Overweight Toddler - Preventing Over-Feeding and Over-Eating
Definition
- Currently 10% of 2 to 5 year old children in the U.S. are overweight.
- The main cause is over-eating.
- Overeating means eating more calories daily than are needed for normal growth and activity.
- Overeating is mainly a bad habit. It's learned during the early years of life.
- It starts with over-feeding.
Call or Return If
- You are concerned about your child's weight
- You are not sure if your child is overweight
- You think your child needs to be seen
- You have other questions or concerns
About This Topic
Healthy Eating Goal
- We want children to eat only when they are hungry.
- They should stop when they are full.
- It is far easier to teach healthy eating habits early.
- It becomes harder when a child starts to show signs of becoming overweight.
- The following are some tips for preventing excessive weight gain in young children.
After Care Advice
Try to Breast-feed:
- Breast-feeding allows babies to control the amount of milk they drink.
- They stop when they are full.
- Overfeeding by breast is unusual.
Teach to Eat Only for Hunger:
- Help your child recognize hunger and only to eat when he's hungry.
- Teach him not to eat when he's bored, lonely, stressed, watching videos, etc.
- Don't deny your child food, however, if she is hungry. But, make snacks small and nutritious. Parents have control over what they serve.
Avoid Grazing:
- Grazing is eating frequently for reasons other than hunger. It means feeding while the stomach is still full.
- It takes 2 hours for the stomach to empty.
Avoid Grazing:
- Grazing is eating at frequent intervals instead of waiting until he is hungry.
- Children who rarely experience normal hunger become very upset when they have to wait.
Stretch Feeding Intervals:
- If breast-feeding, gradually advance the nursing interval. Extend to 2 hours or longer by 1 month of age. Go to 3 hours by 2 months of age.
- If bottle-feeding, try to feed your infant every 2 hours or longer at birth. Go to 3 hours or longer by 2 6 months of age.
- Change to 3 meals a day plus 2 small snacks by 6 months of age.
Teach to Stop Eating When Full:
- Try to teach your child to stop eating when she feels full.
- Teach this from the beginning.
- Overfeeding teaches a child to overeat when he is older.
- Don't insist that your child clean his plate.
Feed Slowly:
- Feed your baby slowly, rather than rapidly.
- Don't try to hurry your baby's pace of eating.
- It takes 15 to 20 minutes of eating for most babies to feel full.
Avoid Tote Bottles:
- Don't allow your child to keep a bottle or sippy cup with her all the time.
- Children who are allowed to carry a bottle around with them learn to use food for comforting.
- It also damages the teeth.
Don't Make Your Baby Finish Every Bottle:
- After she signals she is full, don't encourage her to drink more.
- Signals to watch for are turning her head or not opening her mouth.
Don't Use Food as a Distraction or Reward:
- Don't give your child food as a way to keep him occupied. Instead, give him something to play with when you need some free time.
- Avoid giving children bottles, sippy cups, or other snacks while they are in car seats or strollers.
- Use praise and physical affection instead of food as a reward for good behavior.
Avoid Comfort Feedings:
- Don't feed your baby every time he cries.
- Most crying babies want to be held and cuddled.
- Teach your infant to use human contact (rather than food) to relieve discomfort.
- Also, don't assume a sucking baby is hungry. Your baby may just want a pacifier or help with finding her thumb.
Delay Solid Foods Until 4 to 6 Months:
- Avoid giving solid food to your baby until he is at least 4 months old. (6 months for breastfed babies).
- Your child doesn't need to finish the whole jar of baby food.
Discontinue Breast and Bottle Feeding by 12 Months of Age:
- A study found that delayed weaning was associated with more obesity.
- The main reason is its association with comfort feedings.
