Everyone adores a chubby baby; there’s something so cute about a roly-poly belly and thighs. People do not seem to be concerned about “baby fat.” We think of it as not only cute but also healthy – and will last only for a short time. But what if the baby is overweight?
An overweight baby is one that has gained weight in excess of his or her height. Overweight babies appear to be chubby, and sometimes, such a child may or may not be healthy.
When do babies get chubby?
In less than 6 months, a baby’s weight can double, and by the age of one, it can triple. To support this rapid growth and development, all newborns require a high-fat diet. This explains why your child is always hungry!
Between the ages of 4 and 9 months, infant fatness reaches its peak at about 25%. After which it begins a gradual, slow decline.
Because their developing bodies and brains require constant bursts of energy, babies store some of the fat under their skin. Depending on their length, some babies born at the same weight may look either round and soft with rolls of baby fat or long and lean with only a bit of cushioning.
Your child may have body rolls or large, soft cheeks. Don’t worry – this level of “fat” is typical and beneficial to your baby’s health.
How to know if your baby is overweight
At every visit to your child’s paediatrician, he or she will check if your child is gaining weight accordingly. Basing it on the weight chart (a separate one for boys and a separate one for girls), they can assess if your baby is within the healthy weight range for their age.
For example, if your 6-month-old baby is in the 98th percentile for weight at his length, this means that he is heavier than 98 per cent of babies of the same sex, age, and length.
Just like in adults, if your child’s weight for length is over the 98th percentile, your baby can be considered overweight. However, this is not usually a cause for alarm in babies because their weight gradually drops as they grow and become more active.
What makes babies fat
The following are some of the factors that can cause a baby to gain weight:
- When a baby is fed solid food for the first time.
- If a child is offered processed or quick foods.
- If an infant is fed sugary drinks or fruit juice.
- If a baby does not get enough sleep.
- If a baby is surrounded by television or videos.
- If a kid is fed a lot of snacks in between meals.
- The types of snacks and solid foods that are given to a baby.
Why some breastfed babies fatter than others
For the first three months of life, breastfed newborns gain weight quicker than formula-fed babies.
One possible explanation is that breast milk is a dynamic and ever-changing diet that has the exact nourishment that a baby requires at that time. A formula, on the other hand, is a predetermined combination of elements.
For the same reason, the amount of pumped breast milk given to a baby in a bottle may differ from the amount of formula given to a baby of the same age.
Formula-fed newborns must drink more at each feeding because they require additional calories. Breast milk, on the other hand, will vary in composition and calorie content depending on the demands of the baby.
Medical reasons for an overweight baby
Many factors influence how much a newborn weighs and how quickly they gain weight. You don’t have control over all of them. Genetics, as well as the height and weight of the parents, can have an impact on the size and weight of their child.
During pregnancy, a mother’s weight has an impact on her baby’s weight. A pregnant mother who is overweight, obese, smokes, or has gestational diabetes is more likely to produce a kid who is overweight at birth or subsequently becomes overweight.
Furthermore, new research from 2019 suggests that babies born via scheduled C-section have a higher risk of growing overweight. This could be due to the fact that their gut bacteria differ from those of vaginally delivered newborns. However, a C-section isn’t always the primary reason for a baby’s weight growth.
What is baby fat and when do you lose it
Don’t panic if your child seems to be getting a little too heavy in your arms. Your baby will lose some of that soft “baby fat” once they learn to crawl and, eventually, walk. As your baby grows into an active toddler, their weight should balance even more.
Around the age of 12 months, infant fat starts to fade and neck elongation begins. This is normally around the time when babies can stand and walk (ie, 10 to 18 months). Between years 2 and 3, the rate of growth normally slows down.
Tips to helping baby maintain a healthy weight
Fortunately, there are some basic things parents can do to keep their infants at a healthy weight and put them on the best route to staying there.
1. Breastfeed
Breastfeeding is a terrific approach to starting your infant if it’s possible. Not only is the meal exactly suited to the nutritional requirements of the infant, but it’s also nearly difficult to overfeed while nursing. Even if the infant remains for an extended period, after 10 to 15 minutes, they are largely sucking for comfort rather than milk.
2. Try other means to soothe your baby
There is a number of reasons why babies cry. Sometimes babies cry because they are hungry, but they also cry because they are sleepy, terrified, stressed, bored, uncomfortable, or simply want to be carried.
Parents should try different ways to soothe the baby before feeding if he has just been fed. Changing the diaper, holding, and calming — or talking and playing — are all practical options.
It’s important to start this practice early. If a baby is fed every time he or she fusses, they may come to believe that feeding is what they need when they are bored, weary, or angry, making other strategies less effective and forming bad connections with food that are difficult to reverse.
3. Don’t overfeed.
It’s natural for a parent to want their child to finish a bottle or a bowl of food. But it’s also important to respect your baby’s decision to stop eating when he signals that he doesn’t want to eat anymore.
Even if you started feeding solids to your baby, milk is still their main source of nutrition. They are just learning and exploring food, so don’t feel bad if your child can’t finish the whole bowl. Also, force-feeding your baby will just lead to bad eating habits growing up.
4. Serve healthy solid food
Give fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and lean meats to your infant once he or she is ready. Babies will try everything once they are old enough. Use this time to develop their likes for meals you want them to eat forever before they become picky. While iron-fortified baby cereals can be beneficial, they should not be consumed in excess.
5. Begin family meals early
Bring your baby to the table to eat with you as soon as she can sit in a highchair. Children who eat meals with their parents are less likely to be overweight, and family dinners contribute to the development of strong bonds and academic success (and help keep teens out of trouble).
Make it a habit from the start. It benefits everyone in the family, not just the newborns because creating the family meal habit encourages families to create healthier meals.
6. Get your baby moving
Exercise may and should begin as early as possible. Get your baby down on the floor and do some “tummy time” to get them moving. Get on the ground with them. Create safe environments for kids to crawl, walk, and run in. Take them for walks, and if they’re able to walk, make sure they keep walking.
Making active play and family activity a daily routine not only helps babies reach and maintain a healthy weight, but also increases the likelihood that they will be acting like children, teens, and adults.
Remember, good health practices benefit your children not only now but throughout their lives.
The weight of your kid is one of many indicators that you and your baby’s doctor can use to track his or her development. Babies come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The majority of the time, “baby fat” is healthy and normal for your child. Even though they appear to be overweight, most babies are not. Consult your paediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s weight.
This article was written by Matt Doctor and republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
