Parenting @lemmy.world ComradeMiao @lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 wk. ago

Is giving your infant as much food as they want within reason, reasonable?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/34424332

My partner feeds them a fine amount but occasionally I will feed them more as they’re still hungry then they nap for 2-4x longer. Is this potential food comma healthy? They exhibit no unhealthy signs and are happily eating until they refuse food, so they recognize their own fullness

18 comments

That is the correct thing to do. Infant appetite is linked to metabolism. If they are more hungry it is because they need it.

Just make sure not to feed them salty/ sugary foods as it can throw that off some.
- Thanks for the tip! Never feed them those two things
  
  You would be amazed at what's in most baby formula. They love to add sugar
ABSOLUTELY. What is the worry? That the kid is scamming you to get more food which they are then going to turn around and sell to their friends on the playground? Kids, especially infants, haven't learned to have a dysfunctional relationship with food and hunger. If they are hungry, they show it. If they aren't, they show satiety. Definitely don't mess with this and you'll get a human with a good food relationship.

You've got cause and effect wrong on the more food = food coma thing. Both are caused by the same thing but hunger can interfere. The same thing is a growth spurt. When a kid is in a growth spurt they eat a ton and sleep a ton. Now, hunger can prevent sleep even in a growth spurt. But that growth spurt is going to spurt and it is a great thing you are doing to support it.

Your parenting instincts ROCK.
- Thank you :) very kind
Yeah it's fine. Feed till they express that they're full. You're not causing any harm.
- And then there is me who can't feel hunger or full and as a kid the doctor told my mother the same thing and after 5 or 6 full jars of baby food, she decided better of it lol.
  
  Lmao that’s an insane amount of food
Yeah. Any excess comes up again. It's normal. The food coma is normal too. My oldest usually slept for 3 hours after eating like a bear for lunch. He's now 13 and survived infancy just fine.
- Haha! That’s great to hear
How old is this infant and what is this infant being fed?
- Less than a year. And a bunch of solid foods. Breakfast was pasta, an egg, and spinach.
  
  You're doing great. They'll eat when and what they need! Your kiddo is eating better than me. I had two cookies.
Mine were in their teens the first time they ate enough, often enough, for me to not stress over about their eating habits. The boys are both taller than me, and all my kids get better grades than I did...
If it's "within reason" it's reasonable by definition.

You're welcome.

Edit: >!Yes, I'm being unhelpful on purpose; it's supposed to be funny.!<
- thanks captain

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