Does Your Baby's Bottle Make Her Thighs Look Fat?

A study just published in the respected journal Pediatrics suggested that when babies gain a lot of weight in their first six months, they would be obese at 3 years old.

While excess weight can be a problem in some babies, perdiatric nutritionists say parents should not put these infants on diets.

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For so long, the main nutrition concern regarding infants has been that they obtain enough nutrients and calories to support good growth and development. Well, America got the memo, at least about the calories.

Now there's an epidemic of obesity, and it seems to appear earlier and earlier in life. This study found that 7.5 percent of 3-year-olds were obese. That's about one in 13 toddlers, and that's 50 percent more than the one in 20 you'd otherwise expect. Of course, there really shouldn't be any obese 3-year-olds.

The cause: Nature? Nurture? Not enough recess?

OK, disregard the recess comment. Actually, this study didn't look at reasons for the obesity, only that it happened.

The researchers do pose some possible explanations, however, and I can concur, based on 25 years of clinical practice with parents and children:

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Overfeeding. Think about it. You have 6 ounces of formula in the bottle, and your baby wants only 4 ounces. You pester him into taking the other 2 ounces so that you don't have to throw it away. All fine and well, but you're also overriding his internal cues that have told him he's had enough.

Not sensing when your baby has had enough. Feeding babies is one of the most enjoyable things parents can do. You feel as if you're doing your job when your baby takes his bottle and you like feeding him, but when he starts refusing the bottle, you need to learn when to reel it in and not push the issue.

Reinforcing oral fixations. The study didn't look at this, but I see it all the time. Too many parents stick a bottle, a snack or a pacifier into a baby's mouth every time he opens his mouth. It stops him from crying or fidgeting, but it also reinforces the idea that all comfort comes from eating, suckling and anything oral.

Early introduction of solids. The study didn't find an association here, but the researchers didn't probe too deeply either. Babies aren't little adults, and giving solids too early can add unnecessary calories to their diet. Even if your baby can tolerate solids, that doesn't mean he's ready for them.