Babies need healthy and nutritious food while they are growing, but sometimes it's difficult to get them to eat the stuff that's good for them. Unfortunately a lot of parents end up force feeding their babies when they refuse to eat. This can lead to a lot of different problems, so let's look at what over feeding can do, and how we can avoid it. 

The problems with over feeding your baby can be from vomiting to impacted bowels. Impacted bowls in infants and babies is a lot more serious than in adults. Not only will the impacted bowl damage the surrounding muscles, it can also let bacteria and toxins in to the blood stream. Since a baby has a very weak immune system to start with, this can open up the baby to be susceptible to all kinds of germs, bacteria, and even encourage the onset of certain illness and diseases.  

Of course, if your baby is refusing food more than what is normal, you should immediately see your pediatrician. Your doctor should be your next best friend when raising your baby to prevent minor things becoming major.

So what can we do to prevent over feeding our baby? There are signs that a baby will make to alert you that he or she is full. The signals will often be confused with the distaste of certain foods, so it's important to always monitor their reactions. 

It's important to understand that babies want to eat when they are hungry. So feed them when they are hungry. They won't eat just because something tastes good, like we do as adults, so you have to pay close attention to their needs. If your baby is younger than 6 months and turns their head away from food, then that is a good sign they are full. Just before they become a year old, they may actually start to push the food away.

You should always let your baby completely finish a small mouthful before presenting them with more food. This gives them enough time to judge whether they can handle another bite or not. You should try to encourage your baby to eat on their own as soon as possible. This will help their development of hand and eye coordination skills. 

Feeding your baby is an excellent way to bond with him or her. But taking it slow and not forcing them to eat is the best way to ensure their healthy. If you feel that they are not eating enough, you should consult with your baby's doctor immediately.