28-32oz. Typically it’s 4oz every 2.5-3 hours and then 6oz at bedtime and the night feed because he sleeps 8 hours and then another 2-3 hour stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a little over 8 weeks old and went for his 8 week appointment today. The pediatrician said I’m feeding him too much and he is gaining too much weight. I think he is gaining weight fine. What is an appropriate amount of weight gain from both 8 weeks old?

If you trust anonymous dcum posters over your pediatrician, you need a new ped so you have someone you trust.

OP here. We are looking for a new pediatrician because of this and other issues we have had.

[Anonymous]

How are you holding the bottle? If you hold it vertically, so that milk is dripping out because of gravity, baby will swallow defensively and may drink more than he really means to. If you hold it horizontally, so milk only comes out through active sucking, baby will drink exactly the right amount for him (assuming no health/medical reasons interfere with his ability to suck).

[Anonymous]

This sounds bizarre, esp based on the amount you’re feeding and the baby’s weight gain, which both seem totally normal. Not a doctor but it sounds like your ped is bonkers. I say this even as someone who thinks a lot of ppl over feed their kids and shove a bottle in their mouths if they make the slightest peep, haha

[Anonymous]

Sounds normal to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much did he weigh at birth and now at 8 weeks?

OP here. He was born at 7lbs 12oz and 20.5in. He was 10lbs 14oz and 22.5in. The pediatrician said weight gain should be 1lb a month and he gained a little over 3. He is fed mostly pumped milk and has a bottle of formula ( 4oz) a day. He eats 7x a day and usually eats 28-32oz. Typically it’s 4oz every 2.5-3 hours and then 6oz at bedtime and the night feed because he sleeps 8 hours and then another 2-3 hour stretch.

A pound a month is the low end of normal. I always heard half an ounce to 2oz a day average.

[Anonymous]

Half a pound a week is totally normal. Your pediatrician is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you holding the bottle? If you hold it vertically, so that milk is dripping out because of gravity, baby will swallow defensively and may drink more than he really means to. If you hold it horizontally, so milk only comes out through active sucking, baby will drink exactly the right amount for him (assuming no health/medical reasons interfere with his ability to suck).

OP here. My lactation consultant said not to feed like that because baby can get a lot of trapped air and gas. She said that’s a very outdated way of feeding a baby and it’s unnecessary. We hold him pretty high up and feed him normally. We burp him after 2oz and then after 1oz. He lets us know if he is full or wants more. I don’t think 28-32oz is a lot for his age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much did he weigh at birth and now at 8 weeks?

OP here. He was born at 7lbs 12oz and 20.5in. He was 10lbs 14oz and 22.5in. The pediatrician said weight gain should be 1lb a month and he gained a little over 3. He is fed mostly pumped milk and has a bottle of formula ( 4oz) a day. He eats 7x a day and usually eats 28-32oz. Typically it’s 4oz every 2.5-3 hours and then 6oz at bedtime and the night feed because he sleeps 8 hours and then another 2-3 hour stretch.

well, 1lb per month in the early early months is ridiculous advice, so getting a new pediatrician is the right move. Your kid sounds great, I'd keep doing what you are doing. Also, look up a weight by age percentile calculator and compare his birth percentile to his current one...that's usually what a pediatrician would do.