Ok - time to face it - dd is overweight : (

[timeticking]

Hi mamas,

My 3 year old daughter has always loved her food. It is my fault - hands up; I have been giving her the same treats as my 5 and 6 year old as I don't like to give her half a biscuit, half a cake etc. She is always hungry and wanting to graze. I have been giving her fruit or a box of raisins in between treat times. But the treats add up. I have a strict routine where the children have a mid-morning biscuit, a treat with milk at 3pm and then something after their tea. They also tend to have a few 'bad' cereals (only a handful) on top of their all bran or weetabix. But, as I say, it adds up.

I need to get on top of this now. Her face is looking really chubby and she has a double chin (but she is still gorgeous). I know this is normal in the toddler years but my older two were not the same. My husband is also worried and people comment that she is heavy to pick up.

Obviously, I can't put her on a diet. That would be ridiculous and irresponsible. And I will start watching what I give her. But does anyone else have any great tips for helping to address sooner rather than later.

Many thanks.

I would look at your local children's centre or go through your 0-19 team (health visitor) and see if there are any schemes in your area to help the under fives with healthy eating. Best to nip it in the bud before it becomes normal to be chubby.

One small treat a day is enough, after dinner, something like a biscuit or a yoghurt. Inbetween meal snacks need to be something healthy like fruit/veg/wholemeal type things, not biscuits and cakes.

She needs to be moving about, proper running around, energy spending exertion for a large part of everyday too. Difficult when you can't be bothered but necessary if you think she's on the way to be being unhealthy.

Well done for being honest with yourself about it and having the gumption to do something.

If she is confirmed as being a little overweight, then you should be advised on healthy quantities to give her and she should grow into her weight.

Well done you for looking at your routine.Just get someone else to confirm your worries.

Aren't the bigs in school?

I think rebalance away from biscuits towards fruits. Make sure plenty of water. don't 'reward' with food. Stay active.

It'll melt off easily at this age - just keep it light.

Less snacking (bad habits). Would she like to go to a dance or gymnastics class?

I hate the thought of a little 'un ghoing on a diet.

Popcorn - make your own and pop a little honey on it - so much better than bought snacks.

Thanks so much for your quick and wonderful replies. We have just moved abroad and are living in an apartment with no garden. The children are about to start school over here next month. This will make it a lot easier to address things. At the moment we are going for little walks but haven't joined any classes. And I can't even go out in the garden. So there is no full-on exercise going on at all. It's been really stressful but hopefully we will be in a house with a garden very soon. And the nicer weather will help. And thanks for helping me realise that three treats a day is too much - I thought this was acceptable. Time to look at our lifestyle me thinks. And probably time for me and dh to jump on a life-style change as well. We are both thin but don't eat as well as we should - especially since Christmas. Thanks again.

How about a kids' exercise DVD? I'm afraid I haven't got any recommendations but am sure you could google. Or get a wii and a kids' sports game?

Does she eat well at her main meals? Lots of filling rice, potatoes, veg etc to help stop her snacking?

Abroad, where? If you are in a country where children are entitled to have a paediatrician, then I'd book a visit and ask for advise on portions, and guidelines on weight etc.
Once the older are in school, I am sure you'll have more time to do things with her, like going to the park. You can take her to the swimming pool for instance, there are very good classes for children her age.

RightUpMyRue One small treat a day is enough, after dinner, something like a biscuit or a yoghurt.

Do you really consider a yoghurt to be a treat?

What I mean is they are lovely and everything but I would consider them part of a normal daily diet and good for you. All that calcium and what not. Not a treat to be considered a treat along the same lines as chocolate for eg.

I suppose if its that slop that is full of sugar, gelatin and manky fruit (not a fan of flavoured yog!). Try the plain stuff with fruit and nuts - I could live on this!

Do you have a Wii? My DD is 3 and she loves Wii dance. Might tide you over till you can move house.

Agree that there is yoghurt, and there is yoghurt! And some is wholesome and some is not.

I think cut back on the snacks and get out and about walking. Is there anywhere in walking distance that you could reasonably go? Walk into town / to a park / anywhere really? I do think that having walking built into your daily life is more sustainable than classes. Although classes are fun too obviously!

Swimming? Jumping around in a pool would be great exercise.

I would suggest giving her the same snacks that she has had before but less and combine with something healthy. So if you normal give her a bag of choc buttons, instead give half or less of the bag and put on a plate with some fruit. That way hopefully she won't notice so much.

Best thing to do with snacks that you want to cut out (after poss a period of adjustment as per ploink) is simply to stop buying them.

If it's not in the cupboard then you can't be nagged or cajoled into dishing it out. People (even children) adjust pretty quickly.

I have recently managed to cut out ALL treats in the week...my DD loves sugar too! She now has a treat on Fridays only. On saturday she might have something but not always.

I did it because the sugar was affecting her behaviour. 3 treats or snacks day is far too many OP. Three good meals and fruit or raw veg between. I do agree that you could get some advice on portions and what a healthy meal is...it can be confusing when it comes to grains etc. ood luck though...I know it's so hard to get the balance.

If you have a 'treat' three times a day then it's not a treat, it's a regular part of your daily intake

Children need calories but they don't need empty calories - don't be afraid of fat and sugar (better than sweeteners and low fat stuff) but in small doses. Nobody needs chocolate, sweets or sugary cereal every day - offer popcorn, oatcakes, cheese, fruit, veg, salad stuff (cucumber and carrots are fun to dip), toast and peanut butter, crackers, olives.

My DD1 (5) has a tendency to become chubby as well. As does DH, but not DD2 and myself...

What has helped with DD1 is loads of sports, swimming, hiphop etc. and then early dinner (around 5.30) with meat and salad/veg, but no pasta or potatoes or e.g. a nice soup (no cream) and then no more food before bedtime. Also, start out with small portions, and obviously if she is hungry she will get more, but trying to introduce smaller portions. In the summer going to the playground and kicking a ball around or something after dinner, in the winter dancing around in the living room, catching balloons or something.

HTH. Good luck with it.

Also check your portion size.. 3 year olds need much smaller portions than you might think (especially if your older children are naturally the skinny types that can eat any amount, you can forget that toddlers don't NEED as much)

I think you are very sensible to be keeping an eye on her weight now, as it's far easier before they get older and in set eating patterns.

However she may also just stretch. I had two skinny kids and one porky one.. he really was. I was very worried as by 4 he had chunky thighs and a roly poly belly and was definitely overweight. He started school and within a year he had grown and it started to go... by 6 he was slim and by his teens he was thin as a rail..he's 18 now and very slim, very toned (and utterly gorgeous )
Eats like a horse too...!

What's she drinking? Some children (and adults) drink far more calories than they should. So switch to half fat milk rather than whole (if they drink this), and proper juice (not juice drink) maybe only once per day, then water at all other times. No fizz. It's often a pretty painless way to cut out unnecessary calories. But agree with others that more exercise will probably sort her right out. Swimming classes might be good fun if the weather is warm?

ChasTittyBeltUp 3 treats or snacks day is far too many OP.

I think it depends on what the treat is. Coming from the point of view of someone who has an underweight child and has to fortify their food and have been advised to let them eat all they want, when they want . . . it is hard for me to see 3 snacks, which could just be 3 biscuits as far too much!

If we are talking 3 mars bars then you definately have a point.

With my DC, they eat as and when they want but then don't have massive meals because they can't eat much in one sitting. I suppose if yours is grazing a lot and then has a big stodgy dinner then that might explain it. I can't see 3 biscuits a day alone making an otherwise active child put on loads of weight. Perhaps though this is because mine doesn't put on weight

Ploink for a child who puts on weight easily then 3 biscuits is too many. One is more reasonable. You can't compare your child with the OPs obviously.

ChasTittyBeltUp None of us can. I suspect it's a combination of large meals, too many snacks, not enough exercise and many other factors. I don't think 3 biscuits a day or 2 biscuits and 1 evil yoghurt will be enough to make the average child put on too much weight. None of us really knows the reason but I doubt it is just due to a few biscuits. I come from the end of the spectrum where my dcs can eat almost whatever they like and you come from the other where your dcs get 1 biscuit a week. We are not going to agree.

My DD (3.5) has sweet treats like biscuits and cakes at weekends/holidays/parties only (generally). Snacks in the week tend to be fresh fruit, crackers (at her preschool), carrot sticks. She does have a small packet of crisps twice a week after her very active gym and sports classes. She runs around every day at preschool, park, garden. She also walks everywhere each day, sometimes two miles as she's not in a buggy and we don't have a car. She's a slim little thing but (generally) eats three proper, good-sized meals a day. Hope that helps.

If you are in Europe you will probably have access to an indoor pool. If funds allow I'd suggest swimming lessons for the whole family which is great exercise and learning a life skill at the same time. Dance DVD for indoors, scooters/bikes for outdoor or you can use you imagination and take them on a nature walk to feed the ducks etc or adventure/treasure trail.

Take a close look at what you are feeding as treats. A biscuit a day is enough they don't need more 'treats' later in the day. There are a wonderful range of snack foods which are healthy, like rice crakers, breadsticks, carrot an cucumber dipped in tzatziki, sweetcorn, grapes etc. Pudding can be fruit or (healthy) yoghurt.

Offer water or milk if you are giving squash.

I was told regarduing portion control that a portion for an under five should not cover an area larger than a bread and butter plate.

Well done on addressing this now, you are totally doing the right thing.