According to Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, parents or caregivers may be overfeeding their babies when distracted by the media. Dr. Trachtenberg is an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, an author of parenting books http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Trachtenberg/e/B001ILHH9M and co-founder of Baby Bundle App https://babybundleapp.com/home/
As Dr. Trachtenberg explains, formula fed babies gain weight faster, and overweight babies can become overweight adults. So what does this have to do with media distractions? A baby that is formula fed, will not self-regulate the amount they eat, which is the opposite of a breastfed baby. (It seems that when a baby is breastfed, the baby just naturally stops feeding when they are full, therefore they have regulated themselves.) Bottle feeding, on the other hand, has a predetermined number of ounces, usually 8 or 9, and the baby will generally finish that bottle regardless of nutritional needs or desire to sate hunger. If the mom is preoccupied, she may not be picking up on her baby’s cues, that enough is enough.
What are some of the ways to prevent overfeeding a bottle-fed baby?
- Don’t force your baby to finish the bottle.
- Slow down bottle feeding by holding baby more upright while feeding.
- Use a nipple that has a slower flow.
- Try not to be distracted when feeding.
Also, keep in mind, that a fussy baby doesn’t necessarily mean a hungry baby. It can be easy to default to feed your baby when they are fussy. Often the opposite can be true, overfeeding a baby can lead to fussiness. Fussiness can also be a sign of being tired or worse, overtired.
Above all, when it comes to your baby’s health, make sure you are visiting your pediatrician for regular checkups. If there are any weight issues, they can be addressed at that time.
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Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com. Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland and follow her on Twitter
