Toddlers' bellies - what's normal?

[catchafox]

My 2.5 DS is fairly short for his age. He often fits into smaller clothes but I've noticed that his belly is pretty big. I know toddlers have big bellies, but when is it an issue? He's recently potty trained, but until then had the same size nappy for over 14 months so it's not like he's piling on pounds anywhere else. Just the belly - which gets bigger over the course of the day!

I don't monitor his food intake - he eats well some days, less so other days, but he has a good, healthy diet a lot of the time and some treats.

[maja00]

Is it quite bloated? I know babies/younger toddlers have pot bellies but I don't think my (average weight/height) DS had one at 2.5. He's 2.11 now and looks quite skinny.

[catchafox]

I don't know if it's bloated. He's definitely not constipated.

[Quangle]

My DS (now nearly 4) has a belly that goes up and down by several inches in a day. By bedtime it's really quite large - and often hard. In the morning it's flat again. I think it's normal for him iyswim. But if it doesn't go down overnight, you might want to mention it to a dr and get them to palpate the stomach.

[sarahloula]

My dd is 2, thin everywhere else, eats healthy, not constipated but does have a pot bell..,think it's normal.

[KnittedWaffle]

General rule of thumb is they grow outwards, then upwards!

DD (4) is less noticeable but DS1 (2) gets a big belly then goes through an upwards growth spurt. He's pretty average and I'm not too worried. I'd only get worried if it got bigger and bigger and didn't go down again!

[NarkyNamechanger]

Isn't it because the liver is so large in comparison at this age?

[Carly3869]

I read somewhere that they can have large bellies until they are around 4 as they are so small and there's not enough room for their organs! They then get taller and slim down! My little one is nearly 3 and has one that goes up and down, that he rubs!!

[PoppyWearer]

I've seen it with my DC1 and her school friends in Reception class this year, at some point age 4-5 they all shoot up in height and slim down, and the bellies disappear.

[Snowgirl1]

I also read somewhere that young children have pot bellies as their stomach muscles don't get stronger until later, so everything bulges out.