Curious....When Is Big Too Big?

[cheerfuldom]

I am curious about the weight charts for infants. It seems like I am coming across bigger and bigger babies and at what weight/height proportion is a baby considered too big?

The baby in question (not a current daycare child) was 23 lbs at 4 months and now at 6 months, is almost into 2T clothing and getting close to 30lbs! To me, he just looks really overweight.......

This is just me being curious and no, I am not going to say anything to the mother.

He was an average sized newborn, well under 8lbs and his parents are normal sized as well.

[spud912]

I am curious about the weight charts for infants. It seems like I am coming across bigger and bigger babies and at what weight/height proportion is a baby considered too big?

The baby in question (not a current daycare child) was 23 lbs at 4 months and now at 6 months, is almost into 2T clothing and getting close to 30lbs! To me, he just looks really overweight.......

This is just me being curious and no, I am not going to say anything to the mother.

He was an average sized newborn, well under 8lbs and his parents are normal sized as well.

Wow he must be way off the charts! I thought my dcb was huge but he was 34 lbs at 18 months.

Is he a big eater/drinker? Is he behind in anything yet?

[earlystart]

That does sound enormous! My son was a chubby baby (90th percentile on weight since birth basically) and on formula and until he started walking at 11 months he was a chubster - and his pediatrician actually told me to give him less formula, but I didn't follow her advice, I fed him when he was hungry (****ing down bottles quickly then crying as soon as it was gone was my cue that he needed more than the pediatrician recommended). I think most babies know how much they need to eat, and some are chubbier than others, but personally I would be concerned if it got THAT bad. I also think formula fed babies are prone to being chubbier because it's that much easier to get a ton of calories in quickly. Chubby toddlers on the other hand really bother me personally, I think that is poor eating habits and the kids are old enough to be told "no". But tiny babies, it's harder to cut down their calories unless you are ok with letting them cry out of hunger.

[daycarediva]

My friend is a pediatric np, she said she really believes it's from failing to teach infants to self soothe and popping a bottle (or boob) in their mouth every time they cry.

[blandino]

Wow. My DCB who is HUGE is 11 months and 24 pounds. So I ccant even imagine how big yours is. I would say, that is probably too big. But I always go by of their weight for heigh percentile is correct. My DCB is in the 95th for height and 97 for weight, so I don't consider him overweight. But if the percentile a weren't close, then I would think differently.

[TwinKristi]

My DS is 2.25 and he's just 30lbs and in the 70th percentile so he's not on the small side for his age. 30lbs at 1yr would be enormous but 6mos... That's a BIG baby. My twins were 16lbs at 4mos and 18lbs at 6mos (and were HUGE!) but only 21lbs at a year. Once they were mobile they thinned out a lot and grew in height not weight.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Holy cow! My 6-month-old is 14 lbs! That is rather large.

[Scout]

My 2 1/2 yo son is only 25-28 pounds! He has a belly though, which is cute and he grows taller too. Just been stuck on that 5% since 2 mos!! He was exclusively breastfed and began solids at 6 mos and I weaned him at 18 mos from me. He never really enjoyed his bottles so he hasn't had those since 12 mos! That baby is crazy big! Ds still can wear 18 mos pants but, they are finally getting too short! I guess I am on the other sode of the spectrum!! Sometimes I worry but, mostly I don't since he grows inches between visits. I think he will just be buikt like his dad who is thin and tall. He has to grow into the tall though! ::

[drseuss]

I am curious about the weight charts for infants. It seems like I am coming across bigger and bigger babies and at what weight/height proportion is a baby considered too big?

The baby in question (not a current daycare child) was 23 lbs at 4 months and now at 6 months, is almost into 2T clothing and getting close to 30lbs! To me, he just looks really overweight.......

This is just me being curious and no, I am not going to say anything to the mother.

He was an average sized newborn, well under 8lbs and his parents are normal sized as well.

Ya know...I really think that we have become a fat-obsessed society. Yes, we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic. But really, do infants eat themselves to obesity? NO. They do not. I have two children who were both born at very normal, average heights and weights, but who grew very quickly as infants. One was just over eight pounds at birth, and the other was just over seven pounds. By the time they were six months old, they both weighed in at 26 pounds (though they were also on the tall end of the scale for sure). They are now 16 and 13 years old, and both of them are as skinny as the day is long. Their legs are so long and their waists are so thin, that I can hardly find pants to fit them properly. Never once did our pediatrician tell me that there was reason for concern. They were healthy, active, and pudgy babies. Not a big deal, and to me, much better than a sickly baby. Infants bodies are supposed to be pudgier than when they are older. It is that disproportion that makes them so endearing and cute to adults. lovethis

[missy]

Babies all vary so much, it's crazy really. My friend's baby was 22lbs by 6 months and she looked so big that it just didn't look normal. She is already starting to walk some now at 10 months so it doesn't seem to delay her. She is breast fed too!

[Wubby]

My Granddaughter is 7mos. weighs in at 26 lbs and 29 in., wears 18 mos. Yep, she is a chunk a munk. She is breastfed with foods introduced within the last 2 weeks. Her 10 yr old brother is so small, that he was in a 5 point car seat until 2 months before he turned 9 and is still in a booster (probably has at least another yr in it).

[mountainside13]

That does sound like a big baby but how long are they? My daughter is almost 6 and 58 pounds but above the 95% for height! She looks like a stick. My son is 2 and 29 pounds at his last check up and also above 95% for height. He was underweight for a long time after his stomach surgery and finally to were he needs to be for his height. My 17 month old daughter girl is super tiny! Like fragile even! At her 15 month check up she was only 15 pounds and 60% for height. Mom and I think something might be going on with her because she eats more than I do!

[Meyou]

If it's a huge baby but they are eating whole foods with the proper serving size I wouldn't worry at all until they were a little older. A huge baby eating treats, junk and sugar is a worry IMO though.

This is circumstantial evidence but I only watch kids that eat whole foods and I have not had an overweight child in years. They chub up a little sometimes prior to a growth spurt and they are soft and squishy when they are little but there is no obesity.

[Oss_cc]

Babies vary sooo much. That seems huge to me, because my 4 yo DD is only 30 lbs, but my 2 yo DCG weighs more than her and eats very healthy. I think as long as they are eating healthy, whole foods, they tend to puff up then stretch out on repeat.

[Starburst]

My friend is a pediatric np, she said she really believes it's from failing to teach infants to self soothe and popping a bottle (or boob) in their mouth every time they cry.

I think some of it is also that parent's don't realize that since toddlers don't grow as fast as young infants (thus, resulting in slower metabolism and often "picky eaters' who 'eat like birds'). They don't adjust their portion sizes and/or their frequent meal schedules. Which leads parents to being frustrated when toddlers won't eat all their food (that is portioned way to big for their child and more fit for an adult, if not two adults) and also leads to children who are members of the "clean plate" club but are often overweight.