Collected frrom Wold of MOM'S
Your little one's weight was measured the day he was born and is one of the most common protocols a doctor follows post-birth. This means that the weight of a baby is important aspect of health and needs to be monitored constantly. So, is your baby meeting normal weight standards? What should you do if his weight gain is inadequate?
Keeping a close check on your baby's weight gain is an important measurement of growth. You can use a weight chart for this, which is designed to give one a general idea of the growth patterns that a baby at every stage should exhibit. While weight gain in babies can vary, here are some basic guidelines you can expect your baby to meet, and understand the indicators of a potential problem.
Part 1: Guidelines for Normal Weight Gain in Babies
- Standard Birth Weight in Newborns:
On an average, a newborn baby should weigh about 3.4 kgs (or 7.5 pounds) with weight loss of about 200 grams (7 to 8 ounces) after the first few days of birth. This average is a baseline and it must be remembered that half of all babies will weigh less than this average while the other half will weigh more.
- Average Weight Gain in Breastfed Babies:
The average weight gain for a breastfed baby is greatly influenced by the frequency of feedings. Babies who are breastfed on demand and who enjoy unrestricted night nursing tend to grow faster than babies who are restricted to a breastfeeding schedule. This is due to the fact that prolonged intervals between feedings reduce the produce of milk while at the same time lowering the levels of fat and calories in each feeding. Typically the weight of exclusively breastfed babies should get doubled by 4-5 months. By the time they are a year old, their weight should have increased by 2 -3 times.
- Standard Weight Gain Till 12 Months:
The first 12 months of your baby's life are a period of great growth and great caution! It's to be noted that breastfed and formula-fed babies grow at about the same rate during the first 3 months, although breastfed babies tend to gain weight faster. From the 4th month onward, formula-fed babies tend to grow at a faster rate than their breastfed counterparts. Also, breastfed infants are generally leaner, consuming 20% less milk than formula-fed infants at this stage - and this is perfectly normal.
- Average weight gain in infants for the first three months: between 112 – 200 grams per week
- Average weight gain for the first six months: 1/2 to 1 kilogram per month
- Average weight gain from 6 to 12 months: drops to 1/2 kilogram per month
Part 2: How To Boost Weight Gain in your Baby
When it comes to maintaining or boosting healthy weight gain in babies, please remember that the difference in growth rates in formula fed and breastfed babies should not be a basis for any comparison. When it comes to your baby not gaining weight, this should not be the norm by which you evaluate the situation. A baby who is breastfed on demand and who graduates to other nutritious food once he starts a solid diet is a healthy baby. A baby who has been formula fed is also a healthy baby, regardless of what any growth pattern or popular opinion may say.
That said, boosting weight gain in your baby is mainly a matter of food! If your baby has been introduced to solid foods, and you have got a go-ahead from the paediatrician, it's time to up the quantity of the following foods in his diet. They have been proven to boost weight gain and are also packed with nutrition!
- Milk: Breastmilk, needless to say, is full of nutrients that will cause your baby to gain weight. But this can be substituted with regular milk or formula milk if the baby is older and the doctor has okayed this.
- Banana: If your baby is above 6 months old then a puree of banana will help him pack on a few pounds. It's also a tasty food so there will be limited fuss!
- Peas: Peas are high in dietary fibre, thiamine, vitamin C and also in magnesium and niacin! It is a great food to introduce to a baby above 6 months in the form of a puree.
- Oats: Oats are high in fibre and can be made into porridge for babies. They are well-liked by infants and also beneficial for their digestive systems.
- Ragi: Also known as finger millet, ragi is high in dietary fibre and can be introduced to your baby in the form of ragi kheer, porridge, idlis or laddoos. Here's a superb recipe for ragi kheer shared by one of our mommy chefs.
Most babies and mothers are equipped
with natural tendencies to grow healthy. But every infant will differ in his growth rate. Once again it should be remembered that weight charts are only there as a guideline to establish growth patterns in children. As a mom, it is natural to worry about diversions from the pattern. But if your doctor is happy and your baby seems healthy otherwise, trust that you are doing a great job; just keep mommying!
