Why Are Babies Fat? Here Are Four Amazing Reasons
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“I love chubby kids!” You are probably like one of those people who can’t help but adore babies with fat faces and red rosy cheeks. Like most moms, I was completely all over my baby. The rolls on his arms made me want to squeeze them every day. His cute fat thighs were to die for as well. But, why are babies fat?
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Is It Normal for Babies to Be Fat?
When my son was around four months old, my friends, relatives, and even strangers always had something to say about his weight. I was just all smiles because I knew my son surely looked cute.
The weighing scales never bothered me at all because I was engrossed in the idea that my son’s a baby and chunky rolls on arms are pretty normal. What never dawned on me is the fact that when a baby is fat, and his weight is not proportioned to his size and age, he could be a candidate for obesity.
You might ask: "Why are some babies fatter than others? To answer this question, there are a lot of factors to consider including maternal nutrition, genetics, and maternal disorders. According to some experts, nutrition is the most significant indicator in fat babies. When the baby was still in your belly, he relied on you for his needs. So, when mothers do not receive the right nutrition, they tend to have smaller babies.
On the other hand, when mothers consume excessive foods, this leads to having bigger babies. Simply put, your child’s body mass index and weight gain influence his body size. Moreover, mothers who take prohibited drugs or smoke cigarettes are more likely to have children with low birth weight.
Why Are Babies Fat?
Kids are fat for no reasons. Experts suggest that babies are big because of reasons such as their body structure being wired that way, milk, overfeeding, and health condition.
Body Structure
Experts say babies are a little bit chunky because that is exactly how their bodies are wired. Fats are what they have in their bodies. One of the things you can observe on the baby is the protruding stomach.
My baby had a huge protruding stomach during the fourth month. Our pediatrician suggests that a stomach protrusion is mainly caused by low muscle tone in the tummy. Nevertheless, as babies grow older, their muscle tone in the stomach improves and becomes flatter.
Milk
When your baby’s tummy sticks out, it does not necessarily mean they are fat. It is simply just how kids’ bodies are structured. Our little ones are usually fed with breast milk or formula because they are rich in fats.
Babies need fats from the milk they drink because that helps them in their brain development. For this reason, most experts suggest feeding your baby with whole milk after he is done with bottle feeding or breastfeeding until he reaches two years old so that they obtain that fat from the milk, which is essential in helping his brain achieve complete development.
Overfeeding
I understand how awful it feels each time our babies cry. But for some parents, grandparents, babysitters, and caregivers, they sometimes interpret the crying as the baby being hungry and needing some feeding time. When you misinterpret his crying all the time, you are likely going to end up breastfeeding your baby.
At times, we need to be aware that a baby’s cry can mean he needs his pacifier, or he needs his diaper to be changed, or your baby only wants to be held. Food is love, but when you overfeed your baby, the risk of obesity also escalates.
Health Condition
When was the last time you visited your pediatrician and had your baby’s weight and height measured? If you haven’t, discuss with your pediatrician and monitor your little one’s growth curve. This will show the weight and height measurement of the baby.
When both the height and weight are congruent to each other, it means that the baby’s size is average for his height and weight. Simply put, there is proportionality. When you find out that your little one is not growing taller despite feeding him well, experts suggest taking note of his body structure. Is he growing wider instead? If yes, this is something to be concerned about because that can be a sign of hypothyroidism.
There are other maternal disorders that can impact your baby’s development before birth. One of these disorders is diabetes. Whether it is type 1 or type 2, diabetes can affect your newborn’s weight in various cases. Babies with diabetic moms weigh heavier compared to other babies due to the higher glucose level in their bloodstream.
On the other hand, mothers with hypertension and cardiovascular disease are more likely to have babies with low birth weight. For this reason, we are encouraged to visit the doctor frequently to pick up things that can be abnormal, such as a growth curve that is out of place, or improper feeding habits.
What Experts Have to Say
If your baby is chubby, don’t freak out. It’s pretty normal. As they begin to crawl, become toddlers, and walk, they also start to burn off a greater amount of calories. Breast milk is the best nutrition for your baby because it protects him against obesity.
Aside from protection against obesity, breastfeeding also works best in making the immune system stronger. With that said, you can feed your baby with formula, and he will still be slim as he becomes an adult.
The primary secret tactic here is to give your child the right quantity of milk. The next time you visit your pediatrician, try to ask how much breast feeding or how much formula should your baby be getting. Also, ask what other nutrients are best to add to your baby’s diet.
Final Words
Experts say there is a fine line between being fat and obesity. For the most part, it is normal for babies to be fat. Factors such as milk, maternal health condition, and body structure contribute to your baby’s weight. However, when babies do not grow tall, and instead they grow wide, this can be a cause for concern. A visit to the pediatrician can determine any potential problem such as hypothyroidism.
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