The standard NCHS growth chart shows that most 4 month old boys will
weigh between 11 and 18 pounds.  The upper end of the growth chart is
just that, the upper end.  I think that sometimes health care professionals
get too caught up in needing absolutes, so they use the growth chart to
"diagnose" obesity or Failure to Thrive.  If a child is feeding well, and
over time continues on the same channel line of the growth chart (for
example, everytime the kid is measured, he plots on the 95th percentile),
then we should trust that he is growing appropriately for *him*.  Yes, he
may be bigger than most babies his age, but that's what having a *range*
of normal is all about - some kids will be bigger, some kids will be smaller.

If this child is healthy, and the feeding relationship between mom and
baby is going well, then I would avoid forcing solids on the kid.  If the
child is not interested in solids, trying to force solids now will put mom
and baby in an adversarial feeding relationship, which in the long term
can cause even more problems.  Also, limiting his intake may cause him
to overfeed when he is allowed to nurse, because he no longer will trust
that nourishment is available to him whenever he is hungry.  (For more
information on this, explore the writings of Ellyn Satter).

Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info -
Debi Barr, MS, RD, LD
Portland, Oregon
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