Maternal lifestyle during pregnancy and early nutrition and environment of their offspring´s are considered relevant factors for childhood obesity preventative efforts.There are several models for the prediction of childhood overweight and obesity, but most of them have not been externally validated and the factors considered differ greatly among studies since the outcomes are predicted at different ages. The objective of the current review is to examine and interpret the knowledge on the early determinants of childhood obesity development in order to provide relevant strategies for daily clinical work. For this purpose, we have evaluated all the identified prenatal and postnatal factors potentially associated to child adiposity from conception up to the end of the second year of life. Actions to be considered are promoting healthy nutrition and healthy weight status at reproductive age and during pregnancy and monitoring carefully infant growth in order to detect early excessive weight gain. Pediatricians and other health care professionals should provide proper scientific individual nutritional advice to families to counteract excessive adiposity in the offspring. Based on systematic reviews, original papers and scientific reports we provide information to help setting up public health strategies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity