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Should I be worried a out my 13 month olds weight?

41 replies

HowManyDucks · 20/04/2025 07:04

Born 50th percentile. Exclusively breastfed and shot quickly up percentile charts for both height and weight. She was last measured at 95th for height and 95th for weight.

Some days she looks in proportion, other days she looks very chunky (enough for me to quietly worry).

She always really well. Never had added sugar or processed foods. A typical days eating would look something like

Breakfast
1 Weetabix + semi skimmed milk, 1/3 banana. (She would eat perhaps 3/4)

Lunch
1/4 tin of Mackerel (in water), cooked carrots, 1 strawberry. Maybe some plain full fat yogurt.
OR
Avocado on half slice of wholemeal toast plus a couple of cherry tomatoes, a couple of pieces of mango

Dinner
2 large tbsp of whatever I'm having.
Eg. Butterbeans, courgette, broccoli, olive oil
Yesterday we had mushrooms, peppers courgette, spinach, tomatoes and chickpeas
(She ate about 3/4)

I think her diet is pretty good but she is a milk fiend. She has started asking for milk a lot during the day and at night (still breastfeeding). I offer her water throughout the day so I think it's comfort rather than thirst.

She is a confident walker. We go for a walk every day altogether. And we go to at least one park every day. At home she mostly likes to sit and read or play with puzzles. Except for the hour before bed where she essentially breakdances on the floor and wriggles around until she is pink cheeked.

She is in age 12-18 month clothes which fit her length wise and width wise but there is still some room for growth. She is a lot chunkier than all other babies her age.

HV isnt great and didn't comment.

I don't want to be that parent in denial. Should I be concerned? Does that sound pretty normal for a 13 month old?

OP posts:
DuckEgg24 · 20/04/2025 07:39

HowManyDucks · 20/04/2025 07:15

Thank you for the reassuring comments! I felt so much guilt looking at her a couple of days ago wearing a dress which made her look particularly big (she appeared in proportion again that evening in her pjs!).

My worries were portion size and whether I am giving her too much milk. She was starting to drink less and now suddenly wants it a lot!

Growth spurt coming up … also it’s fine to feed for comfort at a year old. Try not to worry.

Strictlymad · 20/04/2025 07:38

My ebf daughter was born on the 9th centile and grew to the 98th! The rolls had rolls lol! She’s now a stick thin 6 year old. I woke in hv team, she sounds absolutely perfect!

DonningMyHardHat · 20/04/2025 07:34

I would increase her food intake slightly. Add some more protein and fats, and a couple of healthy snacks. She’ll probably start to reduce her milk intake then.

That being said, she’s perfectly in proportion.

BunnyRuddington · 20/04/2025 07:33

HowManyDucks · 20/04/2025 07:15

Thank you for the reassuring comments! I felt so much guilt looking at her a couple of days ago wearing a dress which made her look particularly big (she appeared in proportion again that evening in her pjs!).

My worries were portion size and whether I am giving her too much milk. She was starting to drink less and now suddenly wants it a lot!

There’s a good guide from the Caroline Walker Trust that covers portion sizes and sample menus Easter Smile

Fly1ngG1raffe · 20/04/2025 07:32

If anything sounds like her portion sizes are small and she’s filling up on milk still. The balance will shift naturally. What do you propose to do differently? Refuse milk? Reduce portions further? Just let her grow.

TeddyBeans · 20/04/2025 07:29

DD was a chunky baby (admittedly not as chunky as yours) but as she's got mobile and become a ridiculously nosy toddler, the chunk has melted right off her. She has a one little fat roll left on her thighs and I'll be sad when that fades too.

Your DD sounds perfect and potentially like she's having a growth spurt ❤️

Inarutinarut · 20/04/2025 07:25

She should br having two snacks a day. She will probably start reducing her milk in take when she has snacks.

GivingUpFinally · 20/04/2025 07:23

Babies aren't meant to be chunky. It gives them reserves if they fall ill. I've explained that badly but according to my grandma that's how it should be. I'm sure a quick Google will give you the ins and outs properly though.

I've had a very lanky skinny baby not an extra ounce of fat. And a very chunky one. The skinny kid is still a skinny kid always 99.8 centile for height and 2nd centile for weight. GP has reassured us that dc is healthy.

The chunk, is now slimming out massively and gaining height at almost 2. Once they really start climbing, running and being full on it does just fall off.

Yours sounds like she is just a healthy baby. Keep going she will end up being who she is meant to be.

modgepodge · 20/04/2025 07:17

She’s in clothes for the right age with growing room so that sounds like she’s the right size?

my son is also 13m. He is nearly out of 12-18 clothes, mostly on height. He eats a LOT more than your daughter (and still breastfeeds a few times a day!) He does look a bit of a chunky monkey but not health professional has ever been concerned.

HowManyDucks · 20/04/2025 07:15

Thank you for the reassuring comments! I felt so much guilt looking at her a couple of days ago wearing a dress which made her look particularly big (she appeared in proportion again that evening in her pjs!).

My worries were portion size and whether I am giving her too much milk. She was starting to drink less and now suddenly wants it a lot!

OP posts:
bigknitblanket · 20/04/2025 07:11

If she’s on the same percentile for height and weight, she’s in proportion. Please don’t worry.

BunnyRuddington · 20/04/2025 07:10

Sounds perfectly in proportion. My Dn was always on the 98th for both for many years. She’s now a tall, slim and healthy teen.

Inmydreams88 · 20/04/2025 07:09

My 15 month old eats SO much more than that.

Fourteenandahalf · 20/04/2025 07:09

She's still a baby. You don't need to worry about this. Sounds like she's doing great, and so are you.

TinySaltLick · 20/04/2025 07:08

Doesn't sound like anything to worry about whatsoever, if anything I think you are doing a particularly brilliant job!

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 20/04/2025 07:06

She sounds perfect!