Fat toddler- please help

[Napqueen1234]

Dd is 18 months. Chubby looking, 98th centile+ (always has been) I weight her occasionally and she’s put on a full lb in last two weeks. In the last two weeks she’s been eating SO much almost as much as me. I follow the Ellyn Satter approach and only ever give healthy nutritious food (literally no junk!) what am I doing wrong? She’s just getting bigger and bigger. She’s happy, active, gorgeous just wants to eat so much.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate what you’re saying @lovinglola but like I said the massive portions is very recent before that she was having toddler portions. @mamabear I was thinking growth spurt and only because we don’t have them in the house and she’s too little for kids parties etc but I would let her if someone offered them occasionally I’m not crazy about it. Thanks @jackshouse I’ll maybe give her a regular portion of carbs and stuff then fill up with fruit and veg if still hungry. @ourkidmolly formula tried and failed to breastfeed which I still feel awful about so please don’t blame that :(

@melissasummerfield not at all I’m a healthy weight always have been effortlessly which possibly why I found it strange she’s big for her age! Also have a morbidly obese mother in law so worry she may have got her genes 😬 ok @twolittlebears maybe I will try that method if it works!

Doesn't matter how healthy the food is if you're eating too much of it.
Is she drinking a lot of milk? Much easier to drink extra calories than eat them.

This gives an interesting idea of portion sizes www.infantandtoddlerforum.org/portion-sizes-table-2015
It's for 1-4 year olds so for example a 1 year old might just need one egg sized potato, half a slice of bread, half a sausage, one babybel.

I'm not blaming anyone for anything! There is a body of research which indicates that formula fed babies are less able to regulate their appetite. Perhaps she's overeating as she's not listening to her own hunger cues. If she's had all essential fats and proteins, I'd probably give her sliced apple rather than a second crumpet. Distract rather than feed.

Whilst ourkidmolly is right about the formula link, please don't beat yourself up about it as my 3 were all solely breastfed and still ended up with one average and the other two very big. (I can see you weren't posting it as a blame game Ourkid and just trying to help)

Thanks @ourkidmolly i know you aren’t blaming. I did make sure when formula feeding she was very much fed on demand and never forced her to eat. And she’s been 98th centile since birth even the 8 weeks I mixed fed! I’m hoping it will go back to normal soon and she will eat her usual amount but until then I think I’ll reduce her portions, give fruit if she’s still bothering for food, distract with other things and ensure lots of exercise! Fingers crossed the situation improves a bit soon xx

DD was overweight as a slightly older toddler. She wouldn't drink water in any quantity, but was drinking a lot of milk (as in over a litre a day; the majority of her calories were coming from milk). I started watering down her milk, and she kept drinking the same volume of fluid. Her weight actually dropped (not my intention), and she's been a healthy weight ever since.

I wouldn’t give too much fruit either it’s full of sugar. Have some carrot sticks for snacks

She’s doesn’t have much milk maybe half a sippy cup all day otherwise just water! Thanks @fabaunt I will try carrot sticks she’s not great at eating just plain veg but if it’s that or nothing she may go for it!

please don't get all controlling! appetite comes and goes and if you don't meddle a baby's body knows to stop eating when no longer hungry. lots of carbs and veg.

both my dd eat a lot before a growth spurt and it stops afterwards. my childminder was saying the other week dd2 16mo was eating as much as some 3/4 yos but that's drastically reduced now.

Is she 98th centile for height as well? If she is then there’s no need to worry. My dc were chubby up until 3 when they really stretched out. Both now on 50th percentile for height and weight.

I think it’s ok to feed children as much as they need as long as it’s not junk but maybe try to limit the amount of grains and replace them with fat and protein where you can. My dc tend to overeat grains more easily as they’re a sugar hit. I’d replace the crumpets with an omelette with chopped spinach and cheese for breakfast. I’d probably replace the rice cakes with fruit or carrots or pepper with hummous, handful of nuts and seeds. As these options might be more filling as well. It sounds like she has a healthy diet though and I think at 18 months it’s a bit early to worry as a lot of toddlers tend to be a bit chubby looking.

Thank you @di11y and @spritesandunicorns really helpful and reassuring I really appreciate it :)

My 15mo is also 98th centile for weight. We saw the HV this week. She commented on him being 75th centile for height, but didn't mention his weight. He doesn't have any rolls of fat, just chunky arms and legs and a big head. He doesn't get any snacks or puddings so I don't understand it.

She wasn't my usual HV and I am surprised she didn't mention how high he was. Does that mean I'm going to get a fat letter from my regular HV?

My dd, now 9 was 9lb 9oz at birth. She has followed the 95th centile for height and weight all through and is still on the same centile now. She looks totally in proportion, fit and healthy.
Have a word with your HV if it continues more than a few weeks, to set your mind at rest, but try not to worry too much.