How heavy can a 3 month old get before it's considered a problem ?

Question

My son is 3 months old and he weighs about 18 pounds. I have discussed his overeating with my doctor and WIC , but nobody seems too concerned.I give him multiple baths everyday because he throws up so much. I feel very alone with my concerns and to top it off I take alot of criticism from my in-laws over his weight. HELP!

Answer 1

Wow, he does sound quite big...18 lbs? And he throws up all the time? Sounds like you are over filling the tank, so it is spilling out. Don't feed him so much, he is only 3 months old you know, so you are in charge of the food intake, not him. Don't forget that his stomach is very small and sensitive. How much and what are you feeding him on a daily basis?

Answer 2

"I give him multiple baths everyday because he throws up so much."

Are you sure you're not over feeding him? How many oz. per feeding are giving him? My baby is almost 5 months and weighs about 17.5 pounds. He's big but he's also in proportion with his height(about 27 inches). How long is your baby? And how much did he weigh at birth?

If his doctor is ignoring your concerns then it's time to find someone that will listen and address them properly. Many babies will not over eat. Just make sure you're not confusing something else with hunger. Before assuming he's hungry when he cries check other things(diaper, if he's tired, just wants to be held, etc.). Have you tried a pacifier? He just may need a soother.

Answer 3

its not the weight id worry about..its the throwing up..take him to the doctor

Answer 4

If hes vomiting from overeating then he obvisouly doesnt need it all. Stop giving him so much, everytime he cries he doesnt need a bottle. YOUR the mother, act it.  

Answer 5

You have two separate issues here:

1. His weight.  18 pounds is a big boy, but if that's what nature intends for him, it isn't too much.  How much did he weight at birth? If he was a 5 pound newborn, 18 pounds is much more likely to be of concern than if he was an 8 or 9 pound newborn.  But regardless of birthweight, it's not uncommon for young babies to gain a LOT of weight in their first few months, then slow down dramatically.  So don't think that being 18 pounds now means he'll be 40 or 50 pounds at a year. He may well be 18 pounds now, 25 pounds at 6 months, and then 26 pounds at a year.  

It's very hard to overfeed a young baby. (Impossible if he's breastfed, very difficult if he's formula fed.)  If he's hungry, he'll eat.  If not, he won't.  

2.  Babies spit up.  Usually this is completely normal, and is a laundry problem, not a health problem. Sometimes the valve at the top of the sstomach isn't quite closed, so some mik comes back up.  Or sometimes baby eats very rapidly, or takes in a bit too much, and the excess spills out.  Since he is obviously gaining just fine, the spitting up isn't an issue. You might try offering smaller meals less often, or burping him a couple of times during his feeding, and try to not jostle/jiggle him immediately after he eats.  

If he's actually vomiting (forceful ejection of his food), you need to talk more with the doctor about it.  Or if he seems to be in pain.  These could indicate a health problem, or reflux.