Even if your baby eats a lot and you have regular size and weight checks in the pediatrician's office, you may wonder if his growth is healthy and appropriate. Follow these steps to determine if your baby is healthy in weight.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Homemade Measuring Tools
If you rarely go to doctor's visits, if you are concerned about your baby's weight, or if you just want to monitor your baby's weight gains between visits, consider investing in the tools and technology that will allow you to do it at home accurately. They will allow you to eliminate some of your doubts about whether your baby is healthy in weight.
Step 1. Buy a baby scale
Regular bathroom scales are not accurate enough to show a baby's weight, since grams are much more indicative of weight gain in an infant's body than in an adult's.
- Buy a special scale designed to weigh babies in grams.
- Weigh your baby regularly, for example every Tuesday and Friday, to get an overall view of weight gain and fluctuations. Avoid weighing it every day or several times a day, unless a doctor prescribes it for medical purposes, as weight fluctuates naturally, and small changes may seem more alarming when the variation is noticed in smaller time intervals..
Step 2. Print a chart of the baby's weight
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization offer growth standard tables for males and females based on length and age (in two-week increments).
Hanging a chart next to the scale will help you quickly find the baby's weight on the chart and determine which percentile it falls into. This will give you an indication of how your baby's weight compares to that of others of the same sex, length and age
Step 3. Track your baby's weight gain progress
If you are concerned that weight loss or lack of growth may be a problem for your child, hang a piece of paper near the chart or scale to track your child's weight progress by date. This will allow you to track your weight gain or weight loss.
Be aware that some weight loss is expected in the first few weeks after birth. Many babies start gaining weight quickly thereafter, doubling it at around 5 months of age and tripling it at around a year
Method 2 of 3: Assess Your Child's Overall Health
Despite the usefulness of growth charts that indicate a healthy weight range for infants, every baby is different. In most cases, simple health checks of your baby will indicate whether he is gaining enough weight to be healthy and to allow for proper growth and development.
Step 1. Determine if you are eating enough
Keep a weekly food log, showing how much and how often the child eats, as well as the kind of food he eats.
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After feeding your baby for a week or two, look for indications that he may not be eating enough, such as many meals in a row that have not been finished, consuming only small portions of meals, never ending. bottle or not empty the breast, and let several hours pass at a time without food or drink.
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If the baby is breastfed, take note of how long the feedings last, if the baby empties the breast, feeds from both breasts, willingly lets go of the breast, or falls asleep during the feed.
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If the baby is bottle feeding, check if the bottle runs out or stops before it is empty. Also check if you have to insist on letting him finish it or if he has already let him go by himself.
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If your child is already eating solid foods, write down what foods they finish, the approximate number of grams or amount of food they eat, and what they like and don't like to eat. Make a note of whether or not the child stops eating voluntarily or is prompted to eat, and be sure to also make a note of any juices, formula, and any other beverages they receive.
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Step 2. Check your baby's skin and vital signs
Inadequate nutrition and insufficient weight are often the cause of noticeable physical changes in a baby's appearance and liveliness. By evaluating your baby's health indicators you may be able to tell if his nutrition and weight are sufficient and healthy.
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Underweight babies may have a yellowish appearance or tight skin.
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Watch your baby's swallowing. If it seems to you that this is difficult or if your baby looks weak and sluggish, he may be dehydrated and need to be checked by a doctor.
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Check your baby's pulse, the clarity and focus of his eyes, the amount of skin or fat you can lightly pinch on his legs and arms without picking up the bones, and the amount of muscle your baby has developed in the legs, arms, butt and neck. If any of these things worry you, consult with a friend or relative, or call a doctor for advice.
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If your baby vomits most or all of the food he has eaten frequently, or has persistent diarrhea, see a doctor. There may be a medical cause that results in poor nutrition and disease, which consequently prevents your baby from gaining enough weight.
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Method 3 of 3: Avoid Making Too Many Comparisons
Each child is different and will follow a unique growth parable. He may be slow to gain weight, but he may be quick to learn to sit and walk on all fours, or he may be gaining weight quickly and losing weight after starting solid foods. Knowing what is normal for your baby will be the best defense against a disproportionate reaction to small changes in growth or weight. If you are familiar with your baby's growth history, you will be able to pay attention to the alterations to understand if a particular change is significant or if it is best to worry and act accordingly.
Step 1. Look at your baby's growth history
If he was born premature, if he was diagnosed with a feeding or growth problem, or if he has always been a picky eater, evaluate his growth on these grounds.
If your baby has been gaining weight steadily, but has recently stopped or started losing weight, consider possible causes: stressful changes in the environment, introducing a new formula or food into his or her diet, and starting to crawl or walk could all be triggers for temporary stabilizations or decreases in the infant's weight. If weight loss is significant or if the lack of weight gain is prolonged, consult a doctor about your concerns
Step 2. Determine if your baby is properly reaching major developmental milestones
A healthy weight could have a significant effect on your baby's ability to achieve major growth milestones, such as bearing the weight of their head or body, sitting, standing, walking on all fours, forming words, and mimicking sounds and actions..
