Heavy toddler

[Rooster30]

Hi all, I'm probably panicking over nothing but my little girl is quite heavy! She weighs just under 30lb and she is 20 months old. She plots between 91-98th percentile. She was born on the 75th and creeped up to the 91-98th at 10 months old and seems to have stayed there.

I know I am probably panicking over nothing - especially since her height is also on the 91st so she is proportioned, I just don't understand why she is so heavy? She snacks approximately 2 times a days on small amounts of cucumber sticks and raw carrots sticks and a final 4pm fruit snack (half an apple that she doesn't eat all off, a few halved grapes and few raspberries. She has two Weetabix fingers at breakfast occasionally followed by a banana. Toast for lunch (she's rarely bothered by lunch though) and something homemade for dinner. She only drinks water with an occasional milk before bed but that isn't everyday. She doesn't sound over fed does she? Also she goes to Tumble Tots every week, and soft play and have now started taking her for walks for more exercise.

By this age my son had really slimmed out by this age so just a bit confused as to why my children are little and large?!

Sorry, I suffer from anxiety so probably wound up over nothing.

 

[tinselcat]

If her height & weight match percentile wise, and she's not changed percentiles recently then I don't think there's anything to worry about - some children are just larger!

My son is at the other end, think he's just dropped below 9th percentile His 12-18 month trousers (that used to fit) kept falling down at nursery last week & he's just turned two.

 

[Rooster30]

My son is tiny too. He's four and wears 2-3 and only moved from 18-24 not too long ago. My daughter is now moving into 2-3. Argh. I'm just confused as to why one of my children is small and one is large.

 

[babybee]

If it's any help my eldest is very tall and heavy and at the age of 2 was on the 99th centile for both weight and height. Now at the age of 4 she's on the 99th for height still but gone down to the75th for weight. She eats like a horse but also walks everywhere so I think she slimmed down a bit.

My youngest is the opposite, she's 2 years 2 months and short and stout! She's 75th for weight and 50th for height. She's started walking more and I can see she's slimmed down a bit too.

I wouldn't worry, your daughter sounds perfectly proportioned!!x

 

[Rooster30]

Thanks for that. That does make me feel a bit better. I think I'd be less bothered if she were on the 75th as I'd never expect her to be a dainty little thing. She takes after my OH sisters who aren't big by any stretch but they are sturdy in their build and tall and I think my daughter will follow suit. I had just hoped she'd have slimmed out a bit more by now. Hopefully once she starts preschool and the more active I keep her she'll eventually slim out a bit.

In my red book it says that it is okay to give semi-skimmed milk from 24 months, I'm considering starting it from next month... it wouldn't be too detrimental to her health putting her on semi-skinned a few months early would it?

 

[Rose83]

My daughter is 24 months and weighs about 28lbs I think (2 stone). She is 87cm tall. She is 75th for weight but 98th for head so basically she has always had a bit of a bobble head but she is quite slender generally and she eats way more than your little girl so it must just be how they are made! To me it sounds like your little girl is eating a very healthy diet in suitable portions so I wouldn't worry at all X

 

[JD.Deedee]

Maybe she gains a lil weight and she's about to have a grow spurt? Also there's nothing wrong with whole milk, it's healthy fats in milk and fat keeps nourishment for longer.

 

[babybee]

My eldest was under consultant care and she saw a pediatric dietician every now and again. I asked them about the milk thing and they said if she was having milk as a drink quite regularly then switch to semi skimmed. If she just had a beaker a day or just in cooking then full fat didn't make a difference. She hated milk other than breastmilk so when I stopped feeding her at around 16 months she only had milk in her food. Another thing they said was if she was a fussy eater (which she was from 17 months to 3 years) to definitely stick to full fat milk.x

 

[tinselcat]

What I can't quite understand is why you want your one/two year old to slim down? She sounds healthy

This is an important time for nutrition laying down the foundation of a strong and healthy body, personally I wouldn't switch from a nutrient-rich drink to something else at this stage. If she was gobbling down junk food there would be an obvious solution but sounds like she is eating well

I could be totally misinterpreting here but IMO there's enough pressure from the media for women and teenagers to be slim without us passing on that mindset to our babies while they're still in their nappies

 

[Rooster30]

I love her bits. I was just worried that she was 'over weight' in an unhealthy way. When I said 'slimmed out' I meant in the natural developmental way that babies transition to toddlers, they naturally lose some of the baby weight and I had (probably incorrectly) expected that stage to have started by now. I'm certainly not saying this to my little girl that would just be horrible All I want is to have her happy and healthy ultimately - don't we all? Trust me, she is one well loved and extremely doted on little lady.

I will keep on with the full fat milk for sure as she only has it with breakfast and the odd cup before bed every now and then. I need it for my son anyway who is the polar opposite of her.

 

[JD.Deedee]

I know what you mean about the slimming out tho, if it helps my son didn't start doing so until he was about three ish rather than near two x

 

[tinselcat]

I am sure she is a happy & much loved little girl Rooster xxx