Large Children

Hi there, I too have a big boy, he has always been a big boy since the day he was born. I breastfed as well for the 1st year and he has always been off the charts in both height and weight. He has never been a picky eater and I certainly don't let him eat a lot of junk. He eats a well balanced diet, but I don't want to give him too many restrictions and make food an issue. I was very concerned about his weight for a long time just like you. But I knew in my heart that he was eating healthy and a very active child. The Dr would always mention his weight at his check ups and then go back and review that his growth rates were always the same and he did not ever jump it was a steady climb. This he said was less worrisome then if a child gains a lot of weight over a short period of time. So since he was in the 99th percentile the 3 years before, it is not as alarming as if he jumped from the 80th to the 99th. make any sense, lol. So you really need to talk to her Dr and see what his concerns are. If he feels it is an unhealthy weight he can give you tips to help her grow into it rather then try to loose any. My son is almost 8 and he still is one of the tallest in his class even though he is more then a year younger then some of the boys. It looks like he is starting to shoot up in height and level off in weight. He has grown 2 inches since Jan. but is still the same weight. Small children in general do not loose weight like an adult so even though you have cut back on snacks she would not likely show it on the scale in the short term, but she would be growing taller which would balance off the weight. For your piece of mind try doing a food journal for her for a week. Write down everything including drinks and have this info to show the Dr. I had to do this to prove to myself that my sons constant growth was not because he was eating too many carbs and fat. And once I knew for sure then I was able to let nature takes it course without feeling like I was doing something wrong. My husband is on the shorter side and I am average, but the Ped has now estimated that our son will be in 6'3" range as an adult. Who would have thunk it, lol. Best Wishes. And glad you are addressing your concerns.

My dd is abnormally thin and I get comments about it. Heck, it even seems strange to me sometimes when I look at her, but I was like that as a kid and so was my husband so I kind of shrug my shoulders and say, "Genetics." Some kids are big, just as some kids are small. Most fit into an average range, but neither of mine do. Sometimes I worry that CPS is going to worry that I'm starving them. I hear you about the hot summer. My kids aren't very white, but I can't stand this heat! It will get better.

I guess I just wanted to write and say that you might be doing everything right and I think you're on the right track with investigating the issue with her pedi. I just wanted to offer you some solidarity. And good job with the BFing!

Have you tried tracking all her eating and exercize for two weeks? It's a good tool to show up to the doc's office with. That way s/he can skip the blaming you and assumptions and go into it seeing a good snapshot of how your child actually eats and burns calories, also if you end up going to a pedi nutritionist. A few people just have very slow metabolisms. Good luck to you.

Good for you for addressing this when she is young. The previous posts offer some good thoughts to consider. - If there are thyroid issues in family members, it's worth checking into. Thyroid can be difficult to detect and you may want to learn more about it yourself especially if there are others related to her who have thyroid concerns. I think it's also really important to help her feel supported and that there is nothing 'wrong' with her. Keep it positive and follow through with healthy diets and exercise. Sounds like you're on top of it. Good luck.

Ok your daughter is almost TEN inches taller than the previous post. Just thought I'd point that out. She can't compare her daughers height/weight to yours.

My daughter has always been on the larger side. Right now, she is 8, 54 inches tall and 90 pounds!! It sounds huge I know but honestly she does not look "fat" or overweight. Every kid is different. The women on her Dads side are big women (like 6 foot, 200lbs) I am 5'5 and 140lbs. I think my daughter will be taller than me. I think it's good you have noticed she's a little big and are taking steps to keep her healthy. I am doing the same with my daughter. Just keep her active, limit the snacks and serve healthy meals. That is all you can do.

We're constantly watching this. We cut out the junk (candy, fries, cake, cupcakes, donuts, soda, fast food only once every few weeks, etc) and keep our son running (climbing, walking, swimming, kicking a ball, riding a trike (now a bike)) around. We started him in taekwondo when he was in 2nd grade. He's a black belt now (11 yrs old) and his shoulders are beginning to fill out. His dr says a diet isn't needed (as long as junk is out of the picture), but we need to keep his weight steady as he grows into it.

Amen, Martha. Metabolism is not something we choose. Body type is not something we choose. And even those of us who were lucky to have active metabolisms in youth can find that things change dramatically with age. That's sure been the case with me, and I eat far less now than when I was young and slim.

Eating junk and slacking on exercise certainly can cause weight gain. But they don't cause children to grow unusually tall. Your little girl is an inch taller than my grandson, who is now going on 5 years old and is fairly tall for his age. Ask your pediatrician for his/her recommendations. Further tests may be needed to evaluate your daughter's metabolism.

First I'd like to applaud you for being a good mommy and seaking help for your little girl now. All too often parents worry more about stigma than health and excuse their children's weight instead of doing something about it.

My niece is overweight but it took several years of "she's just genetically bigger... her mom was a big baby... let her be who she is" before she ended up diabetic and on blood pressure medication at age 10! By then, those bad habits (junk food and inactivity) were almost impossible to break.

That said, I think you DEFINITELY need to talk to your pediatrician about her weight. If (s)he doesn't bring it up at the appointment, than you should (although I'd be surprised if the doc doesn't bring it up himself/herself).

To put your daughter's weight into perspective, my son is a year older, two inches taller and weights TEN pounds less than your little girl.

I plugged the information you provided into a childhood bmi calculator and it gives a bmi of 20.2 which is off the charts for children this age. If you look at the growth charts for kids this age, regardless of WHERE kids fall on the chart, the growth lines have kids thinning out pretty consistently between 2 and 5 years old (not losing weight, but weighing less compared to their height). Even at 43 inches (which is very tall for a 3 year old) 53 pounds puts her well into the "overweight" category (average is around 15.5 and 96% of kids are at 18 or below) and the fact that she is bulking up when she should be thinning out makes the weight she's putting on even more of an issue.

Until you talk to the dr., I suggest that you DON'T cut out snacks all together, but instead replace the junk food with fresh fruits or veggies. Going all day on an empty tummy is just going to make her overeat at meal times.

HTH
T.

I cannot speak from experience with my children, but was recently talking with a friend who has a bigger child that is 11. She did say when talking with the pediatrician to do so privately without your child present and not to talk about her weight in front of her. I totally agree. Children will have enough of that in the coming years-they don't need to hear it from mom or doctor. Ask if the nurses could play with her in another room while you speak with the doctor. Most peds should already do this, but some do not, unfortunately. Good luck and I hope you get some reassurance.

I'm sorry if this hurts your feelings, but your daughter does not sound just "large" - she sounds like she is overweight. My daughter just turned 3 and while she is taller than average (around 36 inches) she weighs 33 lb. She still has a little of the "toddler tummy" but that is it - otherwise there is not an ounce of fat on her. When she is thirsty she likes just having plain water and her snacks consist of fresh fruit, veggies, low-fat organic yogurt, etc.

It's great that you are recognizing the problem and have started doing something about it. And certainly I would talk to her doctor about it too. But why did you start letting her have all the junk food snacks in the first place? What are they exactly? What does she drink for milk - is it skim, 1% or whole? How much juice does she get - there are lots of calories in that too. Does she drink soda? Or will she drink just plain water? Will she eat fruit or veggies for a snack? Is she eating anything made with whole grains?

Would you consider signing her up for an activity that gets her to be more physically active on a regular basis? Think gymnastics, karate, soccer, swimming. Keep in mind, she can get all the exercise in the world but if she takes in more calories than she burns, she's going to be overweight.

Again, I apologize if I have come across as too harsh, but this is the sort of thing that gets me highly concerned and I feel very strongly about. I would talk to her pediatrician, ask about thyroid, and see what he/she says.

P.S. I just calculated my daughter's BMI and it came in at 17.0 - right in the normal range. She is not a "swizzle stick" by any means. But being 7 inches taller should NOT translate into being 20 lb heavier! I can't see how she could have put on that much weight just over the summer! I can't see how admittedly letting your daughter eat "junk food" is still having her on a healthy diet! The healthy stuff does not make up for the processed stuff! I know you love your daughter and I know you are a good mom. I know some kids naturally come in all shapes and sizes. I know nobody wants to think they are not doing right by their kids. But if you want your daughter to be the healthiest that she can be, and live a long happy life, and not get diabetes and high blood pressure and heart disease before she is a teenager, you need to be willing to admit that there is a problem and that some things need to change. You sound by posting what you did like you want people to tell you your kid is fine and there is nothing to worry about. That your daughter might have a problem that has nothing to do with what she is eating and instead be blamed on hormones. Again, talk to the pediatrician. Ask about thyroid disease, but also be perfectly honest about what and how much she has been eating, how the food is prepared, and her activity level. Stop making excuses. And stop keeping junk food around - don't even let it into the house.

A few life style changes could bring on big changes gradually. She shouldn't drink anything other than water and skim milk. Don't have anything in the house that is junk food. So no chips, candy, cookies, cake, and junk. Make food that isn't fried. Serve lots of vegetables and smaller portions of lean proteins and whole grain carbs. Put her in gymnastics or tennis. She isn't too young. Go on walks in the evenings when it cools down. Let her run in the sprinkler in the yard (lots of sunblock or uv clothes). And of course talk to your dr. Good luck.

If they cannot find another health reason for the extra weight, try to cut out juice (serve water and milk) and if you do serve juice, dilute it with water, juice has a lot of calories in it. Cut out white bread, and pastas, too. If you do have pasta add lean chicken and make the pasta a side dish, not the main dish. If you serve peanut butter, serve it with apples and celery not on bread. Cut out the hot dogs, bologna, and deli meats that are not lean cut meats. If you can afford one, purchase a Wii Fit or game program so she can play inside, too. Those things burn excess calories. Good luck and best wishes to you.

edited to add, sorry if my post offended you in some way, but they are only suggestions. Take em or leave em.

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My son is the same age as your daughter and he is 42 inches and 43 pounds. I know he is very tall for his age--he is the same height as his 5 year old cousin--and your daugher is even taller than my son! My son has always been in the 90% (or above) for height and weight, and my pediatrician has always told me that according to the "scale" he is considered "obese". If you saw a picture of my son you would laugh and say that he is NOT "obese", because he is almost pure muscle. We also eat a very healthy diet: strict vegetarian with soy milk instead of cow's milk, but we do eat cheese and yogurt, and ice cream on occasion. Even though we eat this healthy, my husband and I are still considered "overweight". It's just ridiculous, because our body types are bigger than the "norm" and because we have very large bone structures, we are considered "fat". My daughter just turned 1, and she is a little chunker. She eats almost the same things we do, but she is just on the heavier side (and she is breastfed 3 times a day). I will do what I can to make sure she eats healthy portions as well as healthy food, and that she is very active, but I think she will struggle with her weight, just like I did. So I have one very lean, musle-toned child (who is considered obese) and one child on the pudgier side. Genetics, what can you do? Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I would just suggest, if you aren't doing it already, giving her skim milk and reduced fat cheese. A max of only 24 ounces of dairy is recommended per day. So for us, we have a glass of soy milk at breakfast and dinner, and either yogurt or a piece of cheese at lunch. We also drink mostly water and I limit my son to one glass of diluted juice per day. I hope this helps and good luck!

I'll be honest, I have nothing to say that will help other than I think you're doing the right thing by talking with her pediatrician. I just wanted to say...WOW! I have been reading through these posts and I'm just beside myself. I think one of the best answers on here is from Martha. I didn't realize how many perfect mothers there were in the world and from reading all of this I'm finding out that I'm just plain terrible. Seems funny though, even though I don't feed my kids "organic" everything, they seem healthy and happy. Their pediatrician doesn't seem concerned with their height and weight at all. I'm not skinny nor have I ever been but I do exercise 4 times a week and eat healthy foods. I was larger as a child and it wasn't just due to what I ate. We grew up eating veggies out of the garden whatever my dad brought home (rabbit, deer, squirrel) because we couldn't afford meat at the grocery store. We did good to have any type of canned goods in the house. I grew up eating healthy and I was very active. It didn't seem to matter. Some kids & people are just bigger. My kids have it better than I did in that aspect. They eat mostly chicken but we do believe in eating beef, pork, deer, and any other meat I feel like cooking. My kids aren't bean poles but they aren't "obese" either. They eat healthy but the occasional pop or "unhealthy, processed snack" isn't going to hurt them either. My kids love going to Sonic and getting corndogs but they want apples insead of french fries. I don't think there is anything wrong with that as long as that's not what they eat everyday. I'm not going to deprive them of what they want just because it's not 100% healthy all the time. Give me a break! They're kids!! Not all children grow and develop at the same rate. I hope you're able to get some answers to your question from your pediatrician.

By the way, NO ONE has the right to call your child FAT! That has got to be one of the most rude and inconsiderate things that I've ever heard. These people don't know you or your situation. They're jumping to conclusions based on what little information is posted on here.

Most kids these days are bigger than average; what is average anymore? She will probably end up being tall! My daughter has been "stocky" since the age of 4, she is 12 now, 5'7" and over 165 pounds. She has the "potbelly" too! Just keep feeding her healthy, when kids are growing, it's hard for them to loose weight. Just keep in mind that you are doing what is right for her, you are giving her fruits and veggies. Meat wouldn't hurt her, protein is good for growing children, but if she won't eat meat just be sure she gets her protein. Keep up the good work, momma!

My daughter is one of those sticks BUT in my family everyone is a tad bit fuller frame... I think healthy eating is important but it is good to always watch it since many of my family has had diabeties, cholesterol and similar issues (these all could have been avoided with healthier eating, being active & listening to the docs, not so much a weighing too much because they were a tad over weight but it was more what was going into their bodies & how their bodies delt with the food).

Just wanted to add my daughter just turned 4 years old and it seems that she is always a size or a size and a half ahead of her age (so now instead of 4T she is into 5T and some 6).

If she is eating healthy that is always a good start, if there does not seem to be a change her behavior (like always wanting food, like she is not getting enough) it might just be her body type. If you are talking to the docs I would ask about thyroid, if your daughter is always craving sugars or food maybe diabetes.

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/usefultools/l/bl_bmi_resul...

I would contact your ped. being overweight as a child this young will put your daughter at risk for lots of things including diabetes. There is no reason to keep your child in doors because of her skin color that's what sunscreen is for. Cut down to skim milk and water. get rid of the sugary juice, cut out the junk and get more active. Your daughter is closer in weight to my almost 9 yr old and he stands 54 inches and weight 65 lbs then my 3.5 year old that is 40 inches and weighs 31 lbs.
edited: hypothyroidism in children does not usually include weight gain for a symptom. symptoms are usually slow growth and delayed tooth development. http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1135/mainpageS113... it sounds to me like her weight problem comes from your lifestyle.
Edit: I am sorry but I am confused you cannot be both healthy and eating junk for snacks! There was a lady w/ a 4 year old on a recent bus trip we took. That 4 year old was very obese and what was this mother feeding her....2 cans of soda, 2 full size bags of frittos, and yoodle! I am sorry if it offends you to be told that yes indeed a child that is 43 inches and is 53 lbs! is fat! My kids are not "swizzle sticks" They have healthy body mass index. Your daughter should weigh 44lbs or less to fall in the healthy range. I don't know what type of health class you took but fruits are also loaded w/ sugar! If she doesn't eat meat she isn't getting protein you call that eating healthy? I sure don't. A 3 year old shouldn't have rolls that is not "keeping her healthy" It really makes me sick to see young kids that are obese. Sure there are some that have underlying REAL medical issues that make them put on weight more easily but 53lbs didn't happen overnight you should have done something along time ago!

My daughter is very similar. I'm "big boned" and her daddy is tall and barrel-chested. At almost 7 years old she is struggling to maintain 70-75 pounds. She's the tallest in her class, and she's thick but not really fat unless you compare her to a toothpick kid. She eats breakfast and lunch at school, plus a semi-healthy snack with water. Being in Mississippi, her school lunches are pretty healthy, because they cracked down on heath at school since MS is considered a very obese state in general. When she gets home, she may or may not have a snack or dessert after supper depending on her behavior at school. We have a sensible supper, but we're from the south so we eat heavier than just steamed veggies and fish steak lol. I try to encourage plenty of water. Even juices have a lot of sugar so we watch that too. I really try to give her lesser portions and more water to fill her up. The dr. says to not make her lose weight but to maintain so she will grow into her weight. She has gained a few inches in height and has not had to have new clothes in a whole year. She checks her own weight and is proud for not gaining...kind of a diligent mini-goal for herself.

I am not sure when they will test for thyroid and such, but my daughter is too a bigger girl. She is 10 and wears 14 in girls or 3 in jrs. She went threw a growth spurt when she was 5/6. My daughter was very tiny up until then and I dont know what happened. My daughter eats very healthy. I believe she started growing more after her tonsils and adnoid were taken out. As long as she stays consistant on the growth chart they may not worry. My son on the other hand has started out tiny and has stayed that way and he is 4. My nieces are 10 as well and bigger then my daughter. I cant believe what the first poster posted. She should be ashamed of herself! Please let us know what the doctor says!