Are formula fed babies chunkier than BF?

maiziejenga · September 2009

Just wondering...my next door neighbor and a friend are both formula feeding and their 6 mo olds are huge!

I've had to supplement formula for DD since my milk never came in despite the Reglan, fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea and I'm wondering if it will be an issue.

katiekate1974 · September 2009

If what will be an issue? That your DD will be chunky?

SoonToBeTabor · September 2009

I dont think so?

Your not worried about your LO being chunky,are you?

kaci81 · September 2009

I think it depends on genetics...DH and I were both big babies... DD is exclusively breastfed and weighed 17.5 at her 4 mth visit....she is a chunky monkey!!

alicatt79 · September 2009

Nope, I'm still BFing and Jack is 95%ile.

maiziejenga · September 2009

I just don't want her to get overfed or have any health issues...we're having some spit up issues now and I don't know if it's the type of formula or if we're giving her too much. Our DR apt isn't until the week after next to check her 2 month growth.

DNK777 · September 2009

My DD is huge and has been FF since 6 weeks. Although me and my 2 brothers were huge (like off the charts huge) and we were all EBF. I would think it has more to do with genetics.

Kendall13 · September 2009

The Pedi said that FF babies tend to lose less weight in the first week than BFed babies, but after that I'm sure that it's all pretty equal.

DS is starting to pack on the pounds and we EBF.

Besides, chunky babies are super cute. Smile

Mrs.Teddy · September 2009

My pedi did discuss FF babies having a greater risk then BF babies at being overweight, however he did not tell us not to FF or supplement. I believe there is also research suggesting that FF babies are more likely to be overweight adults. I don't think its something you should be overly concerned about tho, if you need to supplement then you do. And I am sure there are BF babies overweight & FF normal weight. L gained double what they expected at his last appointment, they said if he was FF they would question how much I was feeding him....I think either way as long as LO is growing at a healthy weight its fine.

kmkaull · September 2009

Chunk is a good thing on a baby. It's not like they are running to McDonald's twice a week . . .

honeyb518 · September 2009

Every BF baby I know is typically pretty chunky....favorable in my opinion. We are bfing and my baby was 15lbs at his 2 month checkup. I love it!

katiekate1974 · September 2009

maiziejenga:
I just don't want her to get overfed or have any health issues...we're having some spit up issues now and I don't know if it's the type of formula or if we're giving her too much. Our DR apt isn't until the week after next to check her 2 month growth.

So, what you're saying is yes, you're worried she'll be chunky. Um. Ok.

OxAMYxO · September 2009

how much and how often is she eating?

CubsGirlNYC · September 2009

I have to supplement because I had milk issues and my daughter is only in the 25-50%ile.

It's only an issue if you make it an issue... I wouldn't worry about body type of my daughter....only that she is healthy and happy.

JillBean78 · September 2009

Ummmmm........yes, all formula fed babies will be obese, that is why I feed my son formula, I want him to be overweight

jenibeni227 · September 2009

My ds is FF and I wish he was a little chunky...he is still below the 10th percentile for weight... 10 lbs at almost 3 months. We're feeding him the maximum amount the pedi suggested...he's just a slow gainer. My friend bf her baby and he is over 20 pounds at 6 months...i think it all just depends on genetics.

SoonToBeTabor · September 2009

Is it even possible to overfeed a baby??

Wont they throw up and stop on their own? I only have 2 kids so I am no expert but I dont think you can make a baby eat if they dont want/need too.

Your baby is gunna be just fine...even if she is a little chunky it'll just add to the cuteness.

caeliesmom · September 2009

BF babies tend to gain more the first 6 months and then slow down after that. Just feed her on demand and don't worry about her weight unless the doctor says too.

mrsjazzsinger · September 2009

My DD is just over 10lbs. and is around the 10th percentile for weight and we do both BM and formula. She's got small genes and has been a slow grower from the start, BM vs. formula hasn't seemed to make a difference for her.

mrsjazzsinger · September 2009

Oh and my SIL has EBFed all of her kids til at least one year and they were all on the bigger side.

Manalyzer · September 2009

Oh FFS, there is nothing wrong with chunky babies! I'm seriously so tired of hearing people complain about their babies being fat/chunky/overweight.

And from what I've heard, and it could be wrong, but BF babies are "chunkier" for the first 6 months, then the FF babies take over.

Honestly it's all a moot point anyway. It doesn't matter as long as you feed your baby and your baby is healthy. Please don't be like some and try and put your baby on a "diet" because you don't want them to be "fat"

sunnyday016 · September 2009

DD is EBF and is on the smaller side on the charts.

katiekate1974 · September 2009

Manalyzer:

Oh FFS, there is nothing wrong with chunky babies! I'm seriously so tired of hearing people complain about their babies being fat/chunky/overweight.

And from what I've heard, and it could be wrong, but BF babies are "chunkier" for the first 6 months, then the FF babies take over.

Honestly it's all a moot point anyway. It doesn't matter as long as you feed your baby and your baby is healthy. Please don't be like some and try and put your baby on a "diet" because you don't want them to be "fat"

I'd take it step further, even. I'd RATHER have a chunky baby. What's the fear? Chunky baby=chunky child? Well, if it makes anyone feel better, I was a tiny little baby and am big fatass now. Find another thing to obess over. Keep this up and you're actually going to give your child a complex. I mean, really. Go worry about whether or not your baby can read or something...

Manalyzer · September 2009

katiekate1974:
Manalyzer:

Oh FFS, there is nothing wrong with chunky babies! I'm seriously so tired of hearing people complain about their babies being fat/chunky/overweight.

And from what I've heard, and it could be wrong, but BF babies are "chunkier" for the first 6 months, then the FF babies take over.

Honestly it's all a moot point anyway. It doesn't matter as long as you feed your baby and your baby is healthy. Please don't be like some and try and put your baby on a "diet" because you don't want them to be "fat"

I'd take it step further, even. I'd RATHER have a chunky baby. What's the fear? Chunky baby=chunky child? Well, if it makes anyone feel better, I was a tiny little baby and am big fatass now. Find another thing to obess over. Keep this up and you're actually going to give your child a complex. I mean, really. Go worry about whether or not your baby can read or something...

Bravo! I totally agree. DD is by no means chunky chunky, but she's not a skinny minnie either. It really doesn't matter to me.

It shouldn't matter one way or the other. It's all genetics and what not. Feed your baby until she's full. If she's supposed to be a thinner baby, she will be. If she's supposed to have some baby fat on her, she will.

Don't worry about it.

deeanneharris · September 2009

My two girls have been fed exactly the same. DD #1 was always in the higher percentiles and DD#2 is right in the middle. I think it depends on the child.

MattresMuffin69 · September 2009

DD#1 was EBF and my twins are FF. They all pretty much weigh the same at the exact number of weeks. DD#1 was 15 lbs @ 10 weeks and DS was the same. DD#2 is on the smaller side at 13.7. I can't wait to see how much my twins are at their appt. on friday.

Fat babies rule!

ceg2483 · September 2009

Actually, there are some studies that show that FF babies might be overfed because cues are harder to pick up and babies get the milk trickling into their mouth which might cause them to suck, rather than sucking because they are hungry. This overfeeding may lead to obesity issues later in life.

This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link.

As for when they are babies:

Breastfed and formula-fed infants grow at basically the same rate in the first few months.
Between four and six months, formula-fed babies tended to gain weight faster than their breastfeeding peers, although growth in length and head circumference were similar in both groups.
After the first six months, breastfed babies tended to be leaner. Compared to their formula-fed friends, the breastfeeding infants in this study gained an average of one pound less during the first twelve month

source:

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

katiekate1974 · September 2009

ceg2483:

Actually, there are some studies that show that FF babies might be overfed because cues are harder to pick up and babies get the milk trickling into their mouth which might cause them to suck, rather than sucking because they are hungry. This overfeeding may lead to obesity issues later in life.

This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link.

As for when they are babies:

Breastfed and formula-fed infants grow at basically the same rate in the first few months.

Between four and six months, formula-fed babies tended to gain weight faster than their breastfeeding peers, although growth in length and head circumference were similar in both groups.

After the first six months, breastfed babies tended to be leaner. Compared to their formula-fed friends, the breastfeeding infants in this study gained an average of one pound less during the first twelve month
source:

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

Know what's more likely to cause obseity later in life? Worrying about whether or not your in.fant. is fat. FFS. There are links between all kinds of things, but as any social scientist will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. There are about 40 bajillonty different things that could cause a correlation (IF, and that's a big IF, one actually even exists) between obesity and FF babies.

ceg2483 · September 2009

katiekate1974:
ceg2483:

Actually, there are some studies that show that FF babies might be overfed because cues are harder to pick up and babies get the milk trickling into their mouth which might cause them to suck, rather than sucking because they are hungry. This overfeeding may lead to obesity issues later in life.

This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link

As for when they are babies:

Breastfed and formula-fed infants grow at basically the same rate in the first few months.

Between four and six months, formula-fed babies tended to gain weight faster than their breastfeeding peers, although growth in length and head circumference were similar in both groups.

After the first six months, breastfed babies tended to be leaner. Compared to their formula-fed friends, the breastfeeding infants in this study gained an average of one pound less during the first twelve month
source:

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

Know what's more likely to cause obseity later in life? Worrying about whether or not your in.fant. is fat. FFS. There are links between all kinds of things, but as any social scientist will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. There are about 40 bajillonty different things that could cause a correlation (IF, and that's a big IF, one actually even exists) between obesity and FF babies.

Completely agree. And that's why I put in "This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link."

I think it's ridiculous to call it an "issue" to be worried about--but I think that's what the OP might have been referring to when she posted.

katiekate1974 · September 2009

ceg2483:
katiekate1974:
ceg2483:

Actually, there are some studies that show that FF babies might be overfed because cues are harder to pick up and babies get the milk trickling into their mouth which might cause them to suck, rather than sucking because they are hungry. This overfeeding may lead to obesity issues later in life.

This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link

As for when they are babies:

Breastfed and formula-fed infants grow at basically the same rate in the first few months.

Between four and six months, formula-fed babies tended to gain weight faster than their breastfeeding peers, although growth in length and head circumference were similar in both groups.

After the first six months, breastfed babies tended to be leaner. Compared to their formula-fed friends, the breastfeeding infants in this study gained an average of one pound less during the first twelve month
source:

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

Know what's more likely to cause obseity later in life? Worrying about whether or not your in.fant. is fat. FFS. There are links between all kinds of things, but as any social scientist will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. There are about 40 bajillonty different things that could cause a correlation (IF, and that's a big IF, one actually even exists) between obesity and FF babies.

Completely agree. And that's why I put in "This does NOT mean that FF automatically equals obesity, but there is a slight link."

I think it's ridiculous to call it an "issue" to be worried about--but I think that's what the OP might have been referring to when she posted.

Oh, I hear ya! I just hate this whole conversation. This isn't the first time something like this has been posted. I think it's ridculous. I mean, really? Isn't there enough time to screw your kid up? You gotta start now? I guess the topic hits a bit close to home b/c I was never a "chunky" kid growing up, but my dad was. So he micromanaged everything I ate and all of my activity. To the point where I ended up "rebelling" by gaining weight. The fact that I'm STILL fat is on me, but I just think parents need to back up off their kids--don't force them to eat or not eat, make sure they play outside and don't live in front of a PS3, and chances are good, they'll end up just fine. Even if they're formula fed.

::steps off soapbox::

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