• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Healthy Baby Weight Gain

December 10, 2010 by ds_9395 Leave a Comment

One of the ways parents tend to measure the health of their babies is by weight gain. It’s hard not to compare your baby to other infants, but the best way to determine if your baby has healthy baby weight gain is to measure her against herself. Consistent growth along a curve (with a growth spurt here and there) means that your baby is gaining weight in a healthy manner.

Healthy Baby Weight Gain

In Utero

Babies start putting on weight during the last five weeks of pregnancy. During this time, weight gain is rapid, as fat is added to the body. Babies born prematurely are often born without this protective layer of fat, and may suffer from complications as a result. Most babies born full-term will have body fat that sits at a healthy 30 percent of total body weight.

Types

Body shape varies among babies, and the weight gain is different for each of these types. Babies who are long and lean (Dr. Sears calls them “banana babies”) naturally burn off calories very quickly. Apple babies have a pleasingly symmetrical, round shape. Pear babies tend to have lovely chubby legs. Apple and pear babies do not burn off calories as quickly as banana babies. They most often gain weight faster than they grow, so that they are above average in weight but perhaps below average in length. This is perfectly normal.

Time Frame

Most newborns weigh between 6 and 9 lbs. at birth, according to KidsHealth. It is not unusual for newborns to lose some of that weight in the weeks shortly following birth, however. Formula-fed babies lose about 5 percent of their weight during the first week of life, while breastfed babies can lose up to 10 percent. Most babies quickly gain the weight back. During the first year, a healthy baby weight gain will just about triple her birth weight, give or take a few pounds.

Considerations

Formula-fed babies tend to gain weight differently than breastfed babies. This does not mean one is healthier than the other. Still, the method of feeding should be taken into account when plotting the baby’s growth on a growth chart, according to AskDrSears.com. Breastfed babies put on an average of between 1 to 2 lbs a month for the first six months of life, and an average of 1 lb during the second six months. Formula-fed babies gain weight faster, starting in the fourth month. At the end of one year, formula-fed babies weigh an average of 1 lb more than breastfed babies.

Warning

Some babies who do not show progress on the growth chart are diagnosed as having a “failure to thrive.” This title is usually given to babies who dip below the third percentile on the growth chart, or who weight 20 percent or more below what is considered a healthy weight for his age, according to BabyCenter. Blood tests or urine tests may be ordered to determine the cause. Feeding problems, such as latching issues in breastfeeding or an allergy to milk, are often the cause. Reflux can also cause babies to spit up before nutrients are absorbed. Once a diagnosis is reached, your doctor can help your baby maintain a healthy weight again.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_9395

April Sanders has been a professional writer since 1998. She has worked as an educator and now writes academic research content for EBSCO Publishing and elementary reading curriculum for Compass Publishing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in social psychology from the University of Washington and a master's degree in information sciences and technology in education from Mansfield University.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things Nobody Will Tell You About Having A Baby

After reading "20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids," I … [Read More...] about 10 Things Nobody Will Tell You About Having A Baby

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

How to Take Wrinkles Out of Polyester With Steam

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

How Long to Bake a Pre-Cooked Frozen Casserole?

Child Seat Belt Laws for a Pickup Truck

Child Seat Belt Laws for a Pickup Truck

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.