I've seen several babies with Prader-Willi syndrome. After infancy (when 
babies generally have very low muscle tone and sucking problems, and 
often require g-tube feeding), there is a high risk of obesity which 
often leads to death from cardiovascular problems. They seem to have 
lower growth hormone secretion, slower growth, and often have no satiety 
switch for their appetite  (the hypothallamus does not control the drive 
to eat properly). Breastfeeding and human milk feeding is obviously very 
important to reducing the risk of obesity. As babies transition to 
solids, their calories are often restricted by up to 30-40% to prevent 
obesity and careful behavior modification strategies are used to prevent 
over-eating. Many specialists give growth hormone to help increase 
metabolism, which increases the number of calories babies with this 
syndrome can eat without becoming obese. The growth hormone replacement 
might also have cognitive benefits.

So, a good strategy is a diet high in healthy fruits, vegetables and 
meats, with minimal "empty" calories to help the baby maintain a healthy 
weight from infancy on. Quantities offered might be reduced. Feeding 
will need to be structured to set times and set amounts to prevent 
lifelong difficulties.

Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC  NYC  cwgenna.com


On 4/11/2012 6:06 AM, Martina wrote:
> Hi all!
> In my private practice I organize classes about beby-led weaning.
> The next class will be next Thu and a mom wrote me to subscribe herself and her 6 mos. baby. The baby has Prader Willy syndrome and is followed by a dietologist of the local veeeeeery famous pediatric hospital. He gave the mom a sheet with the "diet" the baby has to do, because of his syndrome. I watched at the sheet and seemed to me the normal" recipe" that here peds give to all babies (here in Italy the most part of peds do not know anything about baby-led weaning and use a standard schedule starting with a potato-carrot-zucchini broth with rice flour and meat dried).
> My question is: which kind of evidences there are really about weaning with Prader Willy S.?
> Have you experience with this problem?
> Thanks
> Martina Carabetta, PP-IBCLC
> Rome, Italy
> www.latteecoccole.it
>
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