Newborn Baby Weight: Common Practices and Concerns to Look For

Body weight in Newborn babies

With all the mixed emotions experienced by a parent when knowing to hold their baby for the very first time ever comes a lot of concerns for your newborn, we get familiar with our body as time passes but with our newborns there is and always will be a lot confusion, fear, and concern in us.

One of the major concerns for new parents is the baby’s weight. What is normal, what should we expect and what should be the body weight for babies in first few weeks and months? In this blog we will help you clear the air around this topic.   

Most newborns weigh between 2.5 kg and 4 kg at birth. However, a baby’s weight can vary based on several factors, including genetics, maternal health, and whether the baby was born full-term or prematurely.

Why do Babies Lose Weight After Birth?

It’s completely normal for newborns to lose around 5-10% of their birth weight in the first few days. This weight loss happens due to fluid loss from the body, meconium (first stool) passage or adjustment to feeding (especially in breastfed babies). 

Most babies regain their birth weight within 10-14 days with proper feeding.

How to maintain Healthy Weight Gain in Babies 

Keeping your baby’s weight gain on track is essential for healthy growth and development. Some effective tips to ensure steady and healthy weight gain in babies are:

1. Ensure Frequent and Effective Feeding

Offer breast milk every 2-3 hours or on demand. Newborns may need 8-12 feeds per day also ensure proper latch and milk transfer for the babies. Formula feeding can also be assured for effective feeding of the babies. Follow your pediatrician’s recommended amounts for formula feeding. Generally, newborns need 60-90 ml per feed every 3-4 hours. To get assured adequate feeding of your newborn monitor wet diapers, there should be at least 6 wet diapers per day to ensure adequate feeding.   

2. Track Growth and Weight Regularly 

Babies tend to regain their lost birth weight by 10-14 days with proper feeding. Keeping regular track of weight of your baby is a good practice for parents to ensure proper growth of the baby. Keep track of length and head circumference as well with the body weight.

3. Monitor for Signs of Slow Weight Gain

If a baby is showing signs like lethargy or irritability, weak sucking reflex, fewer wet diapers than normal, no weight weight gains after 2 weeks, then parents should consult a pediatrician for assessment. 

4. Start Solids at the Right Time

Starting solids at the right time is a good way to support healthy weight growth in babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and solids after that. Starting solids with iron rich food such as banana, sweet potato, dal etc. is a good healthy way. For allergies you can introduce one food a time and check if your baby is allergic to any particular food. 

Weight Milestone By age

1 to 3 Months:

• Babies gain around 150-200 grams per week                     
• By the end of the first month, most babies weigh 4-5.5 kg
• By 3 months, baby weight usually increases by 1.5 to 2 times their birth weight.            

4 to 6 Months:

• Weight gain slows slightly to 100-150 grams per week .
• By 6 months, babies typically double their birth weight.

7 to 12 Months:

• Babies gain about 70-100 grams per week.           
• By 12 months, babies usually triple their birth weight.

These are some general estimates for weight gain in babies, individual growth in babies may vary and regular checkups at pediatric helps monitor the weight gain process.

Every baby grows at their own pace, and slight variations in weight are normal. The major focus of parents should be on steady growth, proper feeding and overall health of their babies rather than just numbers on scale. If any concerns arise, always consult your pediatrician for proper guidance.