Generally speaking, fat babies are healthy ones. There is no need to put a pudgy infant on a diet. However, childhood obesity is on the rise and there are a few things you can do with your infant to combat the likelihood that he will end up obese:
1) Be a healthier mom.
Studies show that if mom and dad are obese, baby is more likely to become an obese child. This has to do with lifestyle choices regarding eating and lack of exercises. Make no mistake: babies are smart and they don’t miss a beat!
2) Breastfeed.
Although no one is sure exactly how breast milk helps prevent obesity later research shows that there is a direct correlation between how long a baby has been breastfed and the risk factor of becoming obese later in life.
3) No junk food.
The best way for the family not to indulge in junk food is not to buy it. Use substitutes to satisfy cravings instead: fruit for dessert, popcorn instead of chips, and raw veggies for snacks. Avoid soda and read the label before you buy that fruit juice! Many fruit juices have almost as much sugar as soda.
4) Cut back on sugar.
It is my personal feeling that kids are eating more sugar these days and that’s why obesity is such a growing problem. One trick that saves me from feeding my kids (& me) sugar is preparing snacks at night if we’re going to be out the next day.
5) Limit TV time.
And get more exercise! Set aside time every day to exercise with your baby. It is not because the baby needs exercise. But setting aside the time and establishing the routine, helps your baby know that exercise is an important part of family life.
Establishing healthy patterns while your baby is an infant, will not make those pudgy baby thighs go away. What it will do, research says, is decrease the likelihood that your kids will struggle with childhood obesity.
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