Baby Fat: When to Rejoice, When to Worry

Hailey Chung, left, 28 months, of Germantown, Md, exercises using a beach ball in a Family Funfit Class, taught by owner Celia Kibler, right, at Funfit in Rockville, MD on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. (AP Photo/Leslie E. Kossoff) (Leslie E. Kossoff - AP)

"A child is raised and learns about feeding, eating and activity in that same environment" as the overweight parent, he notes in an e-mail interview.

_ A sustained growth spurt before age 4, in which weight increases more rapidly than height, is another possible warning sign, Holmberg says.

And parents should note if weight appears to be interfering with developmental milestones, such as walking.

Still, always consult a pediatrician before changing your baby's diet.

Several studies suggest that breastfeeding, in addition to its nutritional advantages, lowers the risk of obesity later in childhood. Adds Dietz, "the longer the children are breastfed, the lower the risk." The AAP recommends breast milk for at least the first year.

Parents should also use this time during infancy to establish healthy routines for the entire family, doctors say. For instance:

_ Keep junk food out of the house.

"It is amazing to me how many young children, even under a year of age, are fed sugar-sweetened soft drinks and French fries and other fast foods," Robinson says. "If a parent eats junk food and has it in the home, that is the food their child will learn to eat, no surprise."

Other than the occasional chicken nuggets, or birthday cake at school, Ma steers her kids away from processed foods and avoids them herself, opting instead for fresh vegetables, chicken and fish. She sends her son to preschool with bananas and rice crisps for snacks.

"A parent is always so much more effective as a role model than as an instruction book," says Ma, a project manager for IBM and author of the e-book "You Can Have It All: Baby, Career and Plenty of Sleep."

_ Limit TV time for everyone.

The AAP recommends no viewing for children under 2, but Robinson notes that it's hard to discourage kids of any age from watching too much TV if mom and dad aren't setting a good example.