Doctors will monitor your little one’s weight, length, and head size starting on the first day. After all, growth is a reliable sign of one’s general well-being, and taking note of this helps doctors (and mamas alike) know how healthy the baby is. Babies who are developing normally are generally seen as healthy, however slow growth may indicate a problem.
Now, the baby weight and height can vary greatly. Babies who are born at full term typically weigh 7 pounds, 5 ounces, while other healthy, full-term infants are born under or even over that average weight. So, how does one know if the baby is alright and healthy? That’s where monitoring and consulting the weight for newborn chart comes in handy.
The pace of weight gain of your little ones will be a key determinant of their general health and development as they grow. At each well-child visit, your baby's pediatrician will check weight, length, and head size to see if your baby is developing as it should. This may all seem like a lot to take in at first but it does get easier, especially when you have good, helpful, and accurate information to use as a guide. That’s why we’ve come up with this weight of infant chart guide with some helpful info and tips to help you mamas understand this process a little bit better. Read on to find out more!
Understanding the Baby Weight Chart
The baby weight and height chart is a chart that maps out a baby’s expected size, weight, and head circumference for each stage of growth. Consulting this height and weight for newborn chart makes it easier for you, your doctor, and other medical experts to monitor your baby's development.
The rate of growth of your child is a reliable predictor of their general well-being and diet. This is accomplished by contrasting your little one’s development with that of other children of the same age.
Your little one’s personal health record most likely includes this weight of infant growth chart. There are various names for this document depending on where you are, such as the Blue Book or the Red Book. The nurse or doctor who cares for your family's health may also keep a growth chart.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) growth guidelines are typically used to calculate infant growth (ages 0 to 2 years).
Percentiles
Babies, much like adults, come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. This is seen by the growth charts using "percentiles." Now, you can expect that some babies will be big while others are smaller, and all of this can be completely normal and not be a cause of concern for mamas. After all, every baby develops at a different rate, and "normal" growth can vary greatly. Your 2 months old baby weight in kg might seem heavier or lighter than other babies but this might still be normal.
This height and weight of infant chart uses "percentiles" to illustrate how vital it is for your little ones to keep growing at a similar rate.
How to Use It
You can monitor the baby weight and height of your little one with growth charts, which display typical growth curves, whenever you take your baby in for a checkup. If your baby's growth resembles that of other babies in that percentile, you (or the medical professional) can plot that information.
At birth and again at two weeks old, your baby is weighed and measured. After then, it is ideal to measure them every month until they are 6 months old in order to monitor their progress. It's typical for someone's weight to fluctuate a little day to day, so there’s no need to be concerned, mama!
What’s a Good Weight For My Baby?
According to the World Health Organization, male babies who reach full-term have an average baby weight of 7 pounds 6 ounces. A female that reached full-term, on the other hand, is listed on the weight of infant chart as having a typical weight of 7 pounds 2 ounces.
However, a baby born between 37 and 40 weeks of pregnancy is found to typically weigh anywhere between 5 pounds 8 ounces to 8 pounds 13 ounces. The baby weight and height that’s classified lower than usual is defined by specialists as less than 5 pounds 8 ounces upon the time of their deliver.
Now, it’s also worth noting that following birth, it's normal for newborns to lose about 10% of their body weight. This decline is primarily the result of fluid loss and is typically unimportant. The majority of newborns regain this weight within a week so this is no major cause of concern.
Factors Affecting A Baby’s Size
- Sex
- Nutrition
- Prematurity
- Medical Conditions
Additionally, it's also good to keep in mind that there are developmental milestones broken down by age, such as those listed above. Male and female vary in size and development, but more often than not, it’s nothing you really need to be worried about. If you do worry, you can consult a medical professional to make sure your little ones are growing and developing well.
Premature Babies
Babies who are born prematurely typically weigh less and are smaller than other newborns. The weight of a “preemie” will mostly depend on how soon they were born, and this will inevitably affect their immediate needs and any premature baby weight gain tips you may want to apply to them.
If your little one is born premature, they will have to continue growing and developing after birth, outside the womb. So, premature babies frequently fall into the "low birth weight" or "extremely low birth weight" categories and you will have to consult a premature baby weight chart in this case.
Premature infants have to get specialized medical care as soon as they are born. They might receive assistance from a professional known as a neonatologist. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is where many preemies stay while receiving medical attention.
When Should I Worry?
Your little one’s growth should be monitored to see whether or not they are healthy and developing normally. As a mama, it’s natural to worry about whether or not your child is developing quickly enough, but you should note that it’s not the only way to determine their health.
In the first week following delivery, all newborns lose some weight. Usually, they acquire this weight back within two weeks. By four months, most newborns have gained twice as much weight as at birth. By 13 months, male babies often have double their weight. By 15 months, female infants often have tripled their weight.
Vomiting or an illness can also impair weight growth. Speak to your family doctor or child's nurse if you ever feel anxious. Speak to your child and family health nurse or doctor if the growth percentile of your infant varies significantly, by 2 main percentile lines. They will evaluate the child's growth pattern to determine whether there is anything to worry about.
Now, mamas, as much as you may want to, you should try not to compare your baby's development to that of other babies as every baby is different and each grow up differently. What’s more imporant to note is that they maintain their growth trajectory at the same percentile. If they do not, then you may want to consult a medical professional to see if there’s anything hindering this growth.