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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Worried my 2.5 year old is overweight?

125 replies

Snaggysnoo · 07/04/2021 13:01

He’s 2 stone 11 pounds. He’s quite tall for his age too and most people think he’s 3. He wears size 3-4 clothes.

OP posts:

berryhead2013 · 07/04/2021 20:05

My just turned 5 year old is in 6-7 clothes he is gonna be a big lad don't worrry it all evens out sometimes they chunk up before a growth spurt as long as you are not feeding him crap and keeping him active don't make it an issue I bet he gives great big squeezy hugs ❤️

Siennabear · 07/04/2021 20:06

My 5 year old weighs 3 stone and is 120cm.

I do think he looks overweight, BUT if you say he eats healthy and is always on the go then what can you do? That must be the way he is made... children have lots of growth spurts and he is still only 2. Speak to your health visitor about healthy eating if you are concerned.

Kitkatchunkyplease · 07/04/2021 20:07

My dd is the same, even though she has been on the 99.6 centile since birth. Uncertain what I'm meant to do about that. It was fine as a baby that she tracked the line but now she is 2 it is not fine? Hoping she just evens out... No advice but interested in responses!

dchange · 07/04/2021 20:10

Concerned people are saying track his food at 2. My 5 year old was chunky baby and toddler. However, she loves her sports and being active that she is slender now. I will say just get him involved in sports. Can start with swimming and when older football.

All the best but I won't want you to be worrying about his weight at this age though

Original poster

Snaggysnoo · 07/04/2021 21:14

Thanks everyone. I just feel like a bit of a failure.

OP posts:

Giraffe888 · 07/04/2021 21:18

@Snaggysnoo I hate that you feel like you do. I don’t think he looks overweight at all! It doesn’t sound like he eats much and is active. You’re certainly not a failure and there’s nothing you should be doing differently. If your HV wasn’t concerned then you’ve no reason to be either x

Porkchops22 · 07/04/2021 21:19

I don't know what other people are looking at because he doesn't look overweight at all.
He's eating well. I wouldn't worry.

Chickenlickeninthepot · 07/04/2021 21:31

I wouldn't worry, I've got a big 3yo - over the 90th for both height & weight (and always has been). Incredibly active, doesn't eat loads, certainly doesn't eat much in the way of junk food, only drinks water, all his trousers hang off him because he's got no bum but he weighs heavy. He's got exactly the same body shape as his dad who is broad and tall but lean. What I have noticed is since he's been around 3 how little weight he's put on but he's definitely grown a few inches - it's like he's growing into his body.

GoToSleepBabyPlease · 07/04/2021 21:36

@Snaggysnoo

Thanks everyone. I just feel like a bit of a failure.

Why? You don't even know if there's a problem yet!

firstevernamechange · 07/04/2021 21:42

Hi Snaggy, if you are concerned you should probably take him to the GP. They will be able to look at the numbers if his general physique and can advice you where to make changes if they are actually needed.

Sprintfinish · 07/04/2021 21:50

@Snaggysnoo please don't feel bad, what a frenzy of negative comments you've had! Your boy looks fine to me and from diet and exercise you describe why anyone thinks he's overweight I can't fathom!

I have a 2yo who is 2st 5lbs and 94cm. He eats everything going at mealtimes but rarely sits still. His idea of a snack is a plain rice cake or fruit. He's never had any confectionery and only drinks water and milk. He's top of percentile but I'm not concerned at all. He gets more exercise than lots of adults. He's also worryingly strong!!

Lougle · 07/04/2021 22:09

Somebody has to be the heaviest and somebody has to be the tallest. The concern comes when children cross centile lines - it means they've either accelerated or decelerated their growth, which could indicate an issue.

Crystal90567 · 07/04/2021 22:48

He looks like a lovely little boy. He is not overweight.
Madness on here tonight!

Countrygirl2021 · 08/04/2021 06:50

On the WHO growth charts he is above 99th centile.

He does look overweight in the pictures. He looks "solid". Children are supposed to look like whippets.

So interesting how many people see children with bellies or "sturdy" / "stocky" / "solid" as typical.

Don't worry though. He's so young you can alter things very easily. Work on portion size, increasing his range of foods and snacking on sweet/ beige foods.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 08/04/2021 07:17

Do his length and weight centiles match? If so, I wouldnt be concerned.

If his length centile is, for example, on the 25th and his weight centile is on the 99th, then yes he'd be over weight. However if both length and weight are, for example, on the 95th then he's fine.

My 12month old is 98th centile for length and weight and im not concerned.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 08/04/2021 07:24

Sorry - the thread moved on! I think he looks absolutely fine from the pics. If you're concerned please book an appointment with your GP or HV. MN isnt really great for this as people perceptions are totally induvidual.

FWIW I dont think you can tell from the pictures.

GoToSleepBabyPlease · 08/04/2021 07:27

He does look overweight in the pictures. He looks "solid". Children are supposed to look like whippets.

Children perhaps. Toddlers are a middle ground- they don't go straight from chubby baby to whippet child on their second birthday. Mine is nearly three and still packs it on and then shoots up- she goes through periods of eating like a horse before and during a growth spurt and periods of eating like a bird the rest of the time. She's dropped to the 75th centile (91st for height) recently and still looks sturdy when clothed.

Mummyoflittledragon · 08/04/2021 07:45

My dd is 12 and she wasn’t overweight as a baby / toddler. But once she hit school, she definitely was. Not obese though. This was due to my very poor health and her fussiness. She ate a far more restricted diet than your ds btw. He’s eating veg.

I didn’t always have the energy to feed her so she ate far too many yoghurts and child snack foods like the organix bars. It took a long time to get the weight off completely and a lot of this was due to my health but she’s nearly my height now and over average weight but a lot of that is muscle as she’s a very active person and is broad / larger boned like dh.

You’re not a failure and life is a very long journey. Your ds doesn’t look overweight. He is a toddler with a belly, which is entirely normal.

Mummyoflittledragon · 08/04/2021 07:50

Sorry I forgot to say, dd is also taller than and clearly heavier than most of her friends. But I’ve just done the centile and she’s in the 50th. I’m surprised. So she’s fine. What I’m trying to say is stop worrying.

ChristmasFluff · 08/04/2021 07:58

He looks absolutely fine.

There is no law that says that children 'should look like whippets'. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, even the same child at different times.

I was luckily a confident mother re weights, as the health visitors have accused me of having a 'fat' baby (he wasn't - no rolls, completely solid was all), and an 'underweight' toddler (he wasn't, he just wasn't following his height centile with his weight. So what).

Your son looks like a lovely healthy boy, nothing wrong with his weight.

Subordinateclause · 08/04/2021 08:24

@Countrygirl2021 Bollocks are toddlers meant to look like whippets. For one thing their stomach muscles haven't developed enough to hold in their tummies, that's why they stick out. My daughter is 50th for height and 50th for weight and to me, as a size 8 adult all my life, she looks a little chubby because that's what toddlers are supposed to look like. Your comment reminds me of when people criticised Kate Middleton for her tummy the day she gave birth, because her uterus hadn't magically descended back into her pelvis.

CecilyP · 08/04/2021 09:45

He does look overweight in the pictures. He looks "solid". Children are supposed to look like whippets.

No they’re not. They’re not supposed to look anything. A healthy BMI is a wide range and will cover a variety of looks.

ForwardRanger · 08/04/2021 10:11

Can't believe the number of posters lining up to call a toddler fat. Good grief.
I looked at the photos and I saw a gorgeous little person who is clearly adored.
OP please talk with health professionals about any concerns rather than the fat police of mumsnet.

Fembot123 · 08/04/2021 18:53

[quote Subordinateclause]**@Countrygirl2021* Bollocks are toddlers meant to look like whippets. For one thing their stomach muscles haven't developed enough to hold in their tummies, that's why they stick out. My daughter is 50th for height and 50th for weight and to me, as a size 8 adult all my life, she looks a little chubby because that's what toddlers are supposed to look like*. Your comment reminds me of when people criticised Kate Middleton for her tummy the day she gave birth, because her uterus hadn't magically descended back into her pelvis.[/quote]
Toddlers often look like gorgeous little jelly beans or pork chops because of those bellies 😍

Thatwentbadly · 09/04/2021 08:35

It’s tricky to tell with his hoody on. When you lift up his T shirt can you see his ribs clearly? You should be able to on a child who is a healthy weight.

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