Everyone adores well fed babies with their little rolls of flesh. But is plumpness healthy and how do you know if your baby is too heavy?
The obesity time-bomb
We seem to have a funny affair with food in the West. On the one hand, newspapers are full of worrying stories about girls as young as eight years old becoming anorexic. On the other, since the mid-1990s, the number of children classified as obese has doubled, with even two-year-olds falling victim to weight problems.
Recently, we conducted a babyworld poll to gauge your thoughts on who is responsible for your child’s weight – you, as parents; the government; or a combined effort between the two. An overwhelming majority (84%) said parents were ultimately responsible for their child’s health, while a mere 15% thought it was a joint responsibility between themselves and the government. Only one per cent said it was entirely the government’s task, so what are we doing wrong as parents to cause such a potential health risk to our children?
The rise in obesity can be attributed to several main factors. First of all, our diets these days are higher in sodium, saturated fat and sugar. The popularity of ready meals and take-away meals means we are eating food that is usually highly processed, with little nutritional value. While these are fine as occasional treats, we are consuming them too frequently than is good for us. Secondly, we have very sedentary lifestyles compared to our parents or their parents. We drive nearly everywhere and computer games and televisions have replaced outdoor pursuits. Thirdly, children are constantly being bombarded with adverts for junk foods when they watch their favourite shows or cartoons. They make snacks high in fat and sugar seem much more exciting than ordinary ‘healthy’ food. Think about it – when was the last time you saw a fun advert for a carrot?!
While obesity is definitely a potential health disaster waiting to happen, there are things we can do as parents to make sure our children, and our entire family, are fit, healthy and happy.
Gene Genie
The average birth weight for babies in the UK is 7.5lbs but this of course varies a great deal, and healthy babies come in all shapes and sizes. A petite girl weighing in at 3kg (6.5lbs) will be as healthy and robust as a bigger boy at 4kg (9lbs). There are, however, several factors that can help determine how large or small your newborn will be at birth.
Genes – birth weight is determined, to a certain extent, by you and your partner’s genetic make-up. Large parents tend to have large babies, small parents, smaller babies. If you are petite and your partner is big then nature fortunately tends to err on the small side to help facilitate an easier labour! Your own birth weight will also have an influence on that of your child – if you weighed in at 3kg chances are your baby will be of a similar weight too.
Diet – also contributes towards your baby’s weight – and of course your own! If you eat too little or not enough of the right sort of food, your baby probably will be on the small side. If you eat too much, you’ll probably produce a heavy baby, although if the weight you gain is mainly from junk food it’s more likely that you will weigh a lot more after the birth but your baby will be quite small. A mother’s pre-pregnancy weight will also influence the child’s weight – a heavy mother often leads to a heavy baby.
Bonny babies
A plump baby is normally not a matter of concern for doctors and health visitors because it has been shown that an increase in fat cells in infancy does not necessarily mean obesity later on in life. According to the authors of What to Expect – the first year, only one in five fat babies will become fat adults.
Before you start stressing about how heavy your baby is, talk about her weight with your doctor or health visitor, who will be able to tell you if you have cause for concern. Babies do tend to shed the extra pounds as they get more active but, to help keep weight to a healthy level, you could try the following.
Feed when hungry
It may sound obvious but only offer food when your child is hungry, not to meet other needs. The authors of What to Expect – the first year warn us that: ‘A baby who’s fed for all the wrong reasons (when she’s hurt or unhappy, when she’s bored in the pushchair) will continue to demand food for the wrong reasons and, as an adult, will eat for the same wrong reasons.’
Breasts and bottles
It’s acknowledged that breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight than bottle fed ones because breast milk automatically adapts to the baby’s needs. The lower-fat, lower-calorie ‘fore’ milk encourages your baby to feed, while the higher-fat, higher-calorie ‘hind’ milk at the end of a feed dampens your baby’s appetite, telling them that they are full. Formulas cannot work in the same way so if your baby seems to be piling on the pounds excessively your doctor might recommend a lower-calorie brand.
However, if a change is to be made only do this on your doctor’s recommendation. It is also extremely important not to over- or under-dilute the formula as this interferes with its nutritional value.
Water is excellent for babies who seem to want to suck for the sake of it. Instead of letting them drink milk, when they are really full, offer water instead. This will satisfy the urge to suck without the calories, and will satisfy a baby who’s actually thirsty rather than hungry between feeds.
Beware early weaning
It’s a common misconception that, by starting weaning early, you’ll make your child sleep through the night. Not only is this untrue but it can also lead to weight problems. The current weaning guidelines recommend that you begin the process at six months, but all babies differ and it is wise to discuss when your baby is ready with your health visitor.
Moderate amounts of milk
When your baby reaches her first birthday she will probably make the switch over to cow’s milk. Whole milk is recommended by doctors, as toddlers need the extra fat and cholesterol it contains for brain and nervous system development until the age of two. Some doctors might suggest your child switch to skimmed milk at 18 months but you should not offer this without medical approval as skimmed milk contains too much sodium and protein content for infants.
Do get a complex
Carbohydrates often get a bad press but they are not all the same. Complex carbohydrates, such as wholegrain bread, rice, pasta and cereals, peas, beans, fruits and vegetables, are packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre. The baddies are the refined versions – white bread, rice, pasta etc, which have all the calories without much of the benefit.
Sweet nothings
Sugar is nothing but empty calories and causes tooth decay and weight gain. It can lead to diabetes and may even be linked with hyperactivity in children, although this has not yet been proven. Most children love sweet things and the occasional treat won’t hurt. But, if offered in excess, children will probably crave sweet things later on.
If your child has a particularly sweet tooth, try offering them fruit instead of biscuits. Most babies and toddlers love fruit and the summer spoils us for choice, with fresh berries and melons in the shops. You can make it even more fun by picking your own at one of the local farm shops – that way you’ll get fresh air and exercise too! You can also buy goodies such as cakes and biscuits sweetened with fruit juice, which make a healthy alternative to their sugar-laden cousins.
Toddlers are bound to get peckish between meals, especially if they are ‘grazers’. Fruit is always a popular choice, as is wholemeal bread (without the butter), raisins, rice crackers or salad sticks, such as carrots, celery or cucumber. Don’t resort to bribery
We all know how tempting it is to use the threat of no pudding if your child won’t eat their greens. Yet, according to childcare guru Dr Benjamin Spock, this doesn’t help you or child in the long run. By giving a prize of a sweet cake as a reward for eating a dull piece of broccoli, you are reinforcing an idea of vegetables as being things to be endured, not enjoyed. Celebrate all types of food to reinforce positive eating habits.
Get moving!
Exercise is a great way to burn off fat and have fun. If your baby isn’t crawling or walking yet, there are still things you can do. Lay them on their tummy for a different view of the world. Lay them on their back, with a toy to their side, to encourage them to roll over. Hold your baby with their feet just touching your lap to encourage them to start bouncing their legs. You could take this a step further by buying or borrowing a door bouncer, which most babies think are amazing fun (just try taking them out again!).
Older babies who can crawl or walk will naturally become more active, moving at break-neck speed around the house. Once your baby becomes more proficient, a little stroll down the road or around the local park will stimulate both body and mind. As your child gets older, you can start becoming more active – kicking and chasing footballs, swimming, etc. Exercise needn’t be boring – in fact it makes you feel so good you’ll really miss it if you’re stuck in for a day!
A health visitor says …
Ann Girling, health visitor, has the following advice for parents concerned about their baby’s weight.
‘There is no ideal weight for babies and children. The centile charts in their records show the range of weights and these are dependent on height and, in particular, their parents’ size. However, I think a huge amount of anxiety is raised by overuse of these charts.
It’s never too young to start healthy eating habits. As soon as you start giving babies solids, cook your own fruit and veg and freeze it in ice cube trays to make the most of time. Babies may spit it out at first but be patient and persevere.
Make meal times fun and don’t let it become a battle ground. Toddlers in particular
will pick up on your anxiety and take charge by refusing to sit in the
highchair and insisting on walking around as they are being fed etc! So
use the same principles as for other behaviour difficulties and ignore
bad behaviour. They don’t have to empty the plate but they should at least
make an effort!
by Sam Pope
