Stairs. Entry group. Materials. Doors. Locks. Design

The first thing happy parents tell relatives and friends about their newborn is the sex of the child, as well as his height and weight. Why are these numbers so important? Yes, because these are one of the first vital signs that can tell about the development and health of the baby.

What weight is used as a basis?

At birth, each baby is weighed and his height is measured. Three or four days later, on the day of discharge, he is put on the scale again. For what? The fact is that it is the weight upon discharge that is taken as the basis, and weight gain is calculated from it.

Factors influencing birth weight:

1. General condition and health of the child.
2. Heredity. Tall and large parents often give birth to strong babies. And vice versa, if the parents are short and thin, the children may appear “miniature”.
3. Floor. It has been observed that boys are heavier than girls at birth.
4. Nutrition during pregnancy. If it was high in calories, the fetus also gains weight.
5. Physical and mental health of the mother. This may include possible stresses experienced by a woman during pregnancy.
6. Bad habits. If the mother smokes, drinks heavily, or takes drugs, the baby is likely to be born with a low birth weight.

Girls are usually not born as big as boys

At birth, a normal weight is considered to be in the range from 2800 to 3700 g, although these figures are arbitrary and depend on many circumstances. Around the third day, almost all children lose from 5 to 8% of their original body weight. This is the so-called physiological weight loss. Its reasons are as follows:

• meconium (original feces) comes out;
• there is a loss of moisture reserves, so necessary to safely pass through the birth canal;
• The diet is being adjusted: in the first days, colostrum is the main food for babies. It is produced in small quantities, although in terms of energy indicators it meets the required standards.

Weight gain norms: what to focus on?

Many parents ask the question: what is the norm for weight gain in newborns? The concept of “norm” in this matter is quite relative, but still it cannot be ignored. First of all, it is worth deciding whether the child is breastfed or whether the one-month-old baby is already being supplemented with formula, or maybe he is even on artificial nutrition.

This is important because formula-fed babies receive a stable composition and volume in the bottle each time they feed. Many tables of increases were calculated precisely with this in mind, since past generations, unfortunately, for the most part, grew up on infant formula.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted large-scale studies, on the basis of which special tables were compiled on weight gain in children who are breastfed by month. Below is a table showing indicators of weight gain in children under two years of age.

Weight gain chart

The first 4 months are the most active weight gain

A healthy one-month-old baby gains weight most actively. Every week he gains from 90 to 150 grams or more. Therefore, by the end of the first month, infants weigh 400-1200 grams more than at discharge.

A newborn breastfed baby can have a large increase - 1500-1700 g. This is not always bad: baby fat, which makes the baby plump, is an energy depot that will be quickly used up in due time. In the meantime, it is necessary for the proper development of the nervous system, as it is involved in the myelination of nerve endings.

However, too rapid weight gain may indicate cardiovascular, endocrinological or renal diseases. Therefore, in such a situation, it is important not to lose vigilance and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

Be that as it may, by two weeks of life the baby should regain its original weight recorded at birth. If weight loss of 5-8% is not restored, measures need to be taken.

A breastfed baby does not gain weight well. What to do?

If in the first month the baby has gained about 500 g, this is acceptable, but it is still worth contacting a lactation consultant. It is necessary to analyze the reason why the baby is gaining little.

Perhaps the problem is improper attachment to the breast. In this case, the infant does not receive enough milk. Therefore, make sure that the baby grasps not only the nipple, but also the halo around it.

Experiment with the position, perhaps you need to place a support under your arm to make it comfortable to hold the child. Feeding shouldn't be painful. Cracked nipples will also indicate that the process is not going quite right.

It is important for nursing mothers to learn how to properly attach their baby to the breast.

If the weight gain is less than 500 g, you cannot do without supplementary feeding. Usually such babies are lethargic, sleep too much due to lack of strength, and often burp. The pediatrician will tell you how best to supplement and in what volume.

And when the increase is less than 200 g, the baby is hospitalized. You need to react quickly, because in the absence of normal weight gain, the development of all organs and systems suffers.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough breast milk without a scale? Swipe "wet diaper test". If you changed 10-12 diapers per day, everything is fine. If from 6 to 8, consult a breastfeeding specialist. When there are less than 6 wet diapers per day, the baby is definitely malnourished and needs to be introduced to complementary foods.

As we get older, we become more active...

From 4 to 6 months, children explore the world with even greater interest, which is expressed in their motor activity. Some of them try to sit on their own and even crawl! Such energy costs are displayed on the scales. How much do children gain at this time? Normally - approximately 400 to 600 g per month.

Over time, weight gain is not as rapid as in the first months of life.

From 6 to 9 months it is normal if the baby gains 300-500 g. But how much is the subsequent increase up to a year? About 100-300 g. Needless to say, now is the time to spend the accumulated energy, because the body is faced with completely new tasks: the baby is learning to stand and walk.

Reasons for deviations from the norm

If your baby is not gaining weight, this is a serious cause for concern. The following reasons may occur:

1. Unbalanced diet. Sometimes this happens due to hypogalactia (reduced milk production). In such cases, lactation is stimulated. If it is not possible to achieve a positive result, switch to mixed feeding. The feeding process is also affected by proper attachment to the breast and the baby’s receipt of full-fledged milk: both fore-milk (thirst-quenching) and hind-milk (fattier and more nutritious).
2. Poor digestibility of food in the gastrointestinal tract. Lactase deficiency, dysbiosis, and diseases such as celiac disease lead to poor weight gain. In such cases, there are often problems with the stool (it is foamy, liquid, poorly digested). Treatment is prescribed by a specialist in this field.
3. Metabolic disease. Hypothyroidism, lack of vitamin D, and certain amino acids (for example, L-carnitine) lead to poor appetite and, as a result, weight loss. Change in body weight is a symptom here. You need to treat the disease itself, for the diagnosis of which you consult a doctor.
4. Diseases. Reduced immunity during illness leads to poor appetite, because the body spends all its energy fighting infection. Such weight loss is temporary, and after illness, weight gain will continue as before. But if there are endocrine disorders or heart disease, treatment will be more serious and lengthy.

When watching the numbers on the scales, do not forget that any tables and norms are relative. They cannot reflect the individual development of each baby. Therefore, parents need balance in this matter. If the child is cheerful, active, and deviations are minor, perhaps this is “your norm.”

On the other hand, you should not ignore warning signs, because you have seen that a decrease in body weight or a small gain may indicate problems in the child’s body and require the intervention of doctors.

How is my baby developing? Does everything comply with the standards, are there any deviations? I think that I will not be mistaken if I say that these questions are now worrying you too.

You go through this with every child: where can you find out the norms of baby development? Growth of newborns by month? Child weight gain? Number of first teeth? In order to have as few reasons for worry as possible, today let’s look at the growth of a newborn month by month.

Parameters of the child at birth

After the baby is born, the first thing that awaits him is getting to know you, being put to the breast for the first time, and measuring his weight and height. The optimal weight is 2500-3800 g, and height should “fit” into the parameters of 48-55 cm.

Once the baby is measured, the result is compared with a newborn growth chart , and also calculate the so-called Quetelet I index.

Despite the complex name, it is calculated quite simply:

1. take the weight of the newborn (for example, 3600 g);
2. divide it by height (say, 52 cm), we get 69.23;
3. we compare it with the average value of the Quetelet I index (60-70) and understand that the newborn “fits” into the WHO standards that are established for healthy children.

Important! The Quetelet I index is calculated only for children who were born at term. If your baby was born a little earlier than expected, then the indicators will differ from the norm.

The average height for girls is 49 cm, for boys – 50 cm.

Baby's growth: what affects it

Growth is one of the indicators of a child’s good health and proper development. But why is it higher for some children than for others, even if they were born at the same time? There are different reasons for this:

• hereditary factor: a child of tall parents is more likely to be taller than his peers;
• proper nutrition, balanced in vitamins and microelements, is the key to ensuring that the baby’s body receives everything that is most important for growth;
• absence of congenital diseases of the newborn that may interfere with normal development.

According to WHO experts, in the first year of life a baby should “grow” by about 25 cm, while he develops well physically and mentally. You can read about other parameters of the development of a child up to one year in the article: Child development by month up to one year >>>

What is his ideal height?

Of course, you want your baby to grow “correctly”: all the parameters are “by the book”, but there are exceptions to the rules. So , The WHO table on the growth of a newborn child indicates that if the height of a girl at birth is less than 43.6 cm, and a boy is 44.2 cm, then these are very low figures. Too “tall” girls are born at least 54.7 cm, and boys - 55.6 cm. There is no need to panic. There are objective reasons for such exceptions.

Know! As a rule, situations that require increased attention are taken under the control of medical specialists who independently monitor the dynamics of the “non-standard” child’s centimeters.

Yes, and you yourself can observe your child at monthly appointments with the pediatrician, when the children are weighed and measured. To do this, you can simply take a ready-made table that shows the baby’s growth by month and compare it with the indicators of your child.

How to measure a child's height yourself?

In order to find out the growth dynamics of a newborn in the first year of life, it is not necessary to wait for the next trip to the clinic. At home, you can also measure the child (which is not at all difficult), and then look at the growth chart of the newborn by month to find out if everything is in order. So, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. We place the child on any hard, flat surface, for example, a table;
2. Make sure that the newborn's head rests against the wall;
3. Straighten one leg, foot at an angle of 90° to the surface;
4. We put a mark with chalk or a pencil, and then measure the length from it to the wall.

Let's look at the table and compare the results:

Height and weight chart*

* - Data are presented according to the charts of the World Health Organization (WHO).

All babies are born different, however, the concept of normal weight for a newborn still exists. The normal body weight of a healthy baby at birth is considered to be 2,700–3,700 g. The weight of a baby depends on a number of factors.

Floor. Boys typically weigh more than smaller girls at birth.

Heredity. Obviously, tall, stately parents will have larger children than a petite young mother and father of average build.

Nutritionmoms during pregnancy. Often, with a woman’s high-calorie diet, the fetus gains weight even before birth.

Physical and psychological condition of the mother during pregnancy. Stress and illness certainly affect the health and, as a result, the baby’s weight.

Mom's bad habits- smoking, alcohol. In this context, the child’s weight also depends entirely on his health.

Baby's weight at discharge

You need to be prepared for the fact that in the first days of life the baby will lose a little weight - by 6–10% of his birth weight. This can easily be explained by the fact that the baby is experiencing stress. He needs time to adapt to new living conditions. Mom's lactation should improve. At first, the newborn will make do with small portions of colostrum, since his stomach is very small. Subsequently, weight gain is calculated from the figure at discharge.

Weight gain in infants is a consequence of various reasons.

Appetite.

Well-being. When a baby is unwell, he eats worse.

Type of feeding. Formula-fed babies gain weight faster than infants.

Quality and quantity of breast milk(with natural feeding).

Child's mobility. Active kids are more fit than lazy ones.

Modenutrition. When feeding “on demand”, weight is gained faster than when feeding “by the hour”.

Age. In the first months, babies grow faster, and gradually weight gain slows down.

Weight gain norms for newborns

So how much weight should a newborn gain? A normal gain in the first month of life is considered to be 90–150 grams per week. Over the course of 2, 3 and 4 months, the baby should “grow” by 140–200 grams per week. From 5 months to six months, the increase will decrease to 100–160 grams per week. Then the baby will gain weight little by little and by his first birthday he should weigh about 3 times more than when he was discharged.

Newborn weight table by month

This table, of course, is rather arbitrary. It is important to remember that children are individual in their development - one may grow faster, another slower. If the baby is healthy and cheerful, parents should have no reason to worry about “unusual weight gain.”

Each baby is born with a certain body weight. The norm is considered to be 2700 – 3700 kg. However, small deviations from these numbers do not mean that the child is sick or that there is something wrong with him.

The weight of a newborn depends on:

• health;
• heredity;
• gender;
• mother's nutrition during pregnancy;
• physical and psychological state of the mother;
• a woman has bad habits;

The baby loses a little weight in the first days after birth. This happens because the body loses a lot of fluid and adapts to the new environment. At discharge, the baby will weigh 6-10% less than at birth. It is from the second digit (at discharge) that weight gain indicators begin to be calculated.

Features of newborn weight gain

In the first four weeks of life, the rate of weight gain in newborns is 90-150 grams per seven days. From the second to the fourth month, the child gains 140-200 grams per week. Then the increase drops to 100-160 g.

Thus, by six months the mass will double. Then the set slows down, and by the age of one year the newborn weighs about three times more than at birth.

Some children gain weight quickly, some slowly. Why is this happening? This is influenced by a number of factors:

• Health;
• Appetite;
• Type of feeding (artificial or breastfeeding). With artificial feeding, weight is gained faster;
• Daily routine and meals. When feeding on demand, weight increases faster than when feeding by the hour;
• The quantity and quality of mother's milk;
• Mobility and activity of the newborn.

Scientists have established conditional average rates of weight gain in children under one year of age.

Average rates of increase

The table contains approximate figures for weight gain in children under one year of age. Remember that each baby is individual, and growth rates may differ from the values ​​​​given.

Please note that a similar table was compiled for children who are on artificial feeding. With natural nutrition, the baby develops the way nature intended. And the indicators in this case depend on genetics and compliance with feeding rules. However, the table will guide you and help you get an idea of ​​the formation of the child’s weight.

Please note that, The taller the baby is, the faster the weight increases. So, a newborn with a height of 52 cm gains 170 grams, and a newborn with a height of 58 cm already gains 210.

How to calculate the baby's proper weight

On average, the first six months of weight gain in newborns is 800 grams, and after six months - 400. Therefore, to calculate the approximate weight of the child for this period, use the following formula:

Body weight of a child up to six months = weight at discharge + 800 x age (months)

For example, the baby was 4 months old, and after birth he weighed 3000 grams. Then the proper weight = 3000 + 800 x 4 = 6200 grams.

To determine weight after 6 months we use the following formula:

The child’s body weight after six months = weight at discharge + increase in the first six months + 400 x (baby’s age in months – 6)

To calculate the increase for the first six months, simply 800 x 6 and we get 4800 grams. Use the finished figure to calculate the weight of a baby over six months old.

If the baby is 8 months old and initially weighed 2900 grams, then the proper weight = 2900 + 4800 + 400 x (8-6) = 2900 + 4800 + 800 = 8500 grams.

Too much and too little

A mother may face two problems - underweight or overweight. If the child is not feeding enough, then, first of all, determine whether the feeding is going correctly. The baby should receive milk 10-12 times a day and stay at the breast as long as he wants. The number of trips to the toilet also affects. Diapers should be wet at least 12 times a day.

Excess is also a problem. Unfortunately, many mothers only worry when the baby is undernourished. However, the problem of excess weight is also dangerous if the rate of gain does not decrease after six months, and the baby at 6 months corresponds to the parameters of a one-year-old. This may also be genetically determined, but it would not be out of place to see an endocrinologist. Excess weight can be the result of health problems.

If there are no problems, then excess weight can lead to diseases.

Carefully monitor your baby's weight. Remember that the table is arbitrary, each child develops individually. So don't panic if the numbers vary.

Good afternoon, my dear readers - moms and dads! You just had a baby, I congratulate you on this! Exciting moments, joy, anxiety and uncertainty - all in one. For some time, these feelings will prevail over you, but you still need to tune in to a new way and life will return to its normal course. Along with thousands of questions, in the minds of young parents there is an urgent question about how much a newborn should normally weigh and how quickly he should gain weight and height. The classic table of newborn weight gain by month will help you with this.

Girls and boys are usually born at different weights: boys tend to be slightly larger. Still, how much should a newborn weigh?

The baby's weight at birth depends on the following factors:

• Gender of the child;
• Date of birth;
• Parents' complexions;
• Mother's nutrition during pregnancy;
• Presence of fetal pathologies or problems with pregnancy;
• The presence of bad habits in the mother during pregnancy.

A healthy full-term boy weighs normally (on average) – 3.5-3.7 kg. The girl, accordingly - 3.2-3.5 kg.

In the maternity hospital, the newborn is weighed two control times - immediately at birth and at discharge.

This is done in order to compare how much weight the baby will lose over these few days. And there will undoubtedly be losses.

2. Why does a baby lose weight after birth?

Physiological weight loss in a newborn is a normal phenomenon, and there is no need to be afraid of it.

Natural weight loss in a newborn occurs from:

• Natural loss of fluid through the skin;
• Sudden changes in diet;
• Amounts of food in the first days;
• Stress due to changes in environment.

After birth, the child experiences shock, real stress, and this is understandable. This shock is one of the reasons for slight weight loss. Nutrition also becomes new for the baby, the umbilical cord no longer supplies him with all the necessary substances, he has to “get” food on his own, which are still so fragile.

In the first three days, the mother’s lactation is adjusted, colostrum begins to be released, milk will arrive later. This colostrum is not enough for the baby to eat. Despite its quantity, the nutritional properties of colostrum are about the same as those of concentrated milk, and even more.

All these factors lead to the fact that the baby slightly loses weight in the first days of life. As a rule, he makes up for this weight loss very quickly in the first month.

Upon discharge from the hospital, the baby's weight is measured again. The acceptable amount of weight loss from birth to discharge from the hospital is 5-10 percent. From this, count your weight gain by week and month.

3. Norms of weight gain and growth of a newborn up to one year old by month

Normally, the baby grows most rapidly in the first 4 months. Every month it grows by 2-3 cm, the rate of weight gain per month is, on average, 600-800 grams.

By 6 months, the baby will already weigh twice as much as it did when discharged from the hospital, and by one year - three times.

Do not forget that weight gain, as well as height, depends on the initial build of the newborn. The growth of a large child may not be the same as that of a small child; everything is individual.

Meanwhile, I present to you a table with average data on the increase in height and weight of babies under one year old by month:

4. Factors influencing weight gain in newborns

The schedule for weight gain and height is slightly different for girls and boys. As a rule, girls gain more weight and height in the first month than boys. In subsequent months, the height/weight ratio curve for both girls and boys goes smoothly and proportionally.

Weight gain in newborns is affected by:

1. Type of feeding - breast or artificial;
2. Method of feeding - by the hour or on demand;
3. Milk quality;
4. Baby's health.

So, if a baby is bottle-fed, he will gain more weight than one who is breastfed.

Feeding on demand also results in more weight gain than timed feeding.

If the baby is healthy and adapts well to the new environment, he will develop correctly, that is, gain weight and grow within normal limits:

If the baby is underweight in the first two months, the pediatrician will draw your attention to this and may prescribe supplemental feeding.

It happens that the mother does not have enough milk, then the baby is constantly hungry and does not grow well. By choosing a supplementary formula, you can easily correct this problem.

If the baby’s weight is critically low, an examination is prescribed to identify possible pathologies. After six months, the increase in weight and height is slower and depends on the baby’s nutrition. At this time, complementary foods are introduced, so it becomes easier to regulate the amount of food the baby receives per day:

Also, if the baby is sick, weight loss occurs. With recovery, everything usually falls into place. Dear mothers, don’t worry, any deviations in weight gain or height can be corrected. The main thing is to see your pediatrician and lead a healthy lifestyle.

And in this video you can see what a neonatologist says about babies’ weight gain:

I’ll say goodbye for today, don’t forget to subscribe to updates and share information on social networks.