Fat Babies

Caitlin - posted on 08/01/2010

I would take it in stride. Maybe she meant to say chubby like a lot of people say babies are cute little chubby bundles but she just said the wrong thing. I think a lot of people just say the first thing that comes to their mind, true or not. I wouldn't take offense by it because that lady doesn't mean anything to you. My son was a little chunker when he was 6 months he was 20 lbs and 24 in. but he grew taller and he's still 20 lbs at 10 months. People would tell me all the time how fat he was and he was like a little hulk. It bothered me at first because I was like that's really rude of them to say but then I realized whatever it's just them trying to pay a compliment but don't know quite how to do it. 19 lbs is very average I would say. Don't sweat it.

Heidi - posted on 07/29/2010

My son is 10 months and weighs 30 pounds, but he is also 31.5 inches tall. He is a big boy! Your daughter by far is not fat. Even if she was, chubby babies are soooo cute!!

Tiffany - posted on 07/29/2010

I think your son is beautiful

Danielle - posted on 07/29/2010

I had the opposite problem with my two babies. Oh, she's tiny! Or, She's so little!...As if I'm starving my child and they are underdeveloped. Both, according to charts were average sized, but people always speak before thinking. This has made me very conscious of commenting on size and weight, whether you are 3 months or 30 years old. People are just nosy.

Tiffany - posted on 07/28/2010

I think most people refer to babies as being chubby. I don't think I have every had someone come up to me and say that, but I have heard people in the distance. I ignore them because I know my son is healthy and right where he should be for his age! Try not to let it bother and if you can control your anger around your child. They sense when your upset! Good luck and I am sure you have a beautiful baby!

Amy - posted on 07/27/2010

My son is 10 months old and he is 21lbs and 30 inches long. His weight is the 75th percentile and his height is in the 95th percentile. I always get comments also about he's such a big boy, but I dont let it bother me....he's very tall which makes him look a lot older. What does bother me is how everyone makes comments about his head...it's in the 97th percentile...throughout my pregnancy they kept saying his head was "off the charts." I had a c-section and when the dr pulled him out, her first comment was "wow he really does have a big head". All I say now is the bigger his head is the smarter he'll be :).

Tiffany - posted on 07/27/2010

My baby girl is 10 months and 18.5 lbs. If someone said that I would be upset because that is not fat. I understand that some babies have the "baby fat" but thats just rude.
But like other moms have said, just ignore her and others like her.
In my opinion, shes just jealous cause you have such a beautiful baby :-)

Rebecca - posted on 07/27/2010

My daughter is 10 months old and 23 lbs.! Most people say she is a very healthy baby!!! When she becomes mobile, she will slim down. I had a hard time at first not taking some people's comments the wrong way. I don't think some people intend the comments to be that way. I am just very protective!! Don't worry, your baby is healthy!!

Jenette - posted on 07/27/2010

I'm sure that this woman was not trying to offend you. People love babies. Babies make people happy. I would bet that this woman was trying to compliment you and has not thought one more second about it. I don't understand getting angry over it. She was not attacking your child (I'm guessing). Why not just smile, and continue on your way. Let it go. It takes more energy to stay mad about that than to just assume that this lady was maybe careless about the word that she chose.
Whenever someone says something about my children, I just smile and thank them because I know that they are really just crushing on my kid (even if it doesn't come out that way).

Jillian - posted on 07/27/2010

I get this all the time. My daughter is 10 months old and 23 pounds and I didn't think that was fat. She is a healthy brestfed baby..I new a women who had a child who was 22 pounds at 5 months. So our 10 month olds are healthy :)

Rachel - posted on 07/26/2010

I think people are just looking for a way to interact with you and your baby. I have a baby in 90th percentiles across the board, I have heard it all! On some days i have more energy then others, but who knows maybe she walked away and thought oh that was a bad word choice! And I agree older woman mean it as a compliment when they tell you how big your child is! You're right as long as you know you're feeding her healthy don't worry about someone's comment!

Jenny - posted on 07/26/2010

Every baby is different, mine son is 10 1/2 months wieghs 22lbs & approx. 28 in long. I think he is just perfect, but I too get comments that he is a really big boy and a chunker, one of my family members constanly compare him to their son and even started joking around that I must be force feeding him because he is so fat for his age. that floored me.
It still kind of bothers me when I hear it, but for the most part don't listen to it.

Stacey - posted on 07/26/2010

LOL, reading about how big or small everyones babies are, has made me realize just how tiny my Ana is. All of 18.5lbs and 26 inches tall. (Of course most of the people in our family are small.) We still have people comment on how 'fat' she is. For the most part I do ignore it, but now and then the way someone says it just doesn't 'sit right' and I would really like to say something to them...

Carissa - posted on 07/26/2010

I see where you are coming from. My husband and i were at the dog park last week with our 10 month old and this woman my age comes up and starts calling her a chunk bucket!! WTF?! She is 20 lbs and 28 inches so she is pretty tall. I wanted to sock her. And then she goes on to tell me she was a 16 year old mom and so on and so forth... ahh!!

Antoinette - posted on 07/26/2010

Just curious did she seem snarky when she said it? Because if not then it wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't meaning fat in the way we typically interpret it, but that she was actually meaning healthy. I've had a few people say my kids are cute and fat, it didn't bother me because I could see that they weren't saying it maliciously. What upsets me is when complete strangers state their opposing opinions regarding child rearing (use of pacifiers, walking harnesses, breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, age of the mother) like what I'm doing is wrong.

Allison - posted on 07/26/2010

My daughter is 10 months and 25lbs and 28 inches...I have never heard anyone call a baby fat but I've heard chubby and "oh she's a ham" but I take it light heartedly...rolls just make babies cuter I think. I think babies now a days are a lot different size wise then babies back in the day

Alicia - posted on 07/26/2010

Babies are supposed to be fat! I have a little twiggy baby (29" & 18lbs) and I think she looks funny. I would have taken it as a compliment. Don't project your own self image on your baby.

Jen - posted on 07/26/2010

I wouldn't be worrying about what anyone says in passing. My son just turned 10 months is 25 lbs and 29 1/2 inches. He is in the 90% on everything and has the chubbiest cheeks:-) I figure stangers have NO CLUE what they are talking about...like when he's wearing a white onsie and someone says he's a "cute little girl" . I walk away and giggle. I know he's perfect just the way he is, just like I'm sure your daughter is perfect just the way she is.

Jesse - posted on 07/26/2010

i get the same thing to my son is 10 months and 19lbs 28 in long he still fit 6 month onesies and some outfits. Everyone says he is so fat but i dont see it and i dont like when he is call fat chubby or whatever else is said

Crystal - posted on 07/26/2010

I get the same thing! My boy is 10 months old and is 30 inches long and about 22 lbs. One day a lady walked up to me at the store...looked at him and said "hey fat boy". Are you serious? THat is crazy. That was really the only comment that bothered me, but I get it all the time...people call him juicy...chubby, chunky. But I don't like when they say that he is "fat" because he is not. He is between 50thand 75th percentile for weight, but 95th percentile for height....so he is definitely not fat. I guess that as mothers, it is our instinct to protect our children...even when people don't mean any harm in their comments.

Susan - posted on 07/26/2010

Honey, my little girl (9/25) is in 12 mo clothing, weighs 24+ lbs, about 30+" tall, and is healthy as a horse. I'm very proud of my baby - she's beautiful!! I'd LOVE for this woman to say something about my sweet baby bc I want here to see how beautiful God made her! However, when someone says something stupid or hurtful, 1) consider the source; 2) one might not realize he/she hurt you. If you'll never see the offender again, use your own judgment. If you see them regularly, let them know how wonderful your baby is and how proud you are of your little gift from God WHOM HE MADE IN HIS IMAGE.

LOL We joke in my office about cute chubby babies and how truly adorable they are. One lady here says "Don't ya wish chunky thighs were as cute on us as they are on her?!" (Secretly, I do!)

Caren - posted on 07/26/2010

dont worry about it, some people just have no couth!! your daughter by the sound of it is nowhere close to fat or chubby, I have a 10 month old son that is 31lbs, and 31inches long, he is huge but still not fat, hes a solid boy. So don't worry about it as long as your little one is healthy thats all that matters!!

Raven - posted on 07/26/2010

I just can't believe that your child is 19lbs and wears 6 month clothing... My 16 pounder is in 12 month clothes and even those are getting a bit tight and short.

Angie - posted on 07/26/2010

My baby is 10 months old and weighs 25 lbs and wears 18 months clothing.

I take no offense to any weight comments on my babies (I have 3 children), pudgy babies look healthy - babies should be pudgy. No offense to skinny babies out there - they are most likely equally healthy, please no hate comments.

If your baby is healthy and happy - that is all that is important!!!

Jessica - posted on 07/26/2010

Re: last post... I assume that because my baby is 10 months and weights 9.5 kilos (average according to the charts) and lots of people have called her fat.

Jessica - posted on 07/26/2010

I think that when babies are that age, calling them fat is supposed to be a compliment.

Camille - posted on 07/25/2010

That is so annoying! I do think people just say random things sometimes when they're not exactly sure what the situation calls for. Or they are super control freaks and have to have their two cents in everything. I had one lady come up and tell me "As a mother of 4 and grandmother of 10, this water is much too cold for your baby" talking about the less heated pool at the rec centre! I couldn't believe it! I was with a girlfriend doing an aquacise class...all did was smile and say "thanks for your concern but I've got it under control thanks" gggggrrrrrrrr....
The only thing you can do is vent!

Shar - posted on 07/25/2010

It upsets me all the time, I normally roll my eyes at the person, don't give them the time of day to say anything to them and walk away, it's my take a deep breath moment. I love that my son has some extra skin on him as he is growing quite fast into it all. He's just got all that skin to grow tall and tower over me one day (sooner I think, he's 2.5 feet tall, while I aam all but 5 feet tall)

Justyna - posted on 07/25/2010

don't let it get to you.......People make the stupidest commetns all the time.........they say something before they think..........I wouldn't worry about it too much........just smile and walk away

Tonya - posted on 07/25/2010

my baby is 10 months and he is 25lbs, in size 5 diapers and in 18mo clothes. hes huge and im tiney he looks like he has binders every two inches up his arms and legs! i get coments all the time, i usually respond to the fat coments with yes hes healthy! i am thankful he is healthy and hes only in the 90ith percentile, people dont realise what they say or what sizes babies really are. the size on the tag on the clothes are like speed limit signs, just a suggestion! usually they mean it as a copmliment, everyone loves a fat baby!! all you can do is smile i think they all mean well!

Sarah - posted on 07/25/2010

hey, my teN month old is a big girl!! she is the same size as my friends 14 month old!! people alway tell me she is HUGE! i dont really care as she is healthy and happy... your baby doesnt even sound big at all!

Samantha - posted on 07/25/2010

I have had the same rant for the oast 3 months my daughter is also 10months yesterday and she is 18 pounds so when I see smaller babies that are for say 3 months or 6 months the size is such a jump that I will say oh my gosh he or she is adorable there soo tiny I have had soo many peopple get ticked and say you think there tiny there huge. I have also had my daughter be told that she is sooo big. I don't understand why everyone wants unhealthy babies it disgusting.

Meghan - posted on 07/25/2010

My baby is skinny but tall, and in the 50th percentile for everything, so how can she be any more "average"? Yet, I get comments from my nana all the time, asking when I will "fatten her up" so she can be more cuddly. Weird. Babies need all the full fat they can get until they're 2, and how is commenting on their girth - large or small - going to help them in the future in ANY way? Our culture is already obsessed with body image. I say, please abstain from commenting on my daughter's body! If she walked up to you as a toddler and said, "You're fat!" you'd say my child is rude and that I should teach her to mind her manners.

Well, wouldn't that be the pot calling the kettle black?

Naomi - posted on 07/25/2010

My son is very small foR his age and i get told he is massive and then i get told he is too small!! It annoys me ALOT! I don't even like hearing he is too skinny for his age. I think that is almost as much an insult as him being too fat!! Then i've read on forums how people think all skinny babies are ugly so i guess you can't win! Every baby is cute and perfect in there own way :)

Heather - posted on 07/25/2010

It sounds like you're concerned about your body image (as most of us are) and took it personally. We're much too hard on ourselves and society is unfair with issues around weight and women in particular. That said, babies are SUPPOSED to be fat! It's what makes them so adorable. It really sounds like that's the angle the woman was taking since she included the word cute. Also, if you do have a chunky little munchkin, you should consider yourself lucky. Some of us have babies that need to gain weight and it's quite worrisome.

Katrina - posted on 07/25/2010

The same thing happened to me in the ER - (i broke my arm) .. anyway.. the nurse was saying how cute he was and called him fat.. if i was not in tears i would have said something.. and he is above the 95th percentile.. at 31'' and 25 pounds.. but he is perfectly healthy! And his doctor absolutely loves him. I actually asked her at one point whether he was too big and she said that until they are 2 and they're walking in with cookies or candy and are overweight they do not worry about it!

So don't stress - i'm sure she's beautiful

Peta - posted on 07/24/2010

I love my chubalicious baby. She has baby fat and is gorgeous. Chubby cheeks, legs and tummy. A fat baby is a healthy baby. She does not like food so much and still nurses a ton. So yes she is fat and I would have just smiled and agreed that your baby is gorgeous and baby fat is wonderful!

Sarah - posted on 07/24/2010

Yeah, my son is really tall for his age (30.75 inches @ 10 months) and his legs are really super muscular... when people mistake his strong legs for fat it really pisses me off!!! He's really slim everywhere else so how are you gonna say he's fat?!? So yeah you're not the only one haha!!

Jenn - posted on 07/24/2010

Just a thought - but, depending on how old the woman was, it could actually have been a compliment. In the not too distant past, "fat" babies were "healthy" babies, because they could survive cold winters & childhood diseases. It was a sign of a healthy child - and a good parent who could really provide for that child - if a child was "fat". Maybe she just didn't think about how else it could have been interpreted? People are going to say unthinking things all the time - sometimes they're trying to be mean, but its been my experience that usually they're just not thinking about what they're saying before it comes out of their mouth. I've had these types of comments all along since our LO is consistently 95% on height & weight. It helps to have a response ready to go: I usually respond by saying how pleased his pediatrician is with his progress & how healthy & happy he is. Good luck with future (well-meaning?) idiots. : )

Cynthia - posted on 07/24/2010

i get very defensive too when people make comments on my lad. he's ten months now, was born less than 4 lbs, and he's now about 19. he still wears 3-6 months clothes, but he's healthy and strong (trying to walk, etc.). it does amaze me when someone tells me he's huge, especially when their four or five month old is the same size...i i used to get really irritated with it, now i just don't really care. took a while to get to that point though! the mamma bear in me keeps wanting to take over :)

Stephanie - posted on 07/23/2010

Don't be to upset. It happens all the time. Babies just go through a chubby faze. People find it so cute. I think my daughters legs are so cute because they are chubby. However I don't personally go up to people and say that.

Kendra - posted on 07/23/2010

I get those kinds of comments all the time a/b my 9 month old who is also 19lbs & normal & average for her age. She also wears 6mo-12 mo clothes depending upon the brand. I also get comments a/b how skinny my 3 yr old is & ppl think something is wrong w/ her b/c she's only 27lbs. The pediatrician says both of my girls are fine & where they should be. I don't know why total strangers feel to need to voice their opinion a/b other ppl's kids. I think these ppl need to keep out of other ppl's personal business & keep their comments to themselves.

Cynthia - posted on 07/23/2010

Just brush it off. Everyone will have their own opinions and everyone will say stuff and some you will not like. My son is 10 months old and 23 lbs. He is a BIG boy. People just don't have tact when they say things. I am sure the lady was trying to be nice and she really did think it was cute.

Sarah - posted on 07/23/2010

I know that people aren't trying to be mean, but it drives me nuts when people comment on my baby's "fat little cheeks"... just because she doesn't look anorexic with a sunken in face doesn't mean that something is wrong. My daughter is 10 months old and only 19 lbs. as well. She has cute little rosy cheeks and chubby legs and is perfectly healthy!!!

Sherry - posted on 07/23/2010

Your baby doesn't sound fat at all. Our country is obsessed with weight, yet often the ones calling others fat are either fat themselves or overweight, at the very least. I've always been naturally big and have heard all the stupid comments but I don't let them bother me. I just tell people to mind their business and deal with their own weight problems.

As for my son, though he is almost 10-1/2 months and almost 20 pounds, his doctor keeps saying he's underweight. He is 29 inches tall, so the height/weight chart keeps showing him as underweight, though he's the perfect weight for his age and size. Last time the doctor implied we were starving him! He sees his doctor next week and if he starts saying my baby is underweight again, I'm finding another doctor.

Jennifer - posted on 07/23/2010

I get this alllll the time! It drove me nuts before!! It used to be with my first girl, and now with my second, who is 9 months and 24 pounds. It really used to bother me but I got used to it, Now I just say " yeah shes my chubby girl!, and I LOVE her that way!" Im not a twig myself so maybe it has something to do with our own insecurities but I still dont like when they call her fat, i dont mind chunky or chubby, but I think alot of people actually like chubby babies and they call them fat or "lil fat girl" without even thinking its bad....

Tanya - posted on 07/23/2010

I don't think that people mean it that way. I think it's more so a "chunky" thing. I have a few people who call my child fat, my sister being one. It does drive me nuts. But my son weighs almost 30 pounds. and he is almost 11 months. But that's when you say something.

Danae - posted on 07/23/2010

ok i know exactly how u feel my daughter is also ten months, but weighs 24 pounds and is in 24 month size already! i love that she is chubby but others always ask if sheis two and laugh when they find out her real age! i really just ignore people! after all she is my chunky monkey!

Mary - posted on 07/23/2010

My little girl is 10 months and 27lbs! People call her chubby all the time. They say she has rubber band marks on her arms. It doesn't bother me in the least. Heck, the first thing the dr said when he pulled her from my tummy (c section)_ was whoa this baby has a huge head! haha.. I laughed so hard!! She is a chubby little piece of perfection! I am sure the lady didn't mean anything at all by it. As long as your baby is happy then who cares what people say!!

Leila - posted on 07/23/2010

Yikes..your baby is not fat at all..my 10month old is probably at least 25 lbs and everyone comments to me how big he is and how fat his legs and such..and he is!! But it doesn't bug me in the least. I could care less and you shouldn't either. People are just dumb!