It’s always been this way — parents and society, in general, have this perception that the plumper a child is during the first few years of life, the healthier that child is, as in being well-fed and well-nourished. So much so that a little toddler may be leaning on the overweight side without being noticed.
The fact is, toddlers, can end up overweight and it can be damaging to their own health, but it’s not always easy for parents to tell if they are. The best way to tell is through maintaining properly scheduled check-ups with their respective pediatricians. During these check-ups, a pediatrician will be able to determine if a toddler is at a healthy weight or otherwise and due action can be taken by parents to halt the onset of future health issues such as obesity and diabetes.
What parents should know
When it comes to a toddlers’ health and physical development, it’s not just about the weight or height of the child, but also his body mass index (BMI), which is the measurement of his body fat based on height and weight. Compared to adults, it’s actually much easier to measure this in toddlers, for they do not have as much muscle mass that will affect the overall calculation.
A pediatrician’s job is not only to treat sick children — regular checkups during the important formative years are important too! Many parents delay or stop these check-ups with their child’s pediatrician thinking that they’re not necessary or even a waste of money, without realising that they might be missing out on changes that may affect the little one’s health. Starting from the age of two years onward, a toddler’s weight, height, and BMI should be monitored by a pediatrician. The little one’s parents should be provided with a growth chart with information on how his ideal numbers in terms of BMI should be like.
Gauging a toddler’s BMI percentile
A child’s BMI percentile is calculated by comparing his numbers to other kids of his age and gender. For example, a child in the 64th percentile has a BMI that’s higher than 64% of other kids his age, and so on. These percentiles help you know if your little one is on the right track in terms of healthy weight. A toddler is considered to be at his healthiest weight when his BMI is in the 5th to 84th percentile; underweight when his BMI is below the 5th percentile; overweight when his BMI is found to be in the 85th to 94th percentile; and obese if it’s found to be in the 95th percentile or above.
As toddlers undergo growth spurts, the measurement taken in just one single visit won’t always be a cause for serious concern. If a toddler is found to be in the 85th percentile or higher, his parents will be advised to bring him back again in a few months for another measurement. If, say, a toddler is in the 88th percentile during one visit and his number is found to have risen to the 92nd percentile at the next visit, it should be a signal to parents and pediatricians alike that the child may have a weight issue. Close monitoring is needed at this point to prevent it from getting worse.
Once a baby starts to walk, run and move about more, he may shed the unwanted weight, but do keep in mind that this will take a bit of time — a chubby toddler who has just started to move around more does not turn into a less chubby one overnight! In the meantime, take note if your child can indeed move around with ease like other toddlers his age or if he is having trouble doing so. In other words, if you feel that your toddler’s weight is preventing him from moving around and being active, bring it up with your pediatrician.
The role of parents
It’s never too early to begin introducing good healthy habits to a child — in fact, the earlier, the better. Eating habits, for instance, are formed earlier than you think! If a toddler is introduced to healthy foods from an earlier age, it’s highly likely that he will favour healthier foods throughout his childhood and beyond. Toddlers whose earliest food experiences are not from the healthy food groups will likewise be more prone to favour sugary foods and drinks, or foods laced with too much seasoning, salt, etc.
Parents of toddlers need to give due attention to the quality of the foods they offer to their little ones, for as mentioned earlier, this is when eating habits start to form. Offer a variety of different foods from different food groups.
It’s important to keep in mind too that most toddlers will go through some degree of food fussiness and pickiness, but there is never a good reason to replace a good food choice with a bad one just to ensure the child eats something! Your role as a parent is to provide options but stick to the healthy options as opposed to unhealthy alternatives or substitutes. Stick to offering the healthiest options and choices you can manage and let your little one eat as much of or as little of them as they want.
Watch your own eating habits too!
Parents are the greatest role models of little kids and so are older siblings and other family members who live with them. You can’t teach a child to love his carrots and peas when you are seen constantly wolfing down burgers and fries! In other words, if you wish to see your child snacking on healthy fruits and vegetables, you have to be seen doing so too as the ultimate example for your child to follow.
Remember too that mealtimes should not be taken for granted and should ideally be a family affair. Let your little one sit at the table with you on his high chair and watch you eat the healthy food that you wish for him to try. When toddlers notice that everyone including their older siblings is happily eating from the variety of good stuff served at the table, they’ll be more inclined to tuck into some themselves. If or when food fussiness arises, let gentle perseverance lead the way and a good selection of healthy choices and alternatives be the keys to developing better eating habits.
Avoid drastic changes
If your pediatrician informs you that a change in your child’s diet is needed, or if you simply wish to change your toddler’s unhealthy eating habits, go about it gradually. There is no call for drastic changes when it comes to food choices for it’ll only leave a child upset or even confused.
If, all this while your little one has been favouring juice instead of water, for instance, start offering less and less of it, or try diluting it gradually till the desire for juice every time he feels thirsty fades away. The same goes for his favourite cookies, candies, etc. Remember that while it may take some time and effort on your part as a parent to set your child on a healthier food path, the results will be worthwhile as junior continues to grow older and starts to make his own food choices.
