Colombia - Home of the jumbo size kid

by Roger Sinasohn (Subscribe to Roger Sinasohn's posts) Sep 2nd 2008 4:00PM

Categories: Newborns, Babies, Pregnancy & Birth, Weird But True

(Click the photo to see the World's Largest (and Smallest) People)

Move over, Texas -- they do things big in Colombia too. Real big. Like, an eleven-month-old Colombian boy that's already the size of an eight-year-old at sixty-one pounds. He started his massive growth spurt when he was two months old, according to his mother. He's undergoing tests to identify the cause of his massive size; doctors think he may have, among other issues, hyperthyroidism.

Meanwhile, another gigantic baby has come along, born weighing thirteen pounds, two ounces -- about what you'd expect a four-month-old to weigh. Angelly was born by Cesarean-section in northern Colombia and is doing well, other than some breathing problems requiring oxygen.

Unfortunately, being exceptionally big is not always sweetness and light. These kids will miss out on a lot of babyhood -- they're likely going to be too big for a crib altogether too soon, if they ever fit in one. (I know my youngest son, at four months and more than fifteen pounds, has already outgrown his bassinet.) Baby swings and most infant ride-ons are right out, and forget about playing airplane -- unless his dad looks like Andre the Giant (which would, however, explain a lot.)

Still, it's not all bad. Bigger kids tend to be able to hold their head up, sit up, and even walk sooner than their smaller counterparts. It's probably best to think about the positive aspects and hope they stay healthy and happy.

Bizarre and amazing human anomalies(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Source

Comments (51)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Barbara Mayer 9-03-2008 @ 7:06AM

My nephews and neice were each over 11 pounds at birth, the biggest being 13 pounds some-odd ounces. Each of the boys are now 6'9" and 6"11" and the girl is 6'. They have always been extra big for their ages and everyone has always asked if their parents are big. Yes, they are, but not THAT big. Each was the biggest baby ever born in the hospitals in which they were born. No prizes for that though. LOL

DGR 9-03-2008 @ 10:26AM

My son was 11 lbs. 10 oz. at birth. He was small all through grade and high school. He had a tremendous growth spurt the summer of his junior year in high school growing about 5 inches he entered his senior year in high school 5 ft 10 in, he is now 18 and in college and is 6 ft 3 in. My daughter was 7 lbs 15 oz (4 weeks early) and she is a little taller than average at 10 years old and 5 ft 2 in, my husband and I are not tall people, I'm 5ft 8 in and he is 5 ft 9 in, so I don't know where they get it from. But a 61 lb. 11 month old.....I couldn't even imagine!!!!!!!!!

P.K 9-03-2008 @ 11:37AM

It's MOMO syndrome.

Patrick Singer 9-03-2008 @ 12:28PM

My 20 1/2 year old nephew is 6 foot 4 and my 33-year old nephew is 6 foot 6.My 33-year old nephew's mother,my brother's 1st wife,is 5 foot 2.My 20 1/2 year old nephew,my brother's 2nd wife is 5 foot 10.My mother,who is 82 was 6 feet tall at the age of 11 and way back in the 1930's,that was unheard of!!!!!

cmerun168 10-21-2008 @ 10:48PM

"P.K 9-03-2008 @ 11:37AM
It's MOMO syndrome."

no it's not... MOMO comes with DELAYED bone maturation.

sebowe 9-03-2008 @ 7:17AM

These poor kids... My thoughts are with the eleven month old that they can figure this out and stop it before more serious health issues arise. Hopefully he'll be able to partake in all that an average-sized child experiences one day.

g bick 9-03-2008 @ 11:18AM

Being big is a enormas advantage in life. Your stronger and more respected and considered smarter whether true or not. You have advantages in everything from being accepted by certain groups to getting jobs and even love. He doesn't look fat in picture thats negative in some aspects but not as bad as being short.

Chris 9-03-2008 @ 3:12PM

I agree with g-bick, being big is definately to a childs advantage. I'm small (4'9" as an adult) and I have always had problems with people taking me seriously. When applying for jobs, I am often told that I must be 16 to apply. I'm also finding that clothing sizes are getting bigger. I am no longer able to wear a 0 in juniors clothing, and I have to shop in the children's section, usually looking for a 10 or maybe a 12.

sebowe 9-03-2008 @ 5:45PM

I was referring to the 61 lbs. eleven month old. Watch the video provided by the link. He's going to have a hard time in the sense (as mentioned in the second article) that he does not fit into things that a normal sized child can (stroller, crib, etc etc). He cannot wear the clothing that is passed down from his siblings. Because of money issues, the mother is not able to buy new clothing so the child is restricted to the diaper at times. That is what I meant by I hope they figure this out so he can experience all that an infant should.

tekkii 9-03-2008 @ 7:31AM

Kids smoke pot early in Colombia so the kids have munchies all the time !

jil_bob 9-03-2008 @ 7:43AM

This really surprises me! I have a daughter who will be three this month and she is only 29 lbs. That is less than half the 11 moth old in the article. I just can't imagine the mother who has to carry this child around. I agree with sebowe, I hope they figure out what is causing it. What I don't like about the article is that they do not give his height. Is it abnormal also? That would help explain the extra weight. Anyway, best wishes to the child, hope he and his famliy can find a diagnosis soon.

Val 9-03-2008 @ 3:24PM

Doesn't that massive amount of weight on an infant usually mean that there is a metabolic problem? My eldest was 8 lbs 11 ozs at birth and at 6 months weighed over 20 lbs and my pediatrician was chastizing me for having a big baby. He actually wasn't a fat baby - he was built like my husband and only when you picked him up realized he was heavy. Well I told that pediatrician that if he went by those stupid charts, my baby was overweight and should have been put on a diet at birth! The charts are based on the average newborn weighing between 7 and 1 1/2 lbs.

wenchupover 9-03-2008 @ 8:41AM

My third, a son, weighed in at 12 pounds at birth...and he was
delivered NATURALLY. Yes, OUCH! He didn't fit in everything a
newborn does and didn't walk earlier either. He also went through an amazing growth spurt for the first 6 months in particular. Large babies, as well as average sized babies, all go through growth spurts. A larger baby's can appear more apparent. He settled down eventually. He is now 6' 3". His youngest brother only weighed 7 1b 14 ozs yet is now 6' 7". Both myself 5' 11" and their father 6' 3" are tall.
My thoughts are with the 11 month old and his parents, I hope there is nothing seriously wrong with this little boy.

Ericka 9-03-2008 @ 8:39AM

My son was born @ 10lb 10oz, his is now 4 and is 4 ft 2 in tall and weight 82 lbs. he has been through tests and is in the 98%range for boys his age. I am 5'8" his dad is 6'6" we are both large framed. I have a 14 yo that is 6' and 165 lbs. I have a great uncle who was 7'7". so its mostly genetics. Remember one thing certian genes can skip generations.Other then that my 4 yo is a very healthy energetic person.

leah 9-03-2008 @ 9:08AM

someone needs to proof read this article before they post it... if this child does have a thyroid imbalance, he more than likely is suffering from HYPOthyroidism. (not HYPERthyroidism) If he were to have HYPERthyroidism, he would have a problem with losing or maintaining his weight (rather than being overweight). And that is simply NOT the case when an 11mth old is the size and weight of an 8 yr old!!

Natalie 9-03-2008 @ 12:06PM

Leah...you stated with hyperthyroidism you would have a problem losing or maintaining weight...I think you meant to say he wouldn't have a problem losing weight with hyperthyroidism...and I absolutley agree with you, if he is gaining significant amounts of weight it is probably due to hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism, which causes you to lose weight rapidly, and prevents you from maintaining a healthy weight.

Willandjacksmom 9-03-2008 @ 9:53AM

While hypothyroidism can cause excessive weight gain, I know I have it, in children it tends to cause very small stature. Hyperthyroidism is the most likely cause of giantism. While they left out the babies height, by his weight I'm sure he's way above average.

JJ 9-03-2008 @ 1:48PM

Like Ericka I have big kids too. I have one son born 10lbs 14oz and the other 10lbs 2oz. My oldest is 5'11" at 13 yrs old - Youngest is just 4 months but already over 16lbs. I am 5'10" and their dad is about 6'1" - which I think our oldest will surpass. It is genetics but also environmental factors. The average male height in Vietnam is 5'4" but in the Netherlands it is 6'0" (wikipedia).

amijo08 9-03-2008 @ 9:12AM

It sounds like this child has MOMO disease. It is a disease I saw on Discovery Health where children grow at a very fast rate.

NTxsCherokee 9-03-2008 @ 9:57AM

From what this article says, it doesn't sound like Momo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOMO_syndrome

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