Is Baby Fat Dangerous For Your Kids?

Most parents and health experts will agree that a pudgy baby is a healthy baby, but in a weight-obsessed society with alarming rates of obesity in children many are wondering at what point should those adorable extra pounds fall away.

And many moms and dads know that relatives and even strangers always have an opinion when it comes to their babies and comments that range from harmless observations about chubby cheeks to unwanted advice can worry already sensitive parents.

Teresa Agnew knows this all too well. She’s had a number of people express their opinion about her five-month-old daughter Taylor’s chubby cheeks.

“People call her Buddha baby. I had one woman come up to her and say, ‘look at the little piggy,'” she said. “Some people said you should put her on a diet.”

Pediatricians say it’s important, especially for new parents, to remember that babies need fat and that it aids a child’s development and that a tot will often outgrow the cute rolls.

“We require fat in order to maintain proper neurological brain growth,” pediatrician Dr. Stuart Gardner said.

But it’s also important to ensure that a chunky baby doesn’t take on its parents bad eating habits and that a pudgy infant doesn’t become an overweight toddler with a constant craving for junk food.

“I have many patients who prefer junk food, particularly candy, ice cream and chips, over proper meat, vegetables and fruits,” Gardner said.

He also says parents should never force their kids to eat.

“Parents have bad habits in how they eat and they will pass that on to their children.”

Experts say genetics may be partly to blame for overweight children, but more often the extra pounds on an older child are the result of lifestyle. Some studies have suggested that breast feeding reduces a kid’s chances of becoming overweight later in childhood.

But you should always consult your doctor before you decide to make any major changes to your baby’s diet.

There are a few warning signs dads and moms can look out for to ensure their child grows up with a healthy weight. They include:

• A sustained growth spurt before the age of four, in which weight increases more rapidly than height
• Weight appears to be interfering with a child’s developmental milestones, such as walking.

Infancy is an important time to instill healthy lifestyle routines for the family, which include:

• Limiting the amount of junk food in the home
• Limit TV time for the entire family
• Physical activity – although toddlers and infants get workouts naturally by learning how to lift their heads, roll over, sit up and crawl
• As hard as it may be, try not to compare your child with others – all babies are different