My DD1 was a skinny minny and DD2 very chubby - she had rolls and a big fat tummy. It didn't stop her moving and she crawled and walked about the same age as DD1 did. She also slimmed right down once she stared running everywhere and is now tracking only slightly heavier than her sister at the same age (although she is a completely different build).
My DD1 was so tiny compared to DD2. They are fed the same way! DD1 was 2.9kg at birth, barely put on 80g a week and is still little... not that we have ever worried. DD2 was 3.8kg at birth, she was 5kg by 3 weeks! Part of it is genetics, I think as I'm small (165cm, 55kg before DD2s pregnancy) and DD1s Dad is a rake whereas DD2s Dad is not overweight but a more solid build, broad shoulders etc.
The main reason I think you can't overfeed them is because when I'm lazy and would rather DD2 just have a quiet feed for a bit or feed to sleep instead of rocking, she refuses. She only wants to feed when she wants to. Not sure how it would be different if they formula fed as I have no experience. How could you really restrict them anyway, it is pretty impossible so I just go with it and enjoy my chubby bubby!
DD2 already seems more active though! At 5w she is pushing up on her arms and legs with such strength, she basically came out holding up her head...5 chins and all hehe.
I am sure that there have been studies showing that BF babies are protected against obesity more so than formula fed. Once he does start moving, even if it's a bit later, the weight will fall off! I have been amazed at the chubbiness of some of my friends bubs all exclusively BF but by 3 they have all trimmed down.
DS1 was a big boy and exclusively fed breastmilk for the first 6 months. I often got the comments about him being a 'big boy'. The statement that you can't overfeed a breastfed bub was what i heard from my MCHN so i was never concerned.
DS2 and DD have had nothing different to my DS1 had but they are much more petite.
A friend of mine has a little boy who she too has breastfed and it sounds as though he is just like your son. He is one gorgeous little man too
Another friend FF her son and he was huge. I think there were sleeping and feeding issues and i think as a result a lot of weight was gained. I am not judging her or her bub in anyway but i was shocked when seeing the size of her gorgeous little man at his first birthday. He is now 3 and is one solid little man
Just thinking out loud here but with my first friend and her little man i didn't think anything of the size but then with the second friend i do. I think it is from being told that you can't over feed a breastfed baby but with formula it can be quite different
Just from a different perspective DD was 8.1kg at 12 months and the weight gain between appts was not huge. Up until then she was feeding 2-3 times a night and was on 3 meals day. While she isn't a big girl by any means i still feel she looks healthy and well and i am not concerned at all.
If you trust your little man is happy, healthy and doing everything expected in his growing process i would rest assured things are pretty good
Thanks all for your replies. It's good to read about other chubby bubbas out there who achieved motor milestones fine. Allays my own fears. Just a shame there's not a specific study to throw back in my Dad's face - although I can't imagine what the measure for 'over-fed' would be.
I do think it has a fair bit to do with genetics. DD is a mini-me. I fed her just as much, but she's always been a long and lanky little thing, just like me and my family. DS is DH all over and he was a huge bubby too (though FF, which led me to wonder the difference) and his family tend to have slower metabolisms and put on weight more easily.
Kuraiza, you didn't offend me! I had wondered whether it might have a little to do with my diet too... not sure whether sugar and fat content of milk changes depending on maternal diet?? I have a super-fast metabolism and am eating huge ammounts of anything and everything (except dairy... siiiiigh) to keep up with what DS is taking out of me. I weigh 2kg less than pre-pregnancy - 60kgs and 6ft tall, I'm guessing the doc would not be thrilled with my BMI. To keep up... and coz I'm a bit greedy... I do eat a very high calorie diet and whilst there's lots of good stuff in there, there's also a fair bit of sugar in my tea, lollies and fish and chips!
If anyone does come across a study pertaining to this, can you post me a link. Not worried now, just quite interested.
Oh, and I agree Arcadia, the only thing that seems to be suffering are my arms and back. Got pretty impressive Mummy-muscles though!!
I would say it is a lot more to do with genetics than diet. I've had the same diet for both of my DDs, I was 55kg before DD2s pregnancy (BMI of ~19) so a healthy weight. DD1 was 2.9kg at birth, gained slowly and is still tiny... DD2 however was 3.8kg at birth and has been putting on 400g a week! At 5 weeks she is the size DD1 was at 3 months.
My DD1 fed 2hrly around the clock basically right up to her 2nd Birthday too, even when she was consuming large amounts of solids which makes me think she just inherited a fast metabolism and small build. DD2 already goes 4hr stretches. From that experience I can't imagine it is easy to overfeed a breastfed baby because otherwise my DD1 would be huuuuuuuge (I always took the easy option of feeding back to sleep through the night, there were even stages it felt like she was attached all night as we co-slept) and as I mentioned, you can't exactly deny them food when they are asking or make them eat when they aren't interested so what is there to do but trust them?
Would also still be interested in seeing a study about it though too!
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