Posted on 15. Feb, 2015 by in Infant
It seems hard for some people to change their feelings that fatness in babies is attractive and desirable. Relatives and friends may compliment the parents on it as if it were proof of superior care. Some parents think of baby fat as a reserve — like money in the bank — against some possible future adversity or illness. Of course, this isn’t so. Babies who carry around a lot of fat are no happier or healthier than leaner ones, and they tend to develop rashes where their fat folds rub together. Fatness in infancy does not necessarily mean that the baby will be fat for life, but it’s not a kindness to babies to get them fattened up.
On the other hand, babies do need padding. A low-fat diet is not good for babies, because they need to fat to fuel growth. In particular, fat makes up a very important part of the brain, and children who are deprived of calories often suffer from learning problems that can be lifelong.
Babies are often the best judges of whether or not they are getting enough, but not too much, nutrition. You are usually right to follow your baby’s lead. Doctors and nurses who provide well-child care have been trained to identify children who are growing too quickly or not quickly enough. So, when in doubt, ask your child’s doctor.