I Have a Giant Baby!!!

Updated on October 17, 2012
S.Y. asks from Clearwater, FL
25 answers

Hello moms. I need some advice. My baby boy was born Sept 6 he was almost 8lbs and 21 ins long. He grunts a lot and is a very colicky baby; we have gone thru all the formulas and are now on Simalac Sensitive, the next one is the $10 a bottle stuff. He seems a bit better on this so we have kept him on it. But he eats 5oz every 2 hours; he just seems hungry all the time!!

We went for his 1 month check up (he was actually 6wks) and he is 12 LBS 23 IN.!!!!!!! The doc said he is not fat he is the right weight for his length, just a big baby. I am scared we feed him too much even though he never spits up. He is sleeping well thru the night almost completely thru it, but during the day he always seems to want food!! Should I maybe up to 7oz see if he stays fuller longer?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

In my experience, that's not all that "giant." My kids were all 9+ and 10+ lbs. at birth, and grew to 15 lbs. almost immediately.

He sounds fine. Just feed him when he's hungry.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Babies are built with an amazing mechanism that we should all be so lucky to have: You can't overfeed them. They stop eating when they are full.
Stop worrying! And feed that baby til he's full! LOL

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

He isn't that big, my smallest girl was the same size. Just relax and let the poor guy eat when he wants what he wants. By a year old my kids were chubby things, by the time they were three they were sticks and have remained sticks their whole life.

I think the worst thing you can do to a baby is limit their access to food because it can teach them to crave it more. Think about it this way, why do you go nuts over (insert favorite dessert) he doesn't have that ability to judge. He is hungry he wants to be fed, nothing more. When he is full he will stop eating.

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Hey... If it makes you feel better... In my family kids are 10-12 at birth, and 15-20 in a month. 20oz every 2 hours on average was my son... No idea on the rest. (Breast feeding study).

You're super lucky, though... By 6mo my son had outgrown his rear facing carseat (biggest on the market in this country at the time)... But you won't be in that boat.

By the by... You WANT chubby roly poly babies. A skinny baby usually means something is seriously wrong.

3 moms found this helpful

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

Does he stop eating after 5 oz? Or will he eat more? Feed him until he's full.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Denver on

He sounds perfect! I think he sounds like a very happy baby, and eating more during the day makes it easier for him to sleep at night. Sounds like you are doing an EXCELLENT job!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

He sounds darling! Dozens of envious parents are reading this and pounding their heads against the floor-they are too tired to stand up and do this against the wall! My oldest son-who is now 6'5" -and very thin was a good eater...and sleeper. My little son is 6'3" and super thin and can eat constantly-your little one is probably going to be tall-and you are right-if he's eating too much, he'd most likely be spitting up-take care-please kiss his little head for me!

2 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

My oldest has always been big. She was born 3 weeks early and weighed 7.9 and was 21". She never lost weight after she was born - she was born hungry, and her appetite has never let up! She's now 10 years old and is 5'2" and still growing really fast. Some kids are just destined to be big. Feed your baby until he is full. Make an 8oz bottle and feed him until he won't eat anymore. When he is totally full, he may even go longer in between feedings. It's okay if babies are fat (and so cute!); he will run it off a year from now. ;) Just feed him until he won't eat anymore. He will let you know when he has had enough.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I am not worried about the weight gain if your pediatrician is not. And if he's going through a growth spurt, then he needs the food.

That said, are you sure that he's hungry? Some babies have a very strong reflex to suck, and they need something in their mouth to suck on most of the time, even when not hungry. Have you tried a pacifier?

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.1.

answers from Duluth on

That is not a GIANT baby! He sounds like he is doing just great! He eats a lot during the day so he can sleep THRU the night! What a guy!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.H.

answers from Reno on

I agree with Diane! Especially about babies needing something to suck on. My boys were also big! My oldest was 9 1/2 lbs and 23 inches when he was born-he hit 18 pounds by 2 moths and 30 by 6 moths. I now have a 2 month old who was a little over 8lbs when born and 21 inches long, he was born August 5th and now he is 15 lbs 2 oz and 25 inches long. The way they grow depends on genetics also, if you or your husband grew rapidly while really young chances are your baby will too.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

He does not sound giant, he sounds normal to me! That was the size of my son when he was born (well, 8lb, 11 oz) and he also weighed about that much at his 1 year check up. Just feed him if he's hungry and yes, try a little more to see if he is full longer. My daughter was almost the same size as well...she was 8lbs when born. They both ate frequently. They are now both active kids who are both a bit too thin if you ask me! Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm not sure why you are worrying. Your son sounds normal. My son was off the charts for height and weight till he started walking...then he slowly slimmed down with activity.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

didn't even read the other responses! I had big babies, as did my sis. It's a different world & you have to throw the rule book out!

I had an excellent pediatrician. He rocked! He was comfortable with setting benchmarks/parameters based on the individual child. & I was soooo thankful for this! He encouraged me to allow my son to set the pace. He predicted size for the 1st year, & was dead on!

Relax, & allow your baby to thrive. Here's how it went for me: my older son was 8lbs 2oz at birth. He was 3 days old before he had his 1st bottle (in ICU), & from that point on....he ate like a pig! I mean, seriously! He ate 6oz every 2-3 hours until the 3 week mark, & then he kicked in on 8oz every 2-3 hours. He was a huge eater!

At first, he seemed colicky. He also seemed to be hungry all of the time. We switched to soy, & this helped a lot. But the biggest change came when the dr told me to break all of the rules.....

& here's the shocker: this dr was soooo in-tune with big babies, that he highly recommended adding cereal at 4 !! weeks. This is something unheard of in today's world, but it worked wonderfully for both my older & younger son....both recommendations coming from 2 different fully-accredited pediatricians! Now, fully bearing in mind, that this was 16-25 years ago. I am still fascinated that 9 years apart....both drs said the same thing, contrary to popular belief (then & now). :)

& I'd like to add: both sides of the family have big babies. All of them were bottle-fed, all on cereal at a very early age. Out of 20+ kids, only 2 have peanut allergies....with no other food allergies present. Rocking the boat with this response....& giving way more info than requested!

Love on that boy! He's awesome! Doesn't spit up, sleeps! Wow! :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Thats not a giant baby. Hes normal and doing fine. Feed him til he is full. If he will take more than 5 oz, try 6 oz and see if he lasts a little longer--if not, just keep at the every 2 hours. He will be going through a growth spurt if he hasn't started to already---so it may be more frequent for awhile. Nothing to worry about ---hes normal. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Lol, you should see my baby, hes 9 months old, 23lbs and 36 inches long. Hes exclusively breastfed, so theres no way he was overfed. Its always better to have too big a baby than one who is not gaining and failing to thrive. Feed him when hes hungry, the 4 hour feeding schedule is total manure, if he sleeps all night, he should eat more during the day, its normal.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Both my kids were like that.
Over 8 lbs. and 21" long.
And they grew like weeds.
I will soon be the shortest one in the house.
My kids are now 6 and 9.
I breastfed both exclusively, and they had GINORMOUS appetites. And they nursed constantly. Good thing I had a lot of milk.
My kids as babies, were long and lean, and also went through phases of being more plump, then long and lean again. All normal. A kid's & baby's physique always changes and ebbs and flows all throughout childhood.

Beware also, babies do what is called "cluster feeding." And this is when they will feed even every single hour and this is normal. Hence, feed on demand, always.

My kids as babies nursed anywhere from 1 or 2 or 3 hours apart and I nursed using both breasts each session and they drank me dry.
They grew well and healthy, always being in the upper percentiles on their growth chart. Still are.

1 mom found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Good job, Mom!

Yes, try giving him a bit more food at each feeding. If he eats it, wonderful. If not, wonderful. Either way, just keep doing that you're doing.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from New York on

That is not giant. My granddaughter is 4 months n 27 inches! Very tall. Not giant. My kids are all 6 ft n over. Girls 6 ft. Guys 6'3 to 6'6". She does not stand a chance.

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

HOLY COW! Just joking with ya. I had big babies too. Heck, my sister had an 11lb baby.

It felt like I was feeding my babies all the time too, especially my youngest. I would consult with your pediatrician they will give you good advice on when to know to up the feedings. Also, just make sure you aren't mistaking him being hungry to him having an upset belly. But seriously consult with your Dr that is what they are there for and they will have advice on feedings.

I do remember my kids ate every two hours for quite some time, but I don't remember how much formula at a time.

M.B.

answers from Tampa on

My baby was almost 12 pounds when she was 2 weeks old! So compaired to her your baby isn't that big. Now she's just over 8 months old and weighs almost 19pounds. She's exclusively breastfed.

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

He's the same size or smaller than my son was (mine was over 9 lbs at birth). He's eating ENOUGH if he's sleeping well. Always feed as much as possible during the day to continue the good sleep. Babies will not over-eat at this age, If he's hungry-feed him!

Mine's now a healthy, solid, slim 50 pound 4 1/2 year-old! And he eats constantly.

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

You can check on the web sites and here is one to look at.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-how-much-formula-...
Another one:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-how-much-formula-...
These are just guides so check with your doctor as if you feed him TOO much he'll get a stomach ache and then you will disrupt that great bedtime sleeping. He sounds fine to me. My kids were not that big at birth but were close to his weight by his age.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.G.

answers from Dallas on

He's fine. If your doc says he's on target, he's good. He's growing a LOT and needs the food to do it.

My son was 7lb7oz, and is now a 4 foot tall 5.5 year old!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

Your baby is not a giant he is normal. At six weeks they have a growth spurt which demands more food intake. If you are feeding him 5 oz you could up it to 7 or 8 oz so that he is not eating ever 2 hours. He should begin to level off to about every 3 or 3 1/2 hours to eat.

We were adoptive parents and had our son placed with us at 5 weeks. The paperwork stated that "baby eats 4 oz of milk and 2 tbs spoons of cereal." Well I looked at him and I looked at the food amount and decided he was not eating enough and once I changed the amount of formula and cereal he was fine. Son was 8.5 pounds and 21 at birth we went to doctor for 6 wks check up and he was 12 pounds and 23 inches.

So go with your gut feeling and change as the child changes. Don't get locked into a set time, amount and when the baby should eat. It is about the "demand" feeding schedule which works out really well. You have to adjust to it. You have to get into a routine to know when it is time or near time to feed baby.

Good luck to you. My baby is now 39 yoa and is still a good eater.

The other S.

PS He hit all of his milestones and some on time or a little early. The doctor was fine with his growth.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.G.

answers from Atlanta on

Thats not big. My kids were always hungry too. So I finally took my moms advice and put a teaspoon of rice cereal in their bottles. And it worked!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions