Is your baby’s daily routine increasing their obesity risk?

During the first few months of a baby’s life, parents tend to develop routines and habits around feeding, sleeping and playing. New research suggests certain routines may greatly impact a child’s risk of obesity.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights nine daily behavioral routines that can influence a baby’s growth in those early months, including using inappropriately sized bottles for feedings, putting a baby to bed asleep instead of drowsy, using a smartphone or watching TV while engaging with a child, and putting an infant to bed after 8 p.m.

“By just two months of age, we can already see patterns in feeding, sleep and play that may shape a child’s growth trajectory,” said Yining Ma, Ph. D., the lead author on the study. “This shows how important it is to screen for these patterns early in infancy so we can support families to build healthy routines, prevent excessive weight gain and help every child get off to the best possible start.”

The World Health Organization reports that 35 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2024. Obesity in young children can have both direct and long-term health consequences, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

“The more information we have to help identify risk factors for obesity among our patients, the better,” says Shelby Ronzio, a pediatric registered dietitian at Advocate Children’s Hospital.

Routines during infancy that increase obesity risk

Ronzio explains how certain routines can impact a child’s chance of becoming obese:

• Sleep: Inadequate and/or irregular sleep can increase appetite-related hormone levels, which can lead to frequent snacking and greater weight gain patterns.
• Feeding: Babies naturally regulate hunger. Watch for signs of fullness including turning away, slow sucking, relaxed body and/or pushing the bottle away. Obesity risk increases when feeding is used to soothe every fuss and cry.
• Nutrition: Regular exposure to juice, puffs, cookies, sweetened baby foods and/or yogurt with added sugar can establish a preference to sweet, calorie-rich foods.
• Movement: Obesity risk rises when babies spend most of the day in car seats, swings and bouncers. Movement is essential for building muscle, regulating metabolism and having a healthy appetite.
• Screen time: The use of screens during infancy is linked to a higher risk of obesity later in life, increased sedentary behavior and/or sleep disruption. Screen time before 18 months of age is not recommended, with the exception of telehealth visits.

“Screening to determine if these obesity risk factors are present can help health care providers recommend resources to families that help build healthy long-term habits,” Ronzio says.

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