My Baby Weighs 23 Pounds at 4 Months—People Call It ‘Abuse,’ But I Know He’s Just Healthy and Happy

The internet can be an unforgiving place, and 21-year-old mom Maci Mugele knows that all too well. After posting a TikTok video featuring her adorably large four-month-old son Gunner—who currently tips the scale at 22.5 pounds—she was stunned by the wave of cruel comments that followed.

What was meant to be a sweet and humorous post showing off her “chunky little guy” quickly became a lightning rod for online trolls. Many users harshly criticized her parenting, accusing her of overfeeding him and even suggesting child abuse. One comment sarcastically asked if babies could get diabetes. Another bluntly said, “This should be illegal.”

The viral clip, which garnered nearly 20 million views, was captioned by Mugele with a playful nod to her son’s size: “When you have a 100th percentile, off-the-charts 4-month-old.” In the video, she lifts her smiling baby boy and jokingly adds, “22.5 pounds of pure muscle.”

Born on February 19, Gunner is not only hefty—he’s also tall, ranking in the 90th percentile for height. He’s already over two feet long and wears clothes meant for toddlers. But what’s been most surprising to Mugele isn’t her baby’s rapid growth—it’s the negativity she’s encountered from strangers online.

“I thought people would find him cute,” she shared during an interview with Kennedy News. “I wasn’t prepared for how mean people can be.” The young mom admitted she was genuinely hurt by the flood of unkindness.

“It’s painful to see people make assumptions about me and call me a bad mother, all because my son is big,” she said. “I feed him when he’s hungry. Isn’t that what moms are supposed to do?”

Mugele explained that Gunner has always been large, even before he was born. “He measured ahead in almost every prenatal scan,” she recalled. “By 34 weeks, he was already over 6 pounds.”

At birth, Gunner weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce—heavier than average, but not shocking. He measured 19.5 inches long. Since then, his appetite has been robust, and he’s been growing at a rapid pace. “From day two in the hospital, he’s eaten more than most babies his age,” she said. “Doctors noticed it, but told me it was perfectly okay.”

Importantly, both Mugele and her pediatricians agree: Gunner is in excellent health. “My doctor assured me that some babies are just naturally bigger,” she said. “He’s tall for his age, too, so it balances out.”

Despite the backlash, there has also been an outpouring of love from many who find Gunner’s size adorable. Supportive comments have flooded in, and even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got in on the fun, jokingly claiming “dibs” on the future football star.

Fans chimed in with affection:
“Now that’s a healthy baby!”
“I love me a chunky baby!”
“He’s absolutely precious,” another added.

Mugele now proudly embraces her role as the mom of a big, thriving boy—and she’s found encouragement in the solidarity of other parents who know what it’s like. “Like our doctor said,” she repeated, “he’s healthy, happy, and doing great. That’s all that really matters.”