big babies and food

[omelette]

With my 1st son I delayed solids with baby #2 I had planned to do the same but after visiting the dr I'm confused.

A bit of history - We've been seeing a dr who is a lactation consultant as well b/c my son is extremely fussy and gassy. He'll be 7 mos next wk. It looks like he has an intolerance to the lactose in my milk (he's not producing enough lactase) so I am giving him lactaid drops before each feed. This has helped a great deal wit the gas and is allowing him to sleep a bit more b/c he's not so uncomfortable.

We've been going to the dr once a wk for 3 weeks now so she can keep track of his progess, etc. She is pushing that he needs more calories and should be eating 200 calories on top of the bm he is having. She says b/c he is such a big boy he needs the extras. He is the avg size of a 1yr old (according to charts). I'm looking for info on this. He nurses really well but also spits up a ton as he has reflux. He was sleeping in 20min-1hr intervals all night prior to the lactaid and since having it he now sleeps 1hr-2hr intervals occasionally 3hrs at a time. She claims food would help with sleep and general fussiness.
We've started some foods - yams, pear, blueberries but I'm thinking it is causing him more tummy grief. This poor kid is so uncomfortable.

Input? Do big babies need more calories then what they are getting from bm?

[artgoddess]

As far as I know the bigger the size of the baby has nothing to do with their readiness or need for food. Have you tried eliminating certain foods from your diet to see if your babe is reacting to what you are eating?


All in all, I'm not saying that 7 months is a terrible time to start solids, it's just your doctors reasoning that leaves me scratching my head.

[kavamamakava]

? I do not understand why big babies would need more food at all! Your milk will provide him with his needs. If he needs more calories and nurses less frequently, you will make fattier, more calorie rich milk. If he nurses more frequently and needs fewer calories you will have milk that is more watery. It's all communication between you and your nursling's bodies on a chemical level. If he has food sensitivities I would definitely wait.
All of mine were 20 lbs by 5 months and just kept getting bigger. No one told me to give them food at 5 months because they were big. Your baby will grow just fine on breastmilk alone and on his own special growth curve. If you want to give him foods now, they can be more for exploration than nutrition - getting used to textures and flavors, learning how to chew, etc.

[LadyCatherine185]

How does the doctor think he GOT THAT BIG!? On your MILK!! ugh, that comment that big babies need "more food" really irks me!

First, I wanted to ask if you are eating dairy? Some of breastfed babies react to foods in their mother's diet, not the actual breastmilk. It sounds like your babe definitely has some food intolerance issues. I would do an elimination diet, starting with dairy, as it is the most common trigger. Also, adding solids can add to tummy troubles.

Secondly, my babe was a "big" baby too-- 21 lbs by 6 mos, 27 lbs by a year. He didn't eat much in the way of solids until he was 15 months old. He ate maybe a bite or two of food a day at 7 months. Solids never helped him sleep either. He didn't start sleeping well until about 2 months ago when we nightweaned and moved him to his own bed. It sounds like your baby is definitely waking out of discomfort from the intolerance/allergy issues.

Here is a page from kellymom.com about food alleriges in breastfed babes. I hope you get some answers soon!

[omelette]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

How does the doctor think he GOT THAT BIG!? On your MILK!! ugh, that comment that big babies need "more food" really irks me!

First, I wanted to ask if you are eating dairy? Some of breastfed babies react to foods in their mother's diet, not the actual breastmilk. It sounds like your babe definitely has some food intolerance issues. I would do an elimination diet, starting with dairy, as it is the most common trigger. Also, adding solids can add to tummy troubles.

That's true, obviously my milk is what is helping him grow so well. Thank you!
I've cut out all dairy and gluten along with a few other things.
I sort of figure the solids aren't helping either.
Hoping we'll figure it out soon.