Importance of proper weight gain in babies
Many questions and concerns arise in the mind while caring for a newborn baby. One of the many such concerns is about the child’s weight gain. A baby’s health during the early months of development is determined by his weight, height and head circumference. Since a baby’s weight is one of the parameters of growth and development, it is important to keep it in check.
Facts about baby weight
While most parents start expecting an increase in the baby’s weight right after birth. Whereas the fact is that the baby’s weight does not increase after 5 days of delivery. Instead, the baby loses about 5-10% of his birth weight during this period as his body loses excess fluids. This process is slow and steady. The baby’s weight needs to be monitored after a week. Two weeks after delivery, the baby’s weight is equal to its birth weight because it loses weight in the initial days.
If we track a baby’s weight by months, an average breastfed baby’s weight doubles his birth weight by 3-4 months of age. By the age of one year, the child’s weight becomes almost 3 times more than the birth weight.
The average weight of a breastfed baby by month should be as follows:-
- The expected weight gain of a 0-4 month-old baby is 155-241 grams per week.
- The expected weight gain of a 4-6 month-old baby is 92-126 grams per week.
- The expected weight gain of a 6-12 month-old baby is 50-80 grams per week.
Thus, we see that as age increases, the rate of weight gain of a child slows down.
The baby’s weight is properly monitored right from the time of conception and the mother is also advised to take proper diet and supplements if necessary. This ensures that the baby gains maximum weight. During the third trimester, the baby’s weight is maximum compared to the first few months of pregnancy as the fetus is now fully developed.
Breastfeeding vs Formula Feeding
The first question that comes to the mind of mothers is about the weight gain of the baby. Various studies have shown that babies who are breastfed during the first year of life grow more rapidly during the first three to four months. And then the weight increases more slowly for the rest of the first year. Generally, breastfed babies gain less weight at age 1 than formula-fed babies. But once they turn 2 years old, this difference disappears. Breastfed and formula-fed babies weigh about the same. If seen, breastfeeding is beneficial for both mother and child, for which there is no fixed formula for feeding.
infant feeding pattern
Ideally, feed milk when the baby is hungry so that the baby will not drink more than required (overfeed) nor drink less than required (underfeed). It is important to recognize the signs that your child shows when he is hungry. These are – the child keeps sucking his thumb excessively while crying, becoming irritable when handled by anyone other than the mother, etc. During the initial days, there are no clear signs and at that time the mother has to feed as per her understanding.
However, a routine can soon be set.
One should wait for at least 6 months to introduce other foods to the baby. Monitor your child’s weight appropriately. However, remember that no two babies are alike and the proportion of weight gain varies between babies.
Notice: The information provided in the article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor.