Does a chubby baby predict future obesity?

With childhood obesity on the rise, parents may be concerned about their baby’s weight.

According to experts, if parents are concerned, they should request that their infant’s healthcare professional keep track of their child’s weight.

However, most experts agree that chubbiness in babies under the age of two is generally not a cause for concern, unless your baby’s excess weight is caused by a medical condition such as a hormone disorder.

Begin developing healthy behaviours right now

Here are a few healthy practices to consider:

1. Breastfeed only for the first six months, then continue to breastfeed with supplemented foods until age one or as long as mother and baby desire. Breastfed babies tend to be slimmer in the first six months of life. One reason is that breastfed newborns eat only when they are hungry, not when they are encouraged by their parents.
2. Do not encourage your infant to complete every bottle unless directed to do so by your child’s healthcare practitioner.
3. When your baby is weaned, provide extra fruits and vegetables while limiting cereal and grains. As finger meals are introduced, continue to serve fruits and veggies.
4. Unless otherwise directed by your child’s healthcare provider, only give breastmilk or formula in bottles and not in sippy cups.
5. Juice is unnecessary and, in fact, less nutritious than fresh fruit. Wait until your child is a toddler before introducing fruit juice, and limit juice to no more than one cup per day.
6. Babies naturally stay active as they learn to roll over, move their heads, crawl, and walk. Between the ages of 12 and 15 months, their growth slows, and weight gain is expected.