Now, at age 5, he has reportedly kicked the habit, although he now seems to have another addiction. Food.
Aldi Rizal was discovered in a poor village in Sumatra, Indonesia, puffing on a cigarette while riding his tricycle.
After his lifestyle was discovered, he was taken for play therapy sessions in the capital Jakarta for two weeks to take his mind off his 40-a-day habit and learn to be a normal toddler for the first time.
Now, a new documentary has shown the progress made by this little boy. It has been revealed that he has managed to stay off the cigarettes, but is still dangerously unhealthy.
His mother revealed that Aldi faces temptation often:
‘There are many people still offering Aldi cigarettes, but Aldi no.”
However, Mrs Rizal is now worried about her son’s weight, as he developed food cravings while quitting smoking, and now has a big appetite.
Mrs Rizal said the strong-willed little boy now demands food in the same way he used to beg for cigarettes, and the family struggles not to give in to his tantrums.
She said: ‘When Aldi first quit smoking he would demand a lot of toys.
‘He would bang his head on the wall if he couldn’t get what he wanted. That’s why I get him cigarettes in the first place – because of his temper and his crying.
‘Now I don’t give him cigarettes, but he eats a lot. With so many people living in the house it’s hard to stop him from getting food.’
Mrs Rizal must also persuade Aldi’s siblings and the rest of the family not to give in and provide him with junk food when she is not around.
Doctors hope that if Aldi can lose around half a stone to a stone, his weight will eventually even out as he starts to grow taller.
