A young mum has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after sharing videos of her “giant” four-month-old baby, who weighs an eye-popping 22 pounds, with some online critics accusing her of child abuse, despite doctors confirming the baby is perfectly healthy. Maci Mugele, 21, began documenting life with her son Gunner on TikTok, posting lighthearted clips that often feature the baby to songs like I Like Them Chunky by Will.i.am. Gunner, born on February 19, weighing a healthy 8lb 1oz, has since grown rapidly, tipping the scales at 22lb 8oz and measuring 2.5 feet tall.
Maci says Gunner always measured large during her pregnancy and has consistently had a hearty appetite since birth, eating more than average. “He always measured a week or two ahead,” she added. “Even in the hospital, doctors said he was just eating more than the average baby, but that it was perfectly fine.”
But what Maci thought would be a heartwarming glimpse into her motherhood journey has drawn ire from some corners of the internet. One viral video of Gunner has garnered over 20 million views, along with a flurry of mixed reactions.
While many users cooed over Gunner’s “adorable” rolls and praised Maci for raising a healthy baby, others took a much harsher stance.
Some commenters labelled the baby’s size as “unhealthy” with one calling the video “child abuse” and another added: “He’s booked in to put my new windows in next week.”
Maci says the criticism was deeply upsetting. “It made me upset to realise there are people like that in this world,” she said.
“I don’t know how it’s cruel or abusive that I feed him whenever he’s hungry. If anything, it would be abusive not to.”
Despite the backlash, Maci stands firm in her parenting. Doctors have assured her that Gunner, who ranks in the 100th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height, is perfectly healthy and thriving.
Still, the backlash has been a sobering reminder of the dark side of viral fame. “I thought people would think it was cute,” she admitted. “I didn’t realise how horrible people can be.”
Fortunately, support from other parents and users has helped Maci weather the negativity. One user wrote, “The amount of people who are calling a BABY fat.
“He’s got the chunk because he’s going to be tall. That’s how it works.”
Another added: “If you’re so bored that a baby bothers you, something is wrong — not with the baby, with you.”
Maci says she’ll continue to share her journey, not for attention, but to show that all babies grow at their own pace.
“He’s happy, healthy, and that’s all that matters.”