Critical Guidelines for Monitoring Your Baby’s Weight Gain
New mothers are always on their toes and put in all efforts to provide the best care to the tiny angel. One significant parameter that mommies use to measure growth in the initial months is to track baby weight.
Every child is born with a different weight, and in the first few days after being born, they tend to lose some of it, which is a natural phenomenon, but still, mommies tend to panic and search for the ideal weight their babies should have at a particular age.
It is definitely overwhelming for mothers to see their children growing every day, and weight gain is a clear indicator, but you will be able to draw meaningful results from your child’s weight gain journey if you keep track and have the right benchmarks that the child is expected to meet at a certain age.
Thus, if you are not aware of the Indian baby weight gain guidelines, here is an exhaustive and informative blog that will help you know and understand the progress.
Weight Gain Rules of Thumb
There is a milestone for everything when we talk about a baby’s growth and development. You can find milestones stating activities your child must do at a certain age, which helps you know your child is growing well physically and mentally. Also, weight gain progress tracking and comparison with the milestones allows you to see if you are going right, and if not, then what changes are required to achieve the targets.
According to the expert Pediatrician, Dr Reema Pandya, you can track your baby’s weight weekly and consult your child’s doctor to know if the weight gain is appropriate.
She also states that the growth depends on factors like the feed that the baby is given, allergies, genetics, etc. Below are the weight gain benchmarks that mothers should know so that they can have clarity on their baby’s progress with the least effort:
- Expect your infant to gain 150 to 250 grams per week in the first three months after birth.
- Once your baby is 3 months old, he will gain around 100 grams per week, which indicates that the weight gain slows down compared to the initial months.
- If your baby was born full term, expect him to double his birth weight by 6 months. For better understanding, let us state an example. If your baby’s weight was three kg at birth, he should be around six kg at 6 months of age and must triple it by his first birthday, which means the weight of this one-year-old kid will be about nine kg.
- However, if your baby was born prematurely, he may not gain weight according to the above benchmarks; hence, it becomes necessary to consult the doctor.
- Boys tend to be taller and heavier compared to girls of the same age and birth weight.
Impact of Feeding Method
The expected baby weight gain in India largely depends on the feed they take. On the one hand, while breastfed babies are believed to gain weight slowly in the first six months, formula-fed munchkins gain weight faster.
If your baby is born with some allergies or intolerance, it is reflected in the baby weight monitor chart since you have to restrict the usage of certain foods. Thus, even if two babies are born with the same weight, you cannot expect them to have precisely the same after a few months.
Doctors also advise that if your little one is active and happy and falls within the healthy weight range, you have nothing to worry about.
Other Confounding Factors
When you track your child’s progress, consider his birth weight since children born with low weight take time to catch up and may fall short of the recommended weight gain chart.
Also, if you and your partner have always been slim, understand that the genes are being transferred to the munchkin, and he may also have a tendency of slow weight gain, which you cannot change to some extent.
However, suppose the child is not gaining weight despite a favourable situation. In that case, it is advisable to consult the doctor for underlying digestive issues that have a direct impact on the nutrition the body extracts from the food.
Working with the Pediatrician
Child rearing is undoubtedly a challenge every mother takes up and wants to be successful; however, there are so many things involved in the process that even they need expert guidance, especially for first-time new mommies. This is their first experience, and there can be several queries and doubts, making regular consultation a must.
In the first few months, you may have to visit the pediatrician frequently due to vaccinations and regular check-ups, so take this as an opportunity to discuss and compare the weight charts and ask questions about what can be done if your baby isn’t gaining weight appropriately.
You should feel free to ask the silliest questions like how to track baby weight gain at home or tips on reading the trajectory yourself since the graph may look complicated to read initially. You should discuss your baby’s development and growth, and if you are facing any problem in feeding the baby, seek advice and set up a healthy feeding routine that would support the baby’s development and keep him happy.
Your doctor may check the baby’s weight and other vitals on every visit, so stay calm and see how your efforts flourish. Some moms aren’t able to breastfeed the baby due to health conditions, latching issues, or work commitments, so in this case, you must first discuss your routine with the doctor, and he will suggest the best formula brand and feeding routine.
Tracking Progress at Home
If you are an inquisitive parent and want to track baby weight at home in India, use an accurate baby weighing scale readily available online. Whenever you weigh the tiny tot, make sure to note the weekly numbers in a notebook or on your phone in an app.
This will help you be aware of the changes in the baby and let you have a better discussion with the doctor during the visit.
If you know how to read the weight trajectory, you can easily derive the results. The trajectory for baby weight has the baby’s age on one axis and weight on the other. Different percentile values are associated with the baby’s age, and you need to see which percentile bracket your kid falls in.
You can even fill in the age and weight details online to get the trajectory result. Remember that you should never compare your child with anyone else, and follow a healthy feeding routine so that your baby gets proper nutrition and stays healthy. Ensure there are fewer infections or sickness incidents since these can directly impact the munchkin’s growth.
Also Read: Power Nutrients for Baby’s Crucial First 2 Years for Healthy Growth
Key Takeaways
At R for Rabbit, we completely understand that as a mother, you are excited and nervous about your child’s growth, and thus, to be aware and take necessary steps in time, you should monitor the weight gain progress using the precise milestones and trajectory. If you are still confused about anything, it is okay to consult and discuss your concerns with the pediatrician.
A doctor will help you set personalised health targets for your kid and show you the right path to achieving it with the least effort. So, stay strong and informed so that you can render the best child care and love to your little one; after all, the joy of your life deserves the best in the world.