[Fran27]

I guess my mom's comments got to me...

DS was always a chubby baby. The weird thing is that he was always around 50% for length but 40ish for weight, but he was just chubby. At our last appointment 2 months ago he hadn't put on much weight at all, putting him in the 30ish percentile... at 21lbs and 14 oz (and he was weighed twice!).

The thing is, he still looks chubby, even though he's slimmed down a lot. So nobody believes me when I say he was not even 22lbs last time... People think he must be over 25lbs and unless the doctor scale was really wrong, I really don't think it's the case.

He's 17 months now... and my mom keeps telling me I have to be careful or he's going to be obese... When should I start getting worried?

His sister eats more than him and still is in the 5% percentile... lol.

This is the best picture I could find (he's on the left)... it's a month old but he looks about the same now (can't see the rolls on his arms but it gives an idea).

Just looking for some reassurance that chubby babies don't always turn into chubby kids...

[fisbaby]

I wouldn't have said he was chubby AT ALL from looking at that pic. Honestly, big babies don't worry me at all, I think they're cute! Plus I really don't believe all the hub bub about big babies becoming obese!

[crick]

Fran...tell your momma "Thanks for the opinion, but it's really not necessary."

I agree with the poster above...I do not see a chub at all!! I see a healthy cute little boy!

My youngest 2 were chubby at ages 2 & 3 and now at 9 & 10, I wish they had some more chubbiness! My goodness, but skinny! LOL! And yes...they eat a ton!

Personally I would not worry about their weight at all and as long as they are eating well as they grow and get in activity, they'll be fine. With my kids I noticed certain ages where they seemed to be more chubby than usual and then they of course get a growth spurt and bam! Kids change sizes all the time, imo. My doc always just makes sure they are eating well, staying away from a consistent "diet" of sugar/junk and really emphasizes physical activity.

[mommamarci]

Ummm, your mom should come on over to my house, because those are skinny babies! Mine are way bigger! Both my boys have always been at least 75th percentile for weight. I was told as long as height and weight are similar percentages, they are good!

[Stormster]

my god daughter was a tad chunky. She's slimmed out since. My best friend's step mother said one day

"she looks good! she lost weight!"

ABOUT A 2 YEAR OLD. My friend and i thought THAT was obscene.

As long as he is eating healthy and moving I say shhhhhhh to the people who probably have weight issues themselves!!!!

[thanksgivingmom]

Aw, he looks just right to me!

[oceanica]

first of all he does NOT look chubby!
Secondly I love the chubby ones!! If they are a little chubby at least you know they are getting enough calories/nutrition.
And let me add that he is COMPLETELY adorable!

[mommytoEli]

my baby A is 20 months...and he is the same way. he LOOKS chunky...big ole belly, huge bootie, chunky chunky. but somehow he was recently 25% weight....75% height. the dr even said he'd be "concerned" A was so underweight, but he's always been on the low end...so tall and lean... so it is ok. dh and i laugh and laugh that they are "worried" when he obviously has some meat on his bones. i think those charts are stupid. they don't really tell you if your baby is HEALTHY, they tell you where your baby is in relation to other babies....all i have to say is if my chunky healthy baby is "underweight" and 75% of kids his age are bigger than he is...then there are some fat babies out there that i have yet to meet. lol. dumb chart. and really....it could mean that those 75% of babies fatter than my kid are 1/4 pound bigger than A. again, the chart is dumb. forget it. worry about if they are healthy. the rest let it go. your babies are beautiful and look like they are a very healthy weight for a baby. i have never in the [ast made an issue about my babies- whether chunky or slender, because they change so rapidly. i feed them the healthiest diet i can, make sure they get plenty of time to run around and play, and all of them have grown up to be a VERY healthy weight and very healthy eaters.

[CaddoRose]

My two yr is in the 50th% for weight and height and she has that rounded toddler look too. Personally I think that skinny skinny babies and toddlers look frail. Unless the Dr says there's a problem, don't worry about it. Obesity is something entirely different than what your child looks like. People often comment on DD that she seems big for her age, but if you put her next to other two yr olds, she seems smaller.

[emtb79]

He doesnt look chubby in the least. He just looks like he is more full in the face than his sister. But I dont think you have anything to worry about and oh by the way its they are really growing.

[Fran27]

Thanks everyone... I always thought he was fine (and I love his rolls, lol), but sometimes you can't help wondering...

[Barksum]

I've looked at your pic over and over...no chunky baby there!! My sister's kids all looked like the Michelin Man and they grew up to be slender - except for one who has PCOS and just found out so now her weight is getting straightened out. Is your pediatrician concerned? (If s/he is with your Ds at the 30% I'd be looking around for a new p-doc!)

I like the suggestion to let you mom know that you'll take her comments under advisement. Then you can carefully file them far, far away. Like in the round file or something.

One of mine gave the impression of 'bulk', but wasn't chunky. I remember my caseworker looking at his ribs when I changed his diaper and saying, "Oh! He really ISN'T chunky at all, is he?" Nope. He's just got a stocky build. Seriously! You could see his ribs and there was NO chunk at all.

Babies have baby fat for a reason. It's important for them to have some 'chub' to grow with. When a baby has little/no fat is when people should be concerned. One of my foster babies had very little fat. It was awful. His hair was like straw, you could see the bones in his skull, there was no fat in his cheeks, all his joints stuck out...it was really horrific. I'm always happy to see a baby with plump cheeks and whose joints aren't sticking out.

So, REJOICE in your healthy baby!!

[sparkle1908]

Nothing to say except cute babies!!!!!

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by Fran27

The thing is, he still looks chubby, even though he's slimmed down a lot. ...

I don't think he looks chubby at all. He's adorable.

Now, my niece and god-daughter, Jayne is a chunky baby. She only drinks formula and she doesn't over-eat but boy is she huge! More rolls than the Michelin man. My mother keeps making comments to my brother than she will become a fat child. However, the doctor said she's healthy.

Check out her thighs!! We laugh because she's too fat to sit in a Bumbo. Her little thighs get stuck.

[Magic_Hat]

They are SO cute!

Chubby is such a relative term. Maybe I can't see it in the pic but I wouldn't really call that chubby. His cheeks are full.

It's weird, my daughter is 50th %ile for height and weight but many 2T clothes are too long and big for her (she's 26 mos). Next to some other 2 year olds, she looks tiny as far as her frame goes but she also looks chubbier than some other 2 year olds. I guess it's just all in comparison.