HE IS FAT!!!!

CAMSMOM1 wrote: Ok, so when I picked up Cameron from Grandma's house, she sat me down to have a "talk" with me. She told me that she thinks I OVERFEED my son, and that he's FAT. And I need to get a grip on it now, because he's going to be obese when he's older. How I'm streching his stomach, and he is obcessed with food. (I don't want to go into the whole story about Cam's food obcession, but it is true, he loves food way to much)
She said, "You don't want him to grow up and be teased by other kids. YOU should know how it feels, being heavy yourself!" WTH?!
I told her that she needs to let him play outside more, because when he was at his other daycare, that he got a lot of outdoor play, and was thinning out. She just lets him sit inside all day and watch t.v. and play with his cousin, Dylan.
And she said, "He has fat feet and hands." Well DUH, don't most babies? "And his stomach is big, and pouches over his pants." Again, don't most babies have puggy tummies??
Lately, she's been really BOLD with her comments, and it's hard to stay polite. I tried to reassure her, that I understand he loves food, but that I try monitor his food intake, and he will lose the "baby fat" when he gets older.
She was suggesting I put him on a diet!!!!!! A DIET FOR A 2 YEAR OLD! WHAT?!
EDIT: To say, the last time we weighed him he weighed 35 pounds, and is in the 100% for his weight & his height...he is tall. Do you think he weighs to much? He wears a size 6 diaper, and size 4T clothes, and a size 10 shoe. And he is 22 months old.

MomToMany replied: Well, he does sound on the big side. He weighs more than my almost-4 year old. He's the same age as my youngest, and she only weighs 22 lbs. But she's so petite anyway.

Just keep doing what you are doing; monitoring his intake & making sure he gets plenty of execise. He'll slim down, don't worry.

ediep replied: I would not put him on a diet, but I would talk to his ped about it. If your ped says its no big deal, I may get a second opinion just to be sure.

I would demand that he gets outside everyday....does he have a tricycle or other type of bike? Go to the park, even just walk down the sidewalk. Exercise is very important

daycare mom replied: Every kid is different, I know some who look like they're starving! As long as he gets enough exercise/play time, and you're watching the junkfood intake, he'll be fine. Mine used to be the pudgiest kid, and now she's shot up a few inches and thinned out lots.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: No way. Don't put him on a diet... poor kid!

My Emilie just tuyrned two at the end of December - she too weighs about 36 pounds. She also wears size 6 diapers (only to bed), just like my son. She wears altered 3T clothes, just about regularly - some things we need a bigger size and just temporarily hem the pant edges or shirt arms by hand.

She eats like a porker would too... She eats as much if not more than my 3 1/2 year old. (OMG...my oldest is 3 1/2! just realized! )

Does he eat a lot of junk food? Emilie eats a lot, but generally we keep only healthy stuff in the house.... so a snack for her is a yogurt with some fruit or something like that. Going outside every day to play is a big part I think of children's days... at the daycares our kids go to, it's mandatory - every day for 2 hours (it can be spread out to 2x 1 hour) unless the weather doesn't permit it, and I believe that's one reason that kids think out.

Kids don't normally have to eat a lot... and they are still in tune with their body enough to know when they are hungry and full.

What is a typical day for your son? LIke - what does he eat, on a normal day? I find that some days Emilie will stuff herself to no end... and another day she'll barely eat anything.

Typically, Emilie will have a small bowl of cereal (maybe 1/2 cup worth) with a slice of bread with nutella on it for breakfast. Then she'll have a snack around 10, then lunch around 12... it usually consists of a meat, a veggie and a carb food - usually well rounded meal - she eats a lot for lunch, since they go outside usualy from 11 - 12 in the morning. I'm told it's about the equivalent of 2 ounces of meat, and the rest of the food would fit in her hands if they were cupped. Then another snack around 3, after their nap, just before they go outside again. For dinner she doesn't usually want to eat... because their snack at daycare is pretty substantial - usually a fruit, and some crackers and cheese... so she'll have 3 or 4 bites at dinner time, and eat the rest before bed.

So she seems to eat a lot - but it really isn't all that much.

I know you've mentionned that Cam has eaten like 4 pieces of pizza before... how big are the pieces? I've had pizza that the pieces were absolutely HUGE (the crust part was like 6 inches and the length of the piece was about 7 inches) and I've had tiny pieces (crust part about 2 1/2 inches and length about 4 inches).... and those tiny pieces, my kids can eat 3 or 4 if they're hungry.

If you're REALLY concerned, check with your ped. I would think that as long as Cam isn't lazy - as in, sits on a couch all day to watch tv... he should be fine, active vs food intake I mean - cuz if he's sitting all day, he's not burnng all the food he's taking in... know what I mean?

Do you go outside with him at all? I can't go outside with my kids... I HATE HATE HATE going outside to play. I don't even like getting on the floor to play... that's dh's job. I'm more of a puzzles, books, baking, games and song/dance kind of mom. Although if I'm on my own with the kids, I sitll do take them outside... even though I hate it - cuz it's good for them, blows their energy - they're so much easier to put down for a nap afterwards.

Anyways - I'm jus rambling really... lol and kudos if you've read this far and are still following what I'm saying.

3_call_me_mama replied: Well he is a big boy but i wouldnt' say he's fat. You need to look at what he's eating not just how much . Empty calories are used quickly andyou fel hungry shortly after you have eaten. making you eat more often and more food. I would certainly make sure he's staying active and getting AWAY FROM THE TV!!! bottom line. If she is his daycare then she needs to make sure he is getting out to play and beign active indoors IF he can't go out. Also how often does he snack? What is he eating? how long is he sleeping? how active is he? He's going to be two soon right? so you should be bringing him for a well check and I would mention it to his Dr that you have been questioned about his weight. While I wouldnt' put him on diet I certainyl would moniter what you are feeding him. Also what does he drink? People dont' realize how it really isnt' good for kids to get a lot of juice and milk. 4-6 ounces a day is teh reccommemded serving size for a kid his age. That is equivalent to about 1/2 of those tall sippy cups. That's it. People think that because it's 100% juice it's fine to give them as much as tehy want. Totally avoid kool-aid, juice drinks, soda and follow teh guidelines on milk reccommendations and juice intake. other than that he shoudl only be drinking water. And being that he's almost 2 your ped should soon reccommend that you switch him off whole milk and on to 2 %. As they milkfat is only really beneficial for brain development in the first 2 years. Also does he still have a bottle? or any sort of formula? That coule also nto be helping.
ANd ot answer your otehr question.. no not all kids have bellies hanging over their pants and have chubby hands and feet. Neither of my kids did. Every baby is different and some never get those rollie pollie bellies and body parts.

luvbug00 replied: I'm sorry but I'm noticing a pattern here with grandma . I would look for a new sitter. It seems in her eyes nothing you do is right. Where as his wieght goes you may ask his ped at his next check-up. I wouln't bring him there for that purpose alone but just ask next time. I wouldn't worry to much about it .

for you!

MyLuvBugs replied: WOW. If she met my kid she's probably say that she was a super fatty then. Lorelei weighs 28 lbs and is OVER the 100% for weight, but is only in the 96% for height. But the Dr. says that's fine. We've had tons of people call her chubby or chunky, but she looks fine to me. She was a HUGE baby, and is STILL a baby, so the baby fat is still there. Now that she's more active she's thinning out more, but there's still little rolls on her upper legs and arms.

I guess what I'm getting at is that it doesn't matter what your GrMa said. So long as the Dr and you aren't worried about it, it's fine. He's tall, so he's going to weigh more than other kids. And you're totally right about him needing to play outside. He's 2 for crying out loud. He needs to be out running around. Just blow her off, and start looking for a new daycare I think. Sounds like she's trying everything (including being VERY blunt and rude) to get out of sitting for him. JMO.

BAC'sMom replied: I don't think he's FAT. Just a BIG BOY. My son Callum is 23 months old weighs 32 pounds, size 6 diaper, size 3T and his shoe size is an 8. Callum is not over weight he's built like his Dad. He and his sister weigh about the same amount within 5 or so pounds and she's 6. But she is VERY petite and always has been she weighed 6-9 at birth, where Callum was almost 8 pounds.
Talk to your Pediatrician and see what they say. I was concerned about my daughter being so small so I talked with our Dr. She told me that all kids are different, all different sizes and not to worry about my kiddos sizes.

Insanemomof3 replied: Tristan, (who turned 4 yesterday) is 40lbs and Demetrius who is 2 and a half is 35 lbs. They are both tall. So I guess my kids are fat too? I think people obsess TOO much about weight these days. No wonder kids develop eating disorders

moped replied: WEll I too have a big boy so I can understand.............Jack is in the 100% for both height and weight, now his weight isn't an issue, but my husband and I nearly killed each other fighting over it when Jack was about 9 months old - I was MAD!!!!!!!!!

If the doc has no concerns then you should have no concerns................if you are wondering you should go see the doc and make sure

mommymonster replied: Tell Grammy he is a Happy, Healthy, boy and that is all that matters! My daughter is "fuller" than my son, he is skin and bones. My mom says I over feed one and starve the other!?! Any way kids are all different and as long as his Pediatrician says he is fine, then he is fine

CAMSMOM1 replied: I have spoken to his Ped doctor, and also got a 2nd opionion, and both doctors said he is fine. Since he is in the 100 percentile for his height and weight, they dont see a problem. So I know, that if they don't see it as a problem, it probably is fine. I asked them about how much he eats, and how he doesnt' seem to get full, and they don't see that as a problem either, since I monitor his food intake.
He is VERY active! Loves playing outside, and I do take him outside everyday when he is with me. He much rather be outside, then anything else. But when he is outside, he'd rather ride his PowerWheels, then anything else. But when he is inside, he's running and playing. He never sits down. So he is active. And even GMa said he is very active at her house.
My husband is a big guy, tall and thick. And most of the men are in my family, which seems to be what Cameron is, a big guy. He was 9 pounds when he was born, and has always been big.
I'm talked to my MIL and GMa about finding a new daycare. And both of them agreed that I should when he turns 2, April 1st. That will be such a relief!
I do give him a lot of whole milk. I probably should cut down on that. And I only give him one cup of Apple Juice a day. No soda or Koolaid.
I try to feed him healthy stuff, but it doesn't always happen. He usually eats 1 banana and Cheerios in the morning, or a breakfast bar.
For lunch he'll eat a sandwich and yogurt, or Chef Boyarde ravollis, Mac and Cheese, or whatever we had for dinner the night before, leftovers.
And Grandma feeds him dinner, usually good foods.
So I'll ask my Ped doctor again at his next appt. But for now, I think he's fine.
Thanks for the advice and the tips! It's good to know I don't have the only chubby baby!
Ann

MamaJAM replied:
Ok - so he's 100% for weight AND height -- right? Therefore - he's proportional -- right? Also - if he's wearing a size 10 shoe already....it sounds to me that he's just a big boy. "Big" not meaning "fat" -- "big" meaning a naturally larger child.

If he was 100% for weight and only 50% for height...I'd agree something would need to be done. But...never a diet for a toddler -- unless a ped is directing it!

You MIL needs a major attitude adjustment.

Edited because I just saw your second post...
If the peds aren't worried and say everything is fine -- then I certainly wouldn't worry. The peds know WAY MORE than your MIL.

luvmykids replied: Colt weighed in the 25-30 lb range starting at 6 months and was only 70 percentile for height, so he was short AND fat lol but the doctor never worried about it because he was healthy. Now he's proportionate. Still stocky and short (poor guy, his twin sis is almost 2 inches taller ..... tall and skinny!) but proportionate.

eta Gmas and MIL's always have an opinion, don't they?

redchief replied: Rick was in the 100th percentile for weight and 90% height at the age of 2. He lost his "baby fat" at about the age of 4 and never looked back. He actually stopped growing fairly young and is only 5' 4", weighing in at about 140lbs.

That being said, I find it funny that so many don't think it's a good idea to put your son on a diet. So, it's okay for us to count calories when we're overweight, but it's cruel to count our childrens' caloric intake? I think, as parents, we absolutely SHOULD count our kids' calories and make changes where necessary ensuring they are eating good foods and getting appropriate exercise!

I share others' concerns regarding his level of activity at "the sitter's." It's not only bad for his physical health to sit in front of the tube all day, it's bad for his mental and emotional development too! I don't know as I'd go as far as finding a different sitter, but I would lay down the law... No TV during the day. There's so many things for a 2 year old to discover!

Lexismama replied: First of all, the first sign is that he is a SIZE 10 SHOE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now dosnt that just tell her right there, he is a big boy. If he is tall and that big of feet, he is just naturely a big boy. He will thin out, my BIL didnt loss ALL his baby fat till grade 8 and he was in sports galore. Kids are chubby, SO WHAT!!!!!!! He looks perfect to me, NOT obese or anything along those lines. You definatly need to tell her that you have YOUR SON under control and just make sure that she is doing what she needs to do for him during the day like not eat junk and not let him just sit there all day and watch TV. You sound like an amazing mom who is doing everything in her power to make sure he is healthy. I am sure if his docs were worried, they would have said something and suggested a diet already since Im sure he didnt just gain all this weight overnight LOL. No worries, he is perfect!

A&A'smommy replied: If his ped didn't say anything about it then I would tell her to mind her own business

jcc64 replied: I'm with Ed on this one. I don't think you have to approach it as a diet, but maybe just be more conscious of how much/what he's taking in. Nobody needs to drink whole milk. Skim or 1% has the same nutritional benefits (actually, you can get all the good stuff in milk from healthier, less calorically dense foods like broccoli). Maybe keep a food journal, and square it with the daily reccommended requirements for a kid his age. I know when Corey started having constipation issues, what I vaguely thought was a healthy diet did actually contain alot more refined, over-processed stuff than I'd originally thought. And of course, I can't overstate the importance of an active lifestyle.
When my 13 yr old was about 5, he started eating obsessively- 2nd helpings, 3rd helpings, and everyone kept telling me to leave him alone- he must be growing. Well, that was the start of a lifelong habit of overeating- taking in way more than he needed, and he got chunky. Luckily, he's a serious athlete, and finally, he's starting to stretch out now that he's hit puberty. But he recognizes that he has a wt issue, and is very conscious of what he eats. Until your son gets to that point, you have to do it for him. Nothing needs to be said outloud, just adjust what and how much you serve.
Good luck.

MamaJAM replied:
She did say she monitors his intake AND he's an active child. So - she's already keeping an eye on things....which is what we all should be doing. The only thing she really needs to deal with is telling the sitters to get him out and moving more.

The next step from what she's doing IS putting her 2 year old on a DIET....which the docs haven't recommended she do. Therefore - a DIET really would be a bad thing.

CantWait replied: I see his picture, and he is NOT FAT!!!!!!!!! Don't do any such thing such as putting him on a diet.

~~*Missi*~~ replied: OMGosh I can't believe anyone would say that. Yes there are babies who thier mommies do OVER FEED them like the ones you see on Maury that are 50-75lbs at 22m. Not 35lbs.
if the doctor hasn't addressed it then i am guessing that there is NO reason to worry!!

My sister sits for a couple of girls. One is 6m and one is just 2. My sister went with the mom to the peds because well she cares for them 5d and week and they are friends.

The 6m old weighs MORE THEN MY SABRINA!!! Sabrina is between 21-22lbs. The 6m old is 22lbs 10oz and short under 29.inches!
The 2 year old is 40lbs and short also. Sabrina is about the same height as Abby. So around 36.5-37.5inches tall. Needless to say they doctor said for there height and weight and being girls, they need to start the baby on a "regular" schedule. Not so much a "diet" but a strict schedule. Same with Abby she is allowed breakfast lunch dinner and 2 snacks. Thats it
I would think like this doctor if YOUR ped thought there was a issue he/she would have addressed it??

CAMSMOM1 replied: MamaJAM Posted on Feb 7 2006, 09:59 PM


Actually, it's not my MIL. It's my MIL's mother...so my DH's Grandmother. I know that she LOVES Cameron, and has his best interest in mind. She knows the struggles I've had with him overeating. ((because he doesn't get full, and will eat until you take away his food. He does have a problem over eating.))And she's just being overprotected I think, and ignorant, because she doesn't understand.

Good tips & advice! And it's good to know we're all on the same page.

mckayleesmom replied: Well...I don't think hes overweight at all. Based on pictures of him..he looks like he is older then his age based on size. He looks like he is going to be really tall and big boned. Mckaylee is 2 and just now got to 27lbs, but she is really short and pretty petite too. I think you should just ignore her comments, but if you feel that maybe she is right...Maybe you can start planning out some healthier meals and snacks for him...not dieting..just healthier..Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with him.