7 signs of a child’s overeating

Babies are naturally able to self-regulate feeding and give signals when they are hungry or full. The mother must therefore discover and decipher these signs or signals to know when to stop feeding. Sometimes the mother may not understand these signals and continue to feed the baby, overfeeding him.

Knowing your baby’s hunger and fullness cues can help ease your worries about overfeeding, according to wellandgood. Remember that failure to pay attention to a child’s nutritional lifestyle early in life can contribute to lifelong health problems (eg obesity). Therefore, healthy habits should start from the first day of a baby’s life and it is important to understand the signs of overfeeding.

1. Digestive problems

When there is a lot of milk in the body, the baby’s intestines may not be able to digest it completely because the digestive system is not complete in newborns during the first few months. As a result, large quantities of undigested food remain in the baby’s intestines. and he suffers from digestive problems, such as gas, colic and diarrhoea. Feeding a baby with an upset stomach usually exacerbates these problems, making the baby fussy within an hour of feeding.

2. Increased gas flow

Frequent farting and bowel movements may be how the baby’s body reacts to overfeeding. The baby may also have an upset stomach. The baby’s stools tend to be very foul smelling and slightly watery.

Read more: Should you breastfeed your baby when you have a fever?

3. Frequent spitting and vomiting

Spitting up is common in breastfed or formula-fed babies. However, overeating can increase its severity and frequency. Excess milk can put pressure on the baby’s little belly. As a result, excess milk often tends to back up into the baby’s mouth when he burps. Babies who overfeed also often vomit after being fed.

4. Interfering with a child’s sleep

Hunger is not the only factor that causes trouble sleeping in a child, overeating can also lead to trouble sleeping in a child.
Overfeeding can cause a baby to suffer from colic, gas, and loose diarrhea, and can also interfere with a good night’s sleep.

5. An unexpected decline in growth

By encouraging children to eat more, parents believe they are trying to promote their growth and development. But overfeeding can lead to decreased growth. As many nutrients are expelled through stool or vomiting before the body has a chance to absorb them, this can lead to a depletion of vital minerals and vitamins and thus affect the baby’s development.

6. Low energy consumption in children

Children who overfeed are often less active. The discomfort caused by overeating affects the child’s energy levels, making him lethargic all the time. Also, frequent vomiting can make the child feel tired and just want to lie down.

7. Obesity

Since newborns constantly receive extra food, the extra calories they consume begin to accumulate in their bodies. This leads to excessive weight gain and obesity in children at this young age.

Read more: 6 things to keep in mind when leaving the hospital with your newborn

How do you deal with a child suffering from overeating?

If your child is failing to gain weight for their age or seems to be gaining too much weight, you should contact your pediatrician. Likewise, if you find that your child has persistent stomach problems, seek medical attention. If these signs are caused by overeating, the doctor will guide you to solve the problem.

In addition, adhering to the type and amount of formula prescribed by the pediatrician and respecting the child’s refusal to eat more food will help to avoid many problems with overeating.

Note from Madame Net: Before applying this recipe or treatment, you should consult a specialist.