Can Baby Have Too Much Food?

I am blessed to have a baby girl who loves to eat. Sweet or savory, soft or crunchy, green or white, you name it, she will eat it. She ends most meals with a big giant belly and occasionally a good belch. Most parents of picky eaters would be insanely jealous -- a big full belly -- no fighting at mealtime -- no spinach covering the walls, floor, and the inside of baby's nose. However, Baby Flava's passion for food presents a unique challenge. If she eats everything I put in front of her, how will I know when she has had enough? Can babies have too much food?

Last week I decided to experiment with a few techniques to see if we could determine how much food was too much food. First, I began to offer the baby very small portions. Once she finished what was in front of her I would look for signs of hunger and then offer some more. Next, I put all (and I mean all) of the food I made directly in front of her to see what she ate and if she left anything behind. Lastly, I tried offering lots of small meals throughout the day to see if that kept her belly feeling full but not stuffed.

After my (hardly scientific) experimentation I reached a conclusion, she does have a natural full sensor. When she is hungry she will let me know and when she is full she will stop eating. My pediatrician was right, follow her lead and she will let me know when she has had enough. When you are feeding your baby a well rounded diet of healthy whole foods there is no need to hold back, feed her until she is happy and satiated. She'll let you know when she's had enough!