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A lot of parents worry about how much their baby weighs. If a parent is expecting a big baby, it’s common to worry that the child may be too heavy. On the other hand, if a parent has a small child, they may feel that their infant isn’t growing enough. In both cases, this can lead to unnecessary anxiety and stress for parents as well as babies. Every baby is different and unique, which means they will have their own ‘normal’ weight range or new baby weight distribution curve. This distribution varies based on gender as well as ethnicity. It is important not to compare your newborn with anyone else’s children/babies – particularly friends or relatives who are more likely to have bigger babies than you.
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Before giving birth, it is suitable for parents to familiarize themselves with the weight curves for all babies of both genders.
Girls are typically smaller than boys when they are born. A newborn girl usually has an average baby weight of 2200 grams or about 4.8 pounds at birth, while boys have an average weight of about 2800 grams – over 6 pounds. Around four months of age, most girls will become heavier than boys by around 100-300 grams per month on average. By one year old, girls tend to be 500-700g heavier on average.
When you consider the range of baby weight for each gender at birth and throughout their first year, it becomes easier to understand why newborns have so much variation. Most babies weigh within the normal range for their age, but it is essential to remember that there are always exceptions.
If you’re worried about how much your baby weighs, a pediatrician can help reassure you and your child throughout their early months of life. It’s also important not to forget about breastfeeding (if possible), as breast milk is the healthiest option, nutritionally speaking, for both mother and child. The commercial formula may be necessary if you choose not to breastfeed or your baby struggles with nursing. However – this doesn’t mean that your baby needs additional fortified food/formula (such as soy-based products) until at least six months of age…nor does it mean that your baby needs extra solid food before they are ready for it. Breast milk/formula is all most babies need until six months, when meat can be introduced. Once solids are introduced, weight gain may slow or stop depending on the child’s appetite.
There is no magic formula for how much a baby should weigh at each age…nor is there a ‘normal’ weight for a newborn. Each baby has its unique distribution curve – wide or narrow or somewhere in between. There are also infant gender differences to consider as well as ethnicity. If you’re concerned about your child’s growth, pay attention to other signs besides their size (for example, are they meeting developmental milestones?) and discuss your concerns with a pediatrician. Since every baby is different, it’s important to remember that you know your child best and need to do what’s right for them as an individual.
What causes low new baby weight?
There are several reasons why a baby might be born weighing less than average, including:
· Being born prematurely (before week 37) – sometimes babies need help with their breathing when they’re paid and may stay in an incubator longer while being treated for this. Sometimes very premature infants have health issues related to being born so young.
· Being born to a fragile mother, perhaps because she doesn’t have enough food or gets proper nutrition during pregnancy.
· Having a single parent who is thin (especially if there’s no other adult around to make sure the baby’s appropriately fed).
· Mother drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or taking street drugs during her pregnancy.
How low should my newborn baby be weighed?
According to research, normally, babies are born weighing somewhere between 5� and 9 pounds. Of course, this will depend on the height of your baby’s parents – if they’re short, then maybe your baby will be shorter than average even if he weighs more than average; likewise, if your baby’s parents are tall, then perhaps your newborn will be taller than average even if he weighs less.
But this is just a rough guide – every parent worries when their child isn’t growing as big or strong as other children their age, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with them. If you have any concerns about your baby weight, though, always speak to a doctor.
How often should my newborn baby gain weight?
Don’t panic if your newborn isn’t putting on weight quickly enough. It can take up to 6 months for babies to gain anywhere near the expected amount of weight (this process will likely take twice as long). However, below are some things that may cause your baby to gain weight too quickly.
· Being born prematurely – babies smaller than average at birth tend to catch up more quickly after they’re born, whereas if a baby is born larger, he will take longer to grow into his size.
· The stage of breast development your baby’s mother is at – sometimes mothers with large amounts of milk can produce plenty of nutritious milk for their child, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the baby will be gaining weight as quickly as he should be. There may be so much food available that it isn’t bothering to go further down the digestive system and turn into body fat and tissue! However, this shouldn’t cause long-term problems, however, and most often, your newborn will start to gain weight more quickly once he’s past the early weeks and your milk supply has adjusted to suit his needs.
· Having a very overweight mother – if mom eats plenty of food, the baby will be well fed too. But this doesn’t always mean that baby is growing as quickly as he should be, especially if the mother only gained a lot of weight during her pregnancy. A doctor may recommend putting him on a special diet to get his weight to an acceptable level for his age. However, you don’t want to switch him from breast milk or formula onto solids until he’s at least four months old because it might affect your breastfeeding relationship with your child (breastfeeding mothers need to take in lots of healthy calories, so your baby will likely want to nurse every few minutes).
What do I need to know about my newborn baby’s weight gain?
If your baby does start gaining weight more quickly than you’d expect, then that could be a sign that he’s putting on fat instead of muscle mass. Sometimes this can be remedied by making sure he gets plenty of exercises – take him for walks, change his nappy in different positions (this will strengthen the muscles in his back and legs), play games with him when you’re changing his clothes, etc. This way, mom or dad can get involved too! If nothing seems to help, it might be wise to see your doctor; babies who are overweight at an early age are more likely to be overweight later in life.
