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 cute and healthy – and will last only for a short time. But what if the baby is overweight?
An overweight baby has gained weight over his or her height. Overweight babies appear to be chubby, and sometimes, such a child may or may not be healthy.
Is My Baby Overweight
At every visit to your child’s paediatrician, he or she will check if your child is gaining weight accordingly. Based 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 child can be considered an overweight baby. 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 An Overweight Baby
The following are some of the factors that can cause a baby to gain weight and become an overweight baby:
- 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 not getting exercise and is exposed to screens early.
- 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
Breastfed newborns gain weight more quickly for the first three months of life than formula-fed babies.
One possible explanation is that breast milk is a dynamic and ever-changing diet with the exact nourishment that a baby requires. 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 baby’s demands.
What Happens When Baby Drinks Too Much Milk
When your baby drinks too much milk, it can cause concern. A baby drinking more than the recommended amount of milk may be at risk for developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause symptoms such as irritability, fussiness, fatigue or drowsiness.
The good news is that most parents do not have to worry about their babies getting too much milk because breast milk or formula is only meant to replace your child’s lost calories and nutrients when they are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
If you think your baby might be drinking too much milk, here are some common causes of excessive milk intake and how you can treat them:
1) Your baby has been crying excessively due to teething pain
2) Your baby has been overeating solid food during feedings
3) You’re using bottles that are too big for your baby’s mouth
4) You’re offering bottles at night instead of allowing your child to sleep on his own
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 and the parent’s height and weight can impact the size and weight of their child.
During pregnancy, a mother’s weight impacts 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 because 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.
Newborn Drinking Too Much Formula
You are probably wondering, “Is my baby drinking too much formula?”
Well, a few signs can tell you if your newborn is indeed overdoing it. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to talk to your doctor about reducing the formula your baby consumes.
- Your baby has green poop or diarrhoea
- Your baby has a bloated stomach
- Your baby has constipation (not going at all)
- Your baby is gassy and uncomfortable (this may be due to an intolerance to the milk protein in the formula)
Signs of Overfeeding Breastfed Baby
One of the most common concerns for new parents is whether or not their baby is receiving enough breast milk. One way to tell if your baby is overfed is to look at their diapers. If they are wetting more than 6-8 times per day, they may get too much milk at once.
Your baby’s weight gain can determine another sign of overfeeding. Knowing what you should expect regarding weight gain for a breastfed baby is important because too much or too little can lead to problems later in life.
If you have any questions about these signs of overfeeding or of an overweight baby who is breastfed, feel free to ask an expert!
How to Relieve an Overfed Baby
Here are a few simple things you can do to ensure that your baby isn’t overeating:
- Stop feeding your baby when he or she is full.
- Offer smaller food portions, and gradually increase the amount as your child grows.
- Serve healthy snacks between meals to keep your baby from overeating at mealtime.
- Avoid letting your baby sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth, as this may lead to overfeeding at night.
- Avoid giving your baby a pacifier after meals, as it can cause them to feel full and stop eating too soon (if they’re getting enough nutrients).
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 walk. As your baby grows into an active toddler, their weight should balance even more.
Around 12 months, infant fat starts to fade, and neck elongation begins. This usually is when babies can stand and walk (i.e., 10 to 18 months). Between years 2 and 3, the rate of growth slows typically down.
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Tips for 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 healthy. Not only is the meal exactly suited to the infant’s nutritional requirements, 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 are many reasons why babies cry. Sometimes babies
cry because they are hungry but also 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. Suppose a baby is fed every time he or she fusses. In that case, they may 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 lead to bad eating habits.
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 high chair. Children who eat meals with their parents are less likely to be overweight, and family dinners contribute to developing 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 babies, 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 with your overweight baby. 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 can walk, make sure they keep walking.
Making active play and family activity a daily routine helps babies reach and maintain a healthy weight and increases the likelihood that they will act like children, teens, and adults.
Remember, good health practices benefit your children now and throughout their lives.
The weight of your kid is one of many indicators that you and your baby’s doctor can use to track their development. But remember that babies come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most 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.
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
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.
