What to do if your toddler is overweight?
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In this Article

  • Causes of an overweight toddler
  • 1. Irregular meal time
  • 2. Portion size
  • 3. Lack of physical exercise
  • 4. Hereditary
  • What can you do if your baby is overweight?
What to do if your toddler is overweight?

Health Tips

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What to do if your toddler is overweight?

Updated on 17 March 2023

Medically Reviewed by

Dt. Mansi Goyal

Specializes in Critical Gestational Diabetes, PCOS Patients - BSC| MSC (Home Science, Food & Nutrition)

View Profile

Which parent wouldn't be happy seeing their munchkin put on weight? But how much weight is good weight? And how much is worrisome?

As per The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you need to calculate your baby's BMI (Body Mass Index) to conclude if your baby is overweight or not. All you have to is enter your baby's exact height and weight measurement into CDC's BMI Percentile Calculator. What you will get is your baby's BMI Percentile in accordance with his age and gender.

Your baby is termed overweight if they are at or above the 85th percentile and obese if he is at or above the 95th percentile.

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Causes of an overweight toddler

Your toddler might be overweight due to the following reasons:

1. Irregular meal time

if your child does not have a proper meal schedule and eats all through the day, it can be one reason why your baby is putting on excess weight.

2. Portion size

Eating more than what your baby needs can be a problem in the long run. The larger the portion size, the more the calorie intake. If the calorie intake is more, your child's weight is obvious to skyrocket.

3. Lack of physical exercise

Having limited screen time is essential for a child's growth. Experts recommend 3 hours of physical activity for kids. Of course, the 3 hours don't have to be continuous but can be broken down into small sessions.

4. Hereditary

Excess weight can also be hereditary, that is, genetic. If parents are overweight, there is a full chance that they may pass this to their child.

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What can you do if your baby is overweight?

Here are a few tips to help you manage weight gain in your overweight toddler:

  • Take care of your baby's nutritional needs. Ensure that you concentrate on healthy food options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods. Try avoiding junk food, processed food, fizzy drinks/soda, high-fat foods, sweets, and sugar.

  • Suppose your baby is bottle-fed with cow milk; cut down on the milk. 350ml to 400ml of cow milk is more than sufficient for your child.

  • Have six mini-meals in a day instead of 3 big ones. This will protect your baby from overeating.

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  • Avoid bribing your child with treats. This makes your baby a picky eater but also spoils his food habits.

  • Limit your baby's screen time. One hour a day or less looks more than enough for a baby. If possible, ban it completely.

  • Try and play with your child. Keep him physically active. You can take your baby for a walk or even to a park. Cycling is a good option too.

  • Ensure proper sleep patterns for your child. If your baby is not sleeping properly, this may be one reason why they are putting on some extra weight.


Now that you know the reasons why your baby is overweight and also the solutions for the same, it is time to gear up and get yourself in action, a super Mommy mode!

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Medically Reviewed by

Dt. Mansi Goyal

Specializes in Critical Gestational Diabetes, PCOS Patients - BSC| MSC (Home Science, Food & Nutrition)

View Profile

Written by

Priyanka Verma

Priyanka is an experienced editor & content writer with great attention to detail. Mother to an 11-year-old, she's a ski

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