June 12th last year I posted "Baby's Got Girth" after taking a few pictures of our little one, (just turned one at the time), because I just loved the belly on our baby!
Well, today's 2 year-old doctor's appointment confirmed that our baby's still got girth alright!
The doctor stressed to me that he's not worried at this point that our just-turned-2-year-old is 35.1 pounds, (putting him WAY above the growth chart for his age), but said that we need to make the fat and calories in his diet packed with healthy, lean-but-filling food. This boy out-eats us all at the table most meals so this is going to be interesting.
T at this same age was 7 pounds lighter and a lot taller making it even more dramatic of a difference. As of today, only 5 pounds separate our 2 boys.
Let it be known that we very rarely eat from fast food places, when we do it's burritos with black beans or chicken quesidillas...I can count on one hand the number of times we've been to Mc Donalds. Yes, desserts are present at lunch and dinner in small portions, (anyone knowing my dear husband, who claims that chocolate is a vegetable, knows that his "sweet" influence has a lot to do with this one).
The boys have juice maybe once a month for a special treat. I thought I was really doing pretty well with what was going on his plate and in his cup each day.
There are, however, a few of the obvious downfalls that the doctor pointed out: the amount of crackers at snack time, abundance of cheddar cheese and bread, (even though it's whole grain), in his diet. P would easily eat 2-4 pieces of toast in the morning with a cup of milk, yogurt and fruit if I let him...and still be asking for more to eat sometimes.
This has been a great eye-opening experience for me. I hope this not only helps me become healthier for him but also for the whole family.
Ok, Mom's out there...what do ya'll do when your VERY active toddler is hungry for a snack? The doc said crackers are ok once in a while for him but I want to find other alternatives besides just fruit, (gives him diarrhea if not careful).
I want to help him out now before it's even an issue. The doctor did say that he's large boned, (much more so than his older brother), and very muscular (under a layer of chub). He also said that P will have a tendency to be obese if I'm not careful.
Check out the baby thighs last year:
I'll be honest, this subject really touches on a raw nerve for me since I was by far the largest of my friends growing up and it always bothered me a lot. Even when I was very active and working out rigorously in gymnastics several days a week I was still "thick". I have a hunch that it was my bigger bones that were passed on to P.
My mother-in-law tonight reassured me that he has ALWAYS been a big boy. Starting at birth, just shy of 10 pounds, (then gaining 14 more ounces over the next 3 days), and when he was 20 pounds by 4 months, only breast fed 4 times a day and none at night starting at 20 weeks and kept growing quickly -- on breast milk alone -- proves that he's just a big guy.
However, even knowing that, I am finding myself having a hard time shaking the feelings of, why is MY son so big? What am I doing wrong to aid in his size?
Many of my friends, (and even my 2 sisters), have wrestled with trying to fatten their babies up since they are too lean, (I do realize that's a real battle too and I am not trying to underestimate being too small).
Now, this is not the time for a pity party, but I'll tell you what, I've got the party hats and table set for one.
I'm determined to have this be a good thing. So, here's to a fresh start. I would love any ideas, suggestions or encouragement as I embark on this new challenge and adventure...may this only make for a healthier family and a more lean and mean P machine! :)
8 comments:
Hi friend,
My Jaybird weighed 32 pounds at his two year check up and then 32 pounds, plus 4 extra inches at his three year check up! He just stretched like taffy that year. I remember being a little stressed, too. Of course, Andy loved it because he was always a very little kid, and he loved the idea of his son being bigger. Isn't that funny how men laugh it off? Your little boy is so adorable. When I see him, I just think cute.
One more thing, I wonder if just an extra cup of milk would fill him? Do you still give him whole milk? And what about those lowfat granola bars or Nutri-grain bars?
i know this is easy for me to say, but don't stress or obsess TOO much! sounds like you are on track for making sure your boys are filled with GOOD food that has nutritional value. i agree with the extra milk in renee's comment -- if he'll go for it. or try giving him NEW foods or veggies or things that aren't necessarily his favorites when he wants more, and then you may be able to tell if he's truly hungry or just habitually asking for more. also, be encouraged by how ACTIVE he is!!! he's not just putting on the weight, he's using that stored energy. you'll long for these days when he hits the 'picky' phase! :)
let me first just say "HE"S ADORABLE!"
And then, remember he's still a baby. Lots of babies hold onto baby fat and then just shoot up and it balances out.
Of course it's always good to implement good eating habits, but it sounds like you do that and have been doing that. So just take it slow and makes some small changes and see if that makes a difference.
I know what you mean about being the largest of your friends growing up. I was too. I was always tall or felt thicker than all of my friends! Somehow we all caught up to each other....especially after having babies. I think we are all thick in the middle now! :)
I understand this very well. My first one - Jackson was always around 65-70% for height and 75-80% for weight. He is shorter and stocky like his dad. Blake - my own "P" - was in the 100%+ for weight and 90% for height. He was born a big boy. But like you, I am extremely healthy conscience and didn't want a "fat" baby. So for the getgo, we cut out juice, no white flours or rice, and limited sugar. I gave him things like carrots and humus, veggies dipped in light ranch dressing - all natural and whole foods. He was drinking nonfat milk from age 2 years on. He was still a little chubby and I admit I worried like you are doing now. He would out-eat him brother at mealtimes and I always commented that Blake and I ate the same portion size at meals.
Then, at four or five years old, he literally shot up. He is now a string bean and he doesn't eat nearly as much as he used to. He is almost skin and bones - plus only a few inches shorter than his older brother. It was just his genetics kicking in. And I think the healthy food we give him helped him to keep up the energy despite not eating a whole lot.
Then skip to my third born - Chase - who is a little thing and it stresses me out beyond belief!! My older boys were high in percentiles and now here is Chase who is 3% for weight and 25% for height. My dr says that genetics just kicks in after the baby is a few months old, so there is really nothing I can do to change it. I worry that he will be too small, but what can I do about it? Just try to give him the healthiest food I can to give him the energy he needs.
S0 to sum it all up, I understand the worry we moms have, but ultimately, you just have to resolve to be super healthy and active and just let nature take its course.
Ok, I can't help but just smile big at this, because Preston is so stinkin cute, and I just have a hunch he'll shoot up at some point. However, we did have a really good nutritionist come and speak to our MOPS group who gave some great snack ideas - nonfat string cheese, apples or celery with peanut butter, fruit dipped in lowfat yogurt, and we love those dried fruit leather/bars from trader joe's. Oooh, and my boys love craisins, freeze dried fruits, and pita chips with hummus. Just a few ideas :).
Love you!
JA-
As Clint says, doctors are human they can't predict the future. Listen to the doctor's opinion but know that you are P's mom and know what is best for him. Of course if you see habits you can improve then by all means do but don't second guess your past choices. You are a wonderful mother who cares more for her boys than anyone else here on earth. You care for them in the most important way too - by praying for them and commending them to our Lord. That is by far the MOST important thing you can do and you are already doing it.
Things we do for a healthy diet:
1) high protein - like cottage cheese - both of my boys love it -more filling calories and fills them up faster then breads and crackers
2) serve the meat and veggies first and then the breads and fruits later to avoid filling up on the more "empty" calories
3) as long as they are not allergic try nut butters or hummus (I think someone already said that)
4) offer an alternative when they are hungry instead of giving more of the same, like crackers. C could eat Cheerios all day but I tell him no for more Cheerios and give him another choice like cottage cheese or low sugar yogurt (like Yoplait kids - Dora and Diego)
5) watch the sugar labels - I can't believe how much sugar is in some things - especially pre packaged "healthy" snacks
6) get them used to eating things plain - we eat plain Cheerios and Oatmeal - it was quite an adjustment for me but your taste buds get used to it. Now I can't even eat a whole bowl of "plain" cereal (like special K or Raisin Bran) without thinking it is too sweet.
Man, P is so darn cute! Looks like you have gotten some great advice and ideas for healthy snacks. None of my kids have been big, and my little Drew has always been teensy, even though he eats like a lion! I have to be honest and say that we do eat fast food (lately during softball and tball season it has been more, due to lack of time). I give my kids granola bars, yogurt, nuts for snacks. I am trying to buy hummus more and get them to eat that with veggies or pita chips.
Here's the thing, though. You can only do what you can do. I don't think it is a good idea to restrict a little bit of sweets or juice, as I have friends whose parents did and they went crazy and still struggle as adults. It seems like you do a good job in that department, just a little bit here and there. So as long as you are doing your best at providing healthy well-balanced meals, you have to trust that what your boys are like is really genetics. Everyone is different, and there is not much we can do about that!
The milk thing is huge. What did your doctor say to give P? I would think he would say 1% or non-fat and you don't want to use milk in place of food. Milk is good for you, sure, but only in moderation. I would ask your doc how much he wants him to have.
Don't fret, you are doing awesome!
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