What is the ‘right weight’ for a baby?
An average newborn baby weighs 3.2-3.5 kg but a baby can be normal in
weight within the range of 2.5-4.5 kg. Just like adults, babies come in all
shapes and sizes! How much your baby weighs, can be determined by genetics, your
health and nutrition through pregnancy. It is not how much your baby weighs at
birth that’s most important – it’s the rate at which they gain weight
afterwards.
Losing weight
after birth
Every child follows a growth pattern
from birth. Usually the first thing they do is lose weight! There are lots of
theories around why babies lose weight initially. Many babies on average lose
5-7% of their weight in the first few days after birth. By about 7- 10 days old
they should have started to put it on again. From then on baby gains 120-200
grams per week.
Measuring
your baby's growth
Your baby’s growth is usually
measured on a centile chart. Whether big or small, they’re expected to put on
weight at a steady pace, staying in the same range on the chart. Just because
your baby may be at the top or bottom end of the chart doesn’t mean they are
over or underweight.
At 4 months most babies have doubled
their birth weight.
Make sure you attend your baby clinic
regularly. Your baby’s growth and health will be carefully monitored and your
health care professional can answer any questions or concerns you may have.
How much weight should my baby
gain?
The centile charts used to measure growth
are just guidelines. So while your baby’s weight should normally stay in their
range, don’t be worried if they have the occasional blip. These may be caused by
growth spurts, illness, and difficulty adjusting to solids or simply burning up
more calories as they start to crawl. If you have any concerns about your baby’s
growth, speak to your health care professional.