anyone here have a toddler in the 100+ percentile for height and weight? How is your back?

[Anonymous]

My 32 month old boy has been giant since third trimester. He weighed 10 1/2 pounds at birth. He is not even 3 and he is 3 foot 3 and 39 pounds. He is the size of most four year olds but of course behaves like the 2 1/2 year old that he is...he wants to be picked up and carried, sometimes he won't cooperate so he needs to be lifted/carried or held down (ie diaper changes, getting in car seat, going up and diwn stairs).
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To clarify, he is not overweight (confirmed by ped) ..he is just off the charts tall..

Can anyone here with off the charts large toddlers relate to the body pain that comes with lifting and carrying these kids? I feel like my body has had it!

Thanks for listening...

[Anonymous]

My back hurts, often! Getting regular exercise (running, for me) helps it the most. Unfortunately I haven't been going to the gym lately.

I try to not carry him, as much as possible. Hard at that age, because he gets out of control pretty often and needs restraint!

[Anonymous]

I am nervous about this too ... My DD is 99% weight and 95% height. 7 months old and 23lbs. I can't imagine what its going to be like in a year! I was thinking of getting a sling or something to help just take some of the weight off of my arms around the house when she wants to be carried. My friend has a seven sling which I was thinking about. Or something similar.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a toddler yet but I have an 8 month old that is trending this way. It sometimes makes me sad because my arm strength hasn't grown as fast as he has and sometimes my husband has to do more in the carrying department than I do which makes me sad. I also hate how people think he is older and expect him to act older. Before he could sit up we would get a lot of crap at restaurants about not putting him in a high chair.

I wish there was a big and tall baby store for baby gear that has higher weight and height limits. There were so many things we couldn't use or buy because of his weight.

[Anonymous]

This sounds basic but make sure you're lifting him the right way. Do not lift with your back. Squat down and lift with your leg muscles. Google if you need to.

[Anonymous]

Just to be clear, you can't be above the 100th percentile. That would mean that you're taller or heavier than every child your age who exists, plus some other kids your age. Which is, of course, impossible.

[Anonymous]

I have a 4 month old who is 19lbs and picking him up in his carseat is almost impossible for me, so I sympathize with you!

[Anonymous]

My niece is like this. 30mo old. She's 35lbs and 3ft tall. Not fat, just a 2yr old in a 4yr old's body. Lift with the knees, not the back. Stop lifting, and hold hands instead.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my now 6 year old is DS very tall and has always been heavy.

You stop lifting them much earlier. I remember feeling bad about that at the time, because it was developmentally appropriate for him to want to be carried, picked up, etc. But I couldn't do it and I just would tell him that and he had to deal.

Also, my DH did 100 percent of the lifting when he was around and I never felt bad about it. It's hard and it will make you ache.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Both my OB and PT told me to stop carrying my kids so much. I don't have 1 big toddler, but instead 2 average size twins, almost 3yo. I've starting telling them I can't carry them, because it hurts mommy's back and the doctor says no. That helps sometimes.

I empathize with you

[Anonymous]

Also, I try to cuddle with my twins more while we are sitting and make them walk to me.

[Anonymous]

My DS is the same age - in the 85% percentile for height and weight, so not quite as big but still a weight workout.

We potty trained. Not related to his size - he was ready - but it had the unexpected benefit of cutting down on the carrying for diaper changes.

Plus - it made him feel more independent. He's not as interested in being carried as much anymore. Which makes my heart ache a bit of course - but we do a lot of snuggling and hand holding, which helps make up for it a little bit.

[Anonymous]

Time to start potty training. Seriously. That will eliminate the diaper changes. And start changing him standing up, in the bathroom so he associates the bathroom with that function.

If you HAVE to carry him, I find it's easier to carry on my back or shoulders. The Becco carrier allows you to carrie on your back or hip and there are of course backpacks as well. But trying to get him more independent is a worthy goal.

[Anonymous]

Oh, yes.

I had days I got to work on Monday and wondered if I as coming down with something because I just ached all over. Nope, it was just having been home a weekend with my kid!

And pregnant me trying to get an unhappy forty lb three year old dressed and out the door? It wasn't pretty. DH did most of that kind of task, but when I had to, ugh.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. Charge was 3' 2", 36 lbs at 2.5, sister was 3'3", 39 lbs at just-turned 5. We did a lot of races, balancing games, having kids crawl all over me on the floor. Kids' favorite was doing exercises with me, as in they were the weights. As long as you are capable of supporting their weight and exercising correctly, it can be fun to benchpress a giggling child, but they have to be mature enough to hold still.