How big should a toddler's belly be?

Question

My little girl is 22 months old and weighs 23 pounds. I currently have her on a (almost) gluten-free diet, which keeps her from having diahrrea- and she is gaining weight again. She seems to also have a belly bigger than I recall my son having at this age and sometimes it is bigger than others. I'm sure it's partly the normal potbelly that toddlers seem to have, but it's sometimes so big that her innie belly button starts to poke outward! It's big, taut, and almost feels like a balloon made of skin and muscle.

Am I overreacting, or should I tell this to the next doctor I see? How big is the "normal toddler potbelly", anyway?

Answer 1

Did she have diarrhea often before you stopped giving her foods containing gluten? If so, it could be a sign of celiac disease. People with celiac disease tend to have diarrhea when consuming gluten and not only that but bloated stomachs like your daughter's as well.

Answer 2

You're not over-reacting. To be honest, almost gluten free might as well not be gluten-free at all because if she's having a reaction to it (which it sounds like with what you're describing she is), it's happening on a molecular level.

It sounds like you're in the transition period where you're starting to do the GF diet for the most part, but still aren't quite there yet. Partly GF will take away some of the more obvious symptoms like diarrhea and not gaining weight, but there are dozens of symptoms of celiac and other forms of gluten-intolerance. Until you're completely 100% GF with her you won't be able to tell what symptoms are gluten-related, and what aren't. Until then, you'll see some things go away, but not all.

As someone with gluten intolerance myself and part of an online celiac community of over 10,000 people, I can testify that all it takes to make most of us sick as a dog is the *residue* from a breadcrumb. And most of the time if I get exposed like that I don't get diarrhea, so just not getting diarrhea doesn't mean she's not reacting to the gluten. The belly that feels like you described is a really common reaction.

All that being said, it does take some time to get all of this gluten-free stuff figured out. It's a steep learning curve that takes a while, and during the holidays it's even harder. There is always a transition period where people aren't completely GF, which is what it sounds like you're in the middle of right now.

The best way to go gluten-free is with a lot of SUPPORT from other people who are GF, and other parents who have children on the GF diet.

The message board that I mentioned is www.glutenfreeforum.com . Since we're in the middle of the holidays, we're swapping recipes, product reviews and the discussion is mostly food and baking-related. It's a great time to visit because we're all baking and experimenting with things.

It's not as limited as most people think to eat GF, you just have to join a community such as the one I mentioned.

I have been GF just since this past January, and I've done a lot of experimenting with GF products and foods this year with tons of success. I was even given the task of making THE Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. I used a GF pie crust mix made by Gluten Free Pantry (www.glutenfreepantry.com) and the regular recipe off the Libby's can of pumpkin puree (which happens to be GF) and it turned out perfect. Even my 11 and 12yo nephews said that they couldn't tell the difference and only knew it was GF because I made it, and they know I do everything gluten-free.

I've also been doing some early experimenting with traditional family Christmas Cookie recipes, both recipes I've tried with a GF flour blend that I use have come out perfect.

I know this is long, but most people who have a hard time transitioning usually aren't aware of how many GF options are out there.

There are a few message boards for people on the GF diet, for whatever reason, here are a couple of my favorites -

www.glutenfreeforum.com
www.celiacforums.com

To address one of the other people's answers, there has been a lot of new information that has been discovered about celiac just in the last 10 years. They used to think that celiac was a rare childhood disease which most children grew out of. They've discovered now that celiac is a genetic autoimmune disease which often has a period of asymptomatic "remission" in adolescence. But it still lies under the surface and the symptoms can pop back up at anytime in adulthood. I'm not sure if the intestinal damage is still being done during the period of having no symptoms though. Just wanted to mention this just in case you have family or friends who were told the information as it was once understood and had been on a GF diet in childhood and may be having digestive problems in adulthood. If that is the case, they might want to look into this.

I hope your daughter starts feeling better soon.

Again, sorry this is so long.

Nancy

Answer 3

Maybe she could get a wooden high chair with wooden tray, and then have a local carpenter take an extra curve out of the tray to suit and smooth it off nicely / put a new lip on it? Alternatively, maybe go ask some questions on forums for parents of disabled kids - those with conditions that lead to very slow development could well need highchairs when they're physically larger than normal. Or maybe they do something else? I don't know but I'm sure they will. Hope they can figure out what's wrong and get kiddy some help :(

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Answer 4

Her belly shouldn't feel that tight -- my son (who's 2 this week) had some digestive problems in the last year and one of the things his dr told me to watch for was a tight belly like you described. If she's always like that, I'd see your dr -- better safe than sorry..
But, if it's only after she eats that she's like that I wouldn't worry.. I know a little girl who's belly button pops out like a turkey timer whenever she eats (it's pretty funny, actually..).

Good luck and remember - if you feel worried about it, check into it - a mother's instinct is usually right on target.

Answer 5

If your daughter only gets the belly after she eats, then don't worry so much. When kids are little, they get they belly sometimes after they eat. My son is 25 months, and he has a flat belly until just after eating. If her belly is always this way, check with her pediatrician to make sure that there isn't some bigger issue at hand here.

Answer 6

I'm not so sure, depends on the child. Does she look proportionate? My daughter was more than 40lbs at 22months(they put her on a diet, but she was adorable i must say) I remember the doctor saying to give her vitamins and make sure she had balance nutrition because sometimes a potbelly can be a sign of malnutrition. Not like they are starving but like my daughter ate lots of french fries and stuff and not a lot of veggies.

Answer 7

You are *way* overreacting.

Feed her well, take her to the doctor as needed and smother her with love.

That's it. Don't overthink this.

However, children on a gluten-free diet that don't need to be often have gastrointestinal issues later in life so consult a good doctor and dietitian.

Answer 8

my toddler is 23 months old and weighs about 24 pounds. he does not have a pot belly either did my 3 yearold at that age. i would talk to a doctor and get her checked out. just to see if she is ok. i have seen other children with those types of bellies. good luck

Answer 9

I think that you should hold off on going to the doctor about this until your daughters 2 yr checkup.. Obviously it's not that far away, and if you still have concerns then you can ask the doctor then!! Good luck to you

Answer 10

i would say this is normal potbelly for a toddler
looking bac at home videos mi sisters bellybutton was outtie due to hers, but she is now 19 and perfectly healthy with an inny belly button and a flat stomach!

Answer 11

I am the oldest of 7 kids, and my youngest sister is the same age as your little girl and she has a big belly too, all of us did. Don't stress about it, they grow out of it soon.