Upon birth, every baby, especially born in hospitals, are measured immediately. The weight at birth is then used as a basis for measuring the baby’s progress as he or she grows. It is not uncommon for the baby to loose up to 10 percent of its body weight days after birth. This happens because the baby is yet to adjust to feeding through the mouth. However, at week 10, the baby needs to have started a steady gaining of weight. Weight gain serves as a sign that the baby’s health is good and that he or she is developing well. Because babies develop at different rates, there are no definite weights set for specific ages. As such, one needs to check with the pediatrician who will determine whether the baby is within healthy weight ranges. On average, the baby should gain;
- Four to seven pounds every week in the first month of birth.
- One to two pounds every month during the first six months after birth.
- One pound each month between 6 to 12 months.
Some of the things that affect the baby’s weight include:
- Feeding habits: Some babies have large appetites for milk, while others don’t. This definitely will affect the overall weight of the baby. In addition, previous researches suggest that bottle-fed babies are more likely to weigh more than breast-fed babies. This is probably because of the different fat compositions contained in the baby formulas and the probability that the composition causes water retention in the baby.
- Metabolic rates: Just like in adults, babies with high metabolism will burn calories faster than babies with slower metabolic rates. Babies with high metabolic rates may grow much faster in heights, but may weigh much lower than shorter babies.