How Much Should My Baby Weigh?
It seems that concerns about weight are all around us these days, and new parents often worry that their babies are too heavy or too thin. It’s important to remember that babies have different shapes and sizes just like adults do, and how much your baby weighs now, and will continue to weigh from month to month, is quite variable. From his or her genetics to how much the baby is fed to the choice between breast milk and formula, a variety of factors may be impacting your baby’s weight.
Birth to Six Months: Most babies grow up to an inch each month during this period. You can expect your little one to gain from five to seven ounces every single week, too. By the time the baby reaches five months old, he or she will have doubled the birth weight. While your little one may look chubby at this point, remember that as his or her activity level increases, what you see now as baby fat will quickly get replaced as those strong little muscles begin to develop.
Six to Twelve Months: Growth will slow a bit during this period, but not as much as you might like. Babies grow about 3/8 of an inch each month during this period, and they tend to gain about five ounces every week. By the time the baby hits one, he or she will have tripled the birth weight. In most cases, baby is 9 to 11 inches longer than the initial birth length as well.
Is My Baby Overweight?
Babies tend to carry more fat than older children because it helps to sustain a regular period of growth while they’re infants. Almost half of a baby’s calories come from fat. That doesn’t, however, mean that little ones needs additional fat and calories. Too much weight can keep your child from crawling or walking on schedule. You can keep your child at a healthy weight by breastfeeding for as long as possible and keeping other options like juice at bay.
Juice isn’t a necessary part of your child’s day, so keep it out as much as possible, or at least limit it to four ounces per day. Also, remember that there are other ways, besides a bottle, to soothe your baby if he or she gets upset during the course of a day. You may want to try a few if you’re worried about weight gain.
Talk to Your Doctor
Your pediatrician is going to be your guide as to how much your child should weight through these early months. It’s essential that you stick to your doctor’s schedule of well-baby visits so you can track his or her weight, height, and head circumference. Tracking the pattern of growth, as well as the actual measurements, is important. While you will understand where your child falls in comparison to other kids his or her age, this statistic isn’t the most important part. A steady pattern of consistent growth is. If there are any problems, continual measurements will help your pediatrician catch them early on.
Sarah is a writer who enjoys children and babies. She frequently contributes to the Baby Gifts & Baskets blog, hosted by http://www.baby-gifts-gift-baskets.com.
