Can you overfeed a one year old?

preheatedoven · January 2011

E&H would spend all day in their high chairs eating if I let them. Between the two of them they eat as big of a portion of food as I do at any given meal. They have three meals a day and a snack or two. They also have about 25 oz of formula a day. They are right on track for weight, height, etc.

Is this normal? I've heard at this age you decide what they eat, and they decide how much. At what point do I need to start deciding how much?

mrsolsenk12 · January 2011

It sounds like they are ok for right now. Have you had their 1 year visit yet? I imagine your pedi is going to tell you to start giving them less formula and more table food/WCM. After a year they don't need all of their calories from drinking but rather from eating. At our 1 year visit they told us that between WCM/formula he should be having 12-18oz. in a day. However I would not make any changes until you have had their appointment.

preheatedoven · January 2011

We haven't had their appointment yet, but we talked to the pedi about switching to WCM at their 9 month. We've started the transition, and it is not going well. E is on Neocate so we are trying to transition to a milk-based formula, and for H, WCM hasn't agreed with her b/c of her reflux (too much fat). But that's a whole other conversation!

mrsolsenk12 · January 2011

preheatedoven:
We haven't had their appointment yet, but we talked to the pedi about switching to WCM at their 9 month. We've started the transition, and it is not going well. E is on Neocate so we are trying to transition to a milk-based formula, and for H, WCM hasn't agreed with her b/c of her reflux (too much fat). But that's a whole other conversation!

Sounds rough. Since H is having trouble with the fat in WCM you might want to talk to the pedi about 2% milk instead. It has just a slightly less amount of fat so it still has the good fats for brain development but maybe will be easier on her tummy.

desabean · January 2011

Honestly, Garrison was that way at their age too-- and she is soooo not that way anymore. She was a really great eater until about 6 weeks ago. Now she is so opinionated and just too busy wanting to run around to want to sit down long enough to eat. (and she has been introduced to junk food so....that's another issue all togehter).

Anyway, in my experience I would say enjoy it while it lasts. if they are right on for height and weight then I would let them make the calls.

kimarino13 · January 2011

Wow! Mine aren't big eaters at all. I wish they were!

We recently cut them down to 24 oz of formula a day (from 32 oz) and they have started eating a little more, but they don't eat much at all.

emmyloustu · January 2011

Eliza sounds like your little ones! She has a huge appetite, though I have noticed it slowing down just a tiny bit. She drinks 16-20oz of WCM per day. She is just 50th % for weight. I follow her cues and signs for "more" and "finished" and I feel like it is working out perfectly. She just loves food!

dundasgirl · January 2011

Reed and Penny were both like that at age 1...Reed eats much much less now because he is more opinionated and wants to run around.

cjsbdl · January 2011

Henry was eating that much at one year, but has definitely slowed down since then. His pedi tells me this is normal, since their caloric needs actually decrease after a year since they are not growing as fast as in their first year.