What weight should the baby be at birth? How much does a healthy baby weigh and what does the baby’s weight at birth depend on?

For a newborn, the average weight norm is from 2.5 kg to 4 kg with a body length of 45-55 cm. These criteria became the norm after studying the physical characteristics of a large number of healthy babies. Changes in the weight of a newborn baby are monitored every day from the first day to 6 months. The weight of bottle-fed babies is carefully monitored to prevent overfeeding.

Weighing a baby is one of the necessary regular procedures in the first year of life. Thanks to the obtained indicators, you can find out whether the child is eating enough and how his development is progressing (we recommend reading:)

An important parameter for newborns is the Quetelet index. It is determined simply: weight (kg): height (cm). Normally, the Quetelet index ranges from 60 to 70. A value less than this indicates a lack of mass, more indicates an excess.

Table of normal average values ​​for weight and height:

Age, months	Length, cm	Weight, kg.
Newborn	49-52	3.1-3.9
1	55-56	3.9-4.5
2	57-60	4.5-5.0
3	60-63	5.1-5.6
4	63-65	5.6-6.1
5	64-68	6.1-6.6
6	67-70	6.6-7.1
7	69-72	7.2-7.7
8	70-73	7.8-8.3
9	72-74	8.4-8.9
10	73-75	9.0-9.5
11	74-76	9.6-10.1
12	75-77	10.2-10.7

What factors determine the weight of a newborn?

The weight of infants largely depends on hereditary disposition. In addition, the following factors can be identified that influence the weight of the newborn:

• Genetic disposition. The primary influence on the weight of the baby is the constitutional structure of the mother and father, their weight at the time of birth.
• The birth of a baby according to the established deadlines. Babies born prematurely are usually underweight, although they gain weight normally.
• A woman's nutrition while carrying a baby.
• Type of infant feeding. Artificial babies tend to quickly gain weight; while breastfeeding, the risk of excess weight in a baby is minimal.

It is believed that “artificial” babies are plumper and taller than infants. Although this dependence is far from 100 percent

• The health status of a woman during pregnancy and after the birth of a child. Under the influence of toxicosis, infections, and bad habits, underweight children are born who subsequently lose weight (we recommend reading:). An unbalanced diet, excess vitamins, and diabetic disorders lead to the birth of a very large baby.
• Fetal health status. Low birth weight babies are born as a result of the development of intrauterine infections and defects, and they gain poorly in the future. As a rule, children with Down syndrome and immune pathologies are born with excess body weight.
• According to statistics, a girl is born 200 g lighter than a boy, and in addition, a boy gains weight faster.

Based on the weight of a newborn child, one cannot speak 100% about the weight and constitution of a person in the future. At the end of the first year of life, many children born with completely different dimensions gain the same amount of kg.

Low birth weight babies and problems with weight gain

Low birth weight babies are those born weighing less than 2.5 kg who do not gain weight well. The reason may lie in the fact that the pregnancy was multiple, malnutrition may have developed, or labor began prematurely. These infants have impaired thermoregulation, they are cold all the time, prone to frequent colds, anemia and hypovitaminosis. There is a lag in physical development.

Twins or triplets born at term, as a rule, weigh less than 2.5 kg, with full development of all organs and systems and absolute readiness to exist outside the mother’s body. However, these infants are under the constant close supervision of pediatricians.

Babies born before the 37th week of gestation (premature), in addition to lack of weight, suffer from immaturity of the respiratory system and impaired thermoregulation. Low birth weight children need a balanced diet, a sterile incubator to normalize weight gain, and mandatory supervision by qualified specialists.

Premature babies most often appear in mothers whose pregnancies were stressful. This indicator is also influenced by the initial health status of the parent. This baby needs extra care

Why do children have problems gaining weight? Babies with hypotrophic and nutritional disorders appear in women with cardiovascular, endocrine, gynecological, renal pathologies, as well as in those who have suffered from placental insufficiency and are exposed to stress and occupational hazards.

Underweight children are divided into 4 groups:

1. Normal height, underweight. Provoking factors for this disorder are noted after 16 weeks of gestation. The child does not eat well and weight gain is slow.
2. Weight and height are slightly below normal. Slight delay in psycho-emotional and physical development.
3. Children with weight and height proportionally reduced. Developmental delays and problems with immunity return to normal by the age of 16-18 years.
4. Children with significant deviations of topographic indicators from the norm. In this case, serious problems in mental and psychological development are noted. As a rule, these kids remain disabled from childhood.

Children with proportionally reduced topographic indicators have every chance of reaching a normal level of physical and mental health within a few years. The key to this is the attention and care of parents

Weight changes in the first months after birth

During the first week after birth, the baby on average loses 5-7% of its initial weight (about 150-200 g). Weight loss is caused by birth stress and a radical change in diet. Large babies do not have enough low-fat mother’s colostrum, so the supply is insignificant, and “small” babies cannot suck out enough milk. After 7-10 days, the weight-height indicator should normalize, the baby is gradually gaining weight.

How much should a child gain monthly? About 400-500 g. According to the table of normal values, at the end of the first year of life, the baby should weigh on average from 9 kg to 14 kg, and the height of a newborn child increases by 1.5 times.

How is a baby's height measured?

As the baby passes through the mother's birth canal, a small tumor appears on the top of the baby's head. The tumor is not dangerous to the baby’s health and disappears on its own after 2-3 days, however, at the time of the first measurement of the total body length, it affects this indicator. A few days after it disappears, it is recommended to re-measure your height.

It is difficult to obtain accurate height measurements for a newborn child, since his muscles are in strong tone and it is almost impossible to completely straighten the body. It is more difficult to measure height than weight, because there are special tables that can be used to determine how much a baby should weigh.

How to measure a baby's height at home? During the measurement, it is necessary to make a support for the head; usually they use the wall or side of the changing table. Having placed the baby on the table, you should move his head to the side, straighten his legs and lower him to the table surface. The position of the feet should be perpendicular, as in a standing position. Having marked the place where the heels were located, the child is taken away, and the distance from the side to the mark is measured. To overcome muscle tone, you can give your child a warm bath and a relaxing massage.

Height and weight are measured in a child almost immediately after birth, in the fifth minute from the moment of birth. These indicators are of primary importance for assessing the baby’s condition throughout the first year of life. Using the treasured numbers, doctors judge whether the baby is healthy and whether he is developing normally.

Average weights for children from 0 to 12 months

Normal weight indicators in infants under one year of age have a significant relationship with many factors. For example, this is the chosen method of feeding and further feeding the baby, the lifestyle of the parents, and even the geographical place of residence of the mother and baby. But despite all of the above, the medical community has developed a table with parameters as an example of the norm for most children under 12 months.

Boys weight chart

Child's age	Boys
	Body mass
	Average	Normal range
0 months	3.5 kg	3 – 4 kg
1 month	4.3 kg	3.6 – 5 kg
2 months	5.3 kg	4.5 – 6 kg
3 months	6.2 kg	5.5 – 6.9 kg
4 months	6.9 kg	6.1 – 7.7 kg
5 months	7.8 kg	7 – 8.4 kg
6 months	8.7 kg	7.9 – 8.9 kg
7 months	8.9 kg	7.8 – 10.0 kg
8 months	9.3 kg	8.2 – 10.4 kg
9 months	9.8 kg	8,7 – 11,05
10 months	10.3 kg	9.2 – 11.5 kg
11 months	10.4 kg	9.3 – 11.5 kg
12 months	10.8 kg	9.4 – 11.9 kg

Girls weight table

Child's age	Girls
	Body mass
	Average	Normal range
0 months	3.3 kg	2.8 – 3.8 kg
1 month	4.1 kg	3.5 – 4.6 kg
2 months	5.0 kg	4.3 – 5.5 kg
3 months	5.9 kg	5.3 – 6.4 kg
4 months	6.5 kg	5.8 – 7.1 kg
5 months	7.2 kg	6.2 – 8.0 kg
6 months	7.9 kg	7.0 – 8.8 kg
7 months	8.1 kg	7.2 – 9.1 kg
8 months	8.3 kg	7.2 – 9.4 kg
9 months	9.0 kg	8,1 – 10,0
10 months	9.5 kg	8.2 – 10.8 kg
11 months	9.8 kg	8.9 – 11.0 kg
12 months	10.1 kg	9.0 – 11.3 kg

The growth of a baby under one year of age increases dynamically, taking into account the constitutional characteristics, genetics, nutrition and general health of the baby. A slight deviation from the average parameters is not a cause for concern. If growth rates are far outside the acceptable range, this is an alarming sign that requires consultation with a doctor.

Boys height chart

Child's age	Boys
	Height
	Average	Normal range
0 months	50.5 cm	48 – 53 cm
1 month	54.2 cm	53 – 57 cm
2 months	57.6 cm	55 – 60 cm
3 months	61.4 cm	59 – 65 cm
4 months	63.7 cm	62 – 66 cm
5 months	66.9 cm	64 – 69 cm
6 months	67.8 cm	66 – 71 cm
7 months	69.7 cm	68 – 72 cm
8 months	71.3 cm	69 – 74 cm
9 months	72.7 cm	71 – 76 cm
10 months	73.9 cm	72 – 77 cm
11 months	74.8 cm	73 – 77 cm
12 months	75.6 cm	74 – 79 cm

Girls height chart

Child's age	Girls
	Height
	Average	Normal range
0 months	49.5 cm	48 – 51 cm
1 month	53.5 cm	51 – 56 cm
2 months	56.7 cm	55 – 58 cm
3 months	60.3 cm	59 – 62 cm
4 months	62.2 cm	60 – 64 cm
5 months	63.8 cm	62 – 68 cm
6 months	66.5 cm	64 – 69 cm
7 months	67.3 cm	65 – 70 cm
8 months	69.7 cm	67 – 72 cm
9 months	70.5 cm	68 – 73 cm
10 months	72.1 cm	69 – 75 cm
11 months	73.5 cm	71 – 76 cm
12 months	74.7 cm	72 – 77 cm

On a note! The data given in the table are considered standard when assessing the physical development of infants. However, it is worth remembering that babies are born with different weight categories and continue to gain body weight unevenly. So, one baby can “get heavier” by 0.5 kg in a month, and another by a whole kilogram; but as a result, the increase in both babies can be considered the norm, taking into account their individual development.

How are child height and weight standards calculated?

The calculation formula is used if parents need to track changes in the baby’s body weight, comparing each result with the growing monthly normal values. One of the approximate weight calculations used by pediatricians from the moment of birth until the first birthday is presented in a simple formula - M (kg) = m + 800n, where M is the baby’s body weight, m ​​is the body weight at the time of birth and n is the current baby's age in months.

Child's age	Increase per month	Increase for the past period
1 month	600 g	≈ 600 g
2 months	800 g	≈ 1400 g
3 months	800 g	≈ 2200 g
4 months	760 g	≈ 2950 g
5 months	700 g	≈ 3650 g
6 months	650 g	≈ 4300 g
7 months	600 g	≈ 4900 g
8 months	570 g	≈ 5500 g
9 months	550 g	≈ 6050 g
10 months	500 g	≈ 6550 g
11 months	450 g	≈ 7000 g
12 months	400 g	≈ 7400 g

The rate of weight gain up to a year is usually recorded in the clinic by entries in the medical record, but they can also be monitored at home using special scales. If in short periods the scales show slightly less or more data in the table (with a difference of up to 150 g), then there is no need to worry, this is within normal limits.

Important!Sometimes a child’s weight gain differs significantly from the data given in the table. Large fluctuations in both directions should alert parents. If the lag is more than 350 g or more, something is wrong. Low body weight can seriously affect the development of an infant. If they come along with numerous complaints and disorders in the baby’s health, then the child must be examined by a pediatrician and neurologist.

Table of height gain for infants from 1 month to one year

The growth of a child from birth can be influenced by hereditary factors and, to a greater extent, by the constitutional characteristics of the little person’s body. Growth spurts can be especially noticeable between 3 and 4 months, and also between 6 and 8 months. At this time, in just one night the baby can gain a whole centimeter in length.

Calculation of the baby’s body length can be done using the approximate formula used by pediatricians: L (cm) = 100 – 8(4 – n), where L is the normal body length, n is the baby’s current age.

Child's age	Average growth rate per month	Increase in height since birth
1 month	3 cm	≈ 3 cm
2 months	3 cm	≈ 6 cm
3 months	2.5 cm	≈ 8.5 cm
4 months	2.5 cm	≈ 11 cm
5 months	2 cm	≈ 13 cm
6 months	2 cm	≈ 15 cm
7 months	2 cm	≈ 17 cm
8 months	2 cm	≈ 19 cm
9 months	1.5 cm	≈ 20.5 cm
10 months	1.5 cm	≈ 22 cm
11 months	1.5 cm	≈ 23.5 cm
12 months	1.5 cm	≈ 25 cm

Anthropometric parameters at birth - what is the norm for newborns?

According to the World Health Organization, the body weight of a full-term baby is considered normal if it is between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. Moms and dads should know that WHO weight indicators are generally indicative.

If the expectant mother has gone through 9 months of pregnancy without serious complications, the baby’s weight will most likely be 3 – 3.6 kg. If the baby was born earlier than expected (before the 37th week), then its weight will be on average 2.5 kg. But there is no need to worry - after a while, a tiny newborn will definitely catch up with his peers. This is facilitated by maintaining a sleep and rest schedule, nutritious nutrition and finding the little person in a favorable living environment.

The table below shows the height and weight of boys, as well as the height and weight of girls in the form of average parameters, indicating the order of maternal birth.

Immediately after birth, most infants lose up to 10% of their initial body weight, so nature intends to rid the baby of excess fluid and accumulated meconium (feces). But after 7-12 days, the weight loss is replenished:

• in the first weeks of life, the baby gains at least 125 g per week;
• from the second month of life, the set is 600-800 g per 30 days.

Having noticed that the baby’s weight is noticeably lower than the prescribed norms, parents should figure out whether there is a reason for concern? Each baby develops at its own pace, so slight variations in height and weight are quite acceptable. If up to the age of three months the toddler gains at least 0.5 kg per month, and from the third to six months, 0.3 kg, and there are no complaints, then there is no reason to worry.

Important! Normally, during the first year of life, babies triple their initial weight (for example, from 3 kg to 10 kg). Girls often gain weight at a lesser rate than boys before 12 months. The acceptable difference in children of the same age can be up to 600-800 g.

How does a newborn gain weight (by week)

Active weight gain in infants occurs in the first eight weeks of life. This is a normal reaction of a child’s body to a change in living conditions, and adaptation to a new diet and regimen.

Age	What happens to the baby's weight
First 3 days of life	Physiological weight loss (up to 7-10% of initial body weight)
First week of life	A newborn baby fed with breast milk will gain about 100 g in weight in 1 week.
Second week of life	The toddler continues to grow and gradually gain body weight. A healthy baby will add up to 250 g to the initial weight in 2 weeks.
Third week of life	During the 3rd week after birth, the baby’s weight gain will average 150-200 g.
Fourth week of life	The first month is coming to an end. Over the past 4 weeks, the child has gained approximately 600-800 g.
Fifth week of life	The child is actively growing, eating with appetite and gaining strength for growth. By the fifth week, the baby's weight ranges from 3.9 to 5.1 kg.
Sixth week of life	During a given week, the baby increases its body weight by 200-250 g.
Seventh week of life	At week 7, the baby gains an average of 250-300 g.
Eighth week of life	The rate of increase in body weight gradually decreases. By the end of the 8th week, the baby adds about 200 g to its weight.

The digital value of height and body weight indicators in infants is very arbitrary and depends on many factors:

• choice of feeding the baby (mother's milk or adapted formula);
• the amount of food the child eats per day;
• the presence of diseases that prevent the proper absorption of food;
• activity and the amount of time the child spends sleeping and awake;
• often - gender (girls often gain weight more slowly than boys).

Important! Pediatricians calculate height and weight standards for infants in conjunction with tables of the average statistical norm, but in some cases they use experimental calculations. Often, insignificant deviations of indicators from WHO tables are considered acceptable. We also must not forget about genetic heredity - if below average height prevails in a family, you should not expect that the heir will gain 5 cm per month.

Weight and height of the baby after birth - what to pay attention to

In the maternity hospital, doctors record the weight and body length of a newborn baby and carefully monitor changes, especially in low birth weight and premature babies. They are weighed once a day at the same time, mainly in the morning.

• Daily weight gain is considered normal at the rate of 15 g per 1 kg of body weight. Growth is measured only once a week, and its increase will be assessed after 3-4 weeks. By this time it should be at least 2.5-3 cm.
• Most infants, after gaining initial weight, subsequently gain weight quickly, especially during periods of growth spurts. They occur approximately in the middle of the second week of life, and then between 3 and 6 weeks.
• The average child gains an average of 20 grams per day. By the end of the first month of life, the scales at the clinic will show approximately 3.8-4 kg. The height and weight of boys is usually slightly higher than that of girls - the difference in weight can reach 0.4 kg and 1-1.5 cm.

A newborn weighs little - is there any reason to worry?

If an infant was born prematurely or weighed very little at birth, then the norms for growth and weight gain for him will differ significantly from the norms for babies born on time.

Degrees of prematurity of the baby (WHO information):

Birth weight largely determines a child's ability to adapt to life outside the womb. If the baby was born 2.5 kg, this process will take place without deviation from the desired course. If the baby “did not reach” this figure, then adaptation can be much more difficult. What to do?

First, keep warm

In children with low body weight, the layer of subcutaneous fat is very thin, almost absent. In this case, it is difficult for kids to keep warm and the danger of hypothermia is quite real. The temperature of a small baby should be measured at least once every 5-6 hours. If it is below 36.5°C, the baby must be warmed. The best way is skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. Mom puts on an unbuttoned shirt, and the baby is placed on her chest. This way, the child’s temperature and pulse normalize, and the mother’s emotional state improves.

Second, we feed the baby by the hour.

This is a necessary condition, because in underweight children, the level of glucose in the blood often falls below the required level. This can cause sleep disturbances in the baby and a decrease in overall vitality. The best prevention of this condition is to frequently put the baby to the breast. In the first days, the child should drink about 60 ml of milk per day. Then the volume of liquid drunk per day should increase daily by 20 ml per 1 kg of body weight until it reaches 200 ml per 1 kg of body weight. Those. with a weight of 2 kg, the child will need to be given at least 400 ml of milk per day (of course, the amount is divided into 8-10 doses).

Third – massage for appetite and general development

If the child has gained the coveted 2500 g, and the doctors (pediatrician, neurologist) give the go-ahead for massage therapy, it’s time to undergo several strengthening procedures. Massage promotes weight gain, as it whets the appetite even in such babies. It is carried out an hour and a half after eating. It is better for a professional children's massage therapist to massage the baby, or the mother can master it on her own. After lubricating your hands with cream, you need to carefully knead the baby’s muscles according to the pattern from top to bottom - starting with the neck, then the back, buttocks, legs. At the end of the procedure, massage the arms and chest.

Weight and height gain by month: a quick overview of up to a year

Criteria for proper baby development can be confusing for new parents. If it’s difficult to figure it out, you can always ask your local pediatrician for advice. The main thing to remember is that when calculating measurements, you should focus on the initial data at the birth of the baby and only then calculate the individual monthly amount of weight gain and body length.

1 month	During the first four weeks after birth, the baby normally gains 600 g of weight, and grows up to 3 cm. The nutritional plan is compiled individually. The best option is a short interval between feedings (2-2.5 hours). For harmonious development, breastfeeding should be a priority. If the baby is artificial, the adapted formula should be fed in an amount of 90-120 ml per feeding.
2 months	A baby's weight gain in 2 months will average 700 g + 3 cm of height. The breaks between feedings may already become a little longer, about 3-3.5 hours. During this period, you should not rush to wean your child off feedings at night, otherwise the weight will not grow as rapidly.
3 months	In the third month, the child gains 800 g and grows 2.5 cm in length. The diet remains the same. Only in the case of artificial feeding can it be allowed to increase the interval between feedings to half an hour. The volume of the mixture in this case increases, making a portion of 150 ml. From the age of 3 months, the baby may be bothered by colic and gas formation, so appetite disturbance is often observed.
4 months	By the end of the fourth month, the baby can gain up to 750 g and grow by 2.5 cm. The feeding regimen does not change. In the following months, the intensity of weight gain will gradually decrease.
5 months	At five months, the baby will gain 700 g, and its height will increase by 2 cm. Indicators of weight and length by this period double compared to the child’s data at birth.
6 months	By six months, the baby adds only 650 g to his body weight, and the increase in height is on average 2 cm. The interval between feedings with the introduction of complementary foods into the diet increases to 3.5-4 hours. It is better to start complementary feeding with hypoallergenic vegetable crops - zucchini, cauliflower , broccoli. The puree is given to the child in the amount of 1/2 tsp, the volume is gradually increased to 50 g over 5-7 days. By the end of the sixth month, complementary foods are replaced by one full feeding.
7 months	At seven months, the baby’s weight gain is 600 g and height increases by 2 cm. The child eats according to the usual diet, mainly dairy foods, and only one of the feedings contains complementary foods - gluten-free porridge or vegetable puree. You need to gradually accustom your baby to new dishes, offering the introduced product in “drip” portions - from 1/2 tsp. at a time. This way, the danger of sudden allergies (food can be eliminated in time) or food intolerance is avoided.
8 months	Body weight gain continues by the eighth month, the gain is no longer so active - only 550 g, and height continues to increase by 2-2.5 cm. The child’s menu can already be diversified with new types of cereals, fruits and vegetables. The first meat purees from rabbit or turkey are added to the diet, and the baby also gets acquainted with chicken yolk, which is added in tiny amounts to liquid food.
9 months	By the end of this month, the little man will have weighed 500 g and grown by about 2 cm. The diet is already complete and varied: the baby tries vegetable purees from several ingredients, with priority fresh pureed fruits, and a new product - cottage cheese, as well as kefir from approved baby food .
10 months	The weight gain in the tenth month will be 450 g, the baby will add the usual 1.5 - 2 cm in height. A child at this age already happily drinks up to 100-150 ml of fruit juices (apple, pear). The baby's delicate stomach is already able to digest complex carbohydrates and pieces of banana, plum, and peach. Porridge for a baby can be seasoned with butter or vegetable oil.
11 months	At eleven months, the baby’s weight will increase by at least 400 g, and his height will increase by 1.5 cm. Boiled fish fillets of white varieties are included in the menu for children.
12 months	At one year old, the baby’s weight triples from the moment of birth, and the baby has added about 25 cm in length since birth. By the time the baby is one year old, the menu is already quite complete and varied: it contains meat, vegetables, fish, and grains. Food is no longer crushed into a homogeneous puree, but only in pieces to encourage the child to chew. This tactic will be useful in preparing for the transition to independent eating.

At what height and weight was the newborn born? It is this question that worries almost everyone - doctors who, based on these indicators, determine whether everything is normal in the little one, the mother herself, who dreams of giving birth to a strong and healthy baby, and numerous relatives, for whom these numbers can even become a reason for pride. But does everyone know what the normal weight of a child at birth should be?

Can you be sure about doctors? , for them the normal weight of a child at birth is a very important indicator. As for parents and grandparents, they often rely on their own experience or numbers heard from friends and acquaintances.

In fact, everything is much simpler - a normal weight at the birth of a child is considered to be in the range from 2600 to 4000 g and a height of 46-56 cm. Now pay attention. It turns out that not only these indicators themselves are important, which you will subsequently monitor using the height and weight table, but also their ratio, which allows you to determine the so-called Quetelet index.

To make it clearer, let's look at a specific example. Let's say that the baby was born with a weight of 3350 and a height of 52 cm. If you divide his birth weight by his height, you get a number, in this case, 64. A ratio (this is the Quetelet index) is considered normal in the range of 60-70. That is, everything is fine with the baby.

Thus, knowing the boundaries within which a child’s normal weight at birth fits and what the height-to-weight ratio should be, you can always understand how much these data should please or alarm you.

For example, if a newborn has a Quetelet index of less than 60, this indicates a deficiency in body weight in relation to height. This is often a consequence of intrauterine malnutrition. In simple terms, malnutrition, the causes of which should be determined by a doctor.

And one last thing. Everything that is written above will be correct only for babies born on time. In premature babies, these indicators will be different, and further development has its own characteristics.

The weight of a newly born baby is the main indicator of its overall health. That is why doctors pay special attention to this factor, recording it as one of the first in the newborn’s medical record. And it is no coincidence that the question of what weight is considered normal at the birth of a child is of such great interest to young mothers. In addition, women in labor should also know what this indicator depends on, what the risk of underweight or excess weight can be, and how to avoid problems with the baby’s weight in the future. Many also wonder: what is the normal weight of a child at birth, depending on the gender of the baby? You will find answers to all these questions here.

Everything you need to know about newborn weight

The normal weight of a child at birth ranges from 2.5-4.5 kg. It should be borne in mind that newborn boys usually have a slightly larger body weight. Thus, the normal weight of a child at the birth of a girl can be a maximum of 4 kg. If the body weight is less than 2.5 kilograms, then in this case the baby has a deficiency. This may lead to difficulties in caring for the child, and may even require special nutrition and appropriate conditions to normalize weight. Such babies are not considered premature, but their stay in the hospital may nevertheless be somewhat prolonged. Nowadays, young mothers most often give birth to children with normal or even excess weight. But babies who are underweight usually catch up with their peers in this regard by the age of six months.

What determines a baby's weight after birth?

The weight of a newborn is influenced by many factors. The reasons why children are born with too much body weight may be the following:

• Heredity. Thus, parents who are overweight are more likely to give birth to large children. For slim parents, the situation is the opposite.
• Second, third and subsequent births.
• Delayed labor (prolonged term).
• Poor nutrition, consumption of too high-calorie and heavy foods during pregnancy.
• Diabetes mellitus (acquired and hereditary).
• Different Rh factor. If the mother is Rh positive and the baby is negative, then a Rh conflict may occur, which often leads to the child gaining weight while still in the womb.

Low body weight in children: causes

• Bearing two, three or more fruits at the same time.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems (including infectious), chronic lung diseases in women in labor.
• Diseases of the uterus, placental defects, poor blood clotting in the mother.
• Poor nutrition of the expectant mother during pregnancy, unfavorable climate and ecology.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol in excess of permissible limits (in most cases, alcoholic beverages should be completely avoided).
• Consumption of caffeine in large doses.

Nutrition and its effect on the weight of the newborn in the first days

A baby's normal birth weight may decrease by about 150-200 grams in the first 24 hours of life. This indicator is appropriate if the baby was born weighing 2.5-4.5 kg. This is the baby's normal birth weight. It is considered acceptable and absolutely natural to reduce it by a maximum of 300 grams. This occurs due to the fact that the newborn’s swelling gradually goes away, and the intestines are freed from what has accumulated in it. After birth, the baby has not yet established a diet, and this also affects body weight.

Normalization of the baby’s weight occurs already on the fifth day. On the tenth day, body weight begins to increase regularly, depending on nutrition. New mothers who are breastfeeding should not panic if the baby is recovering too slowly. The fact is that bottle-fed babies gain weight many times faster than mother-fed babies. This is explained by the presence in purchased mixtures of various nutrients and components that allow the newborn to develop more quickly.

A normal birth weight of a child is not uncommon these days, but modern medical centers make it possible to care for newborns weighing only one kilogram. Such babies are born with a weakened immune system, they are completely inactive and lethargic, so in the first days of life they require more attention and care. As statistics show, within a year, thanks to the help of doctors, children become stronger, their weight returns to normal, and their development does not lag behind their peers.

Excess and underweight: danger

Insufficient fetal body weight, however, as well as its excess, can be observed in the womb. If weight deficiency is diagnosed late in pregnancy, then the young mother is prescribed a special diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals. The caloric intake is also determined by the attending physician.

If the fetus is overweight, this is also not a good indicator and is considered a deviation. Doctors are wary of this, since excess weight of the baby may indicate disturbances in its development, and in most cases they give the mother in labor some recommendations. Most often, she is prescribed a balanced diet, which is dominated by low-fat dairy products, vegetables and fruits. It is advisable to completely exclude fatty delicacies, sweet pastries and other flour products from the menu; smoked meats and too high-calorie dishes are also taboo.

In addition to poor nutrition, often overweight in a baby even at birth may indicate that the mother has diseases of the endocrine system.

What are the dangers of excess baby weight for the health of the expectant mother?

An important point: excess body weight in a baby can harm not only the newborn itself, but also its mother. Before birth, this can threaten the occurrence of complications in a woman during childbirth. The most common of them is perineal rupture. To avoid such injuries, women in labor are prescribed a cesarean section. After birth, such a baby may require increased attention. During the first year, parents should constantly monitor the development of their child. By the way, the normal weight and height of a child at birth partially guarantees that his health at that time will be positive. In addition, with excess or deficient body weight, babies can develop completely different complications.

What are the dangers of underweight newborns?

Let's imagine that the child has already been born, and consider the problem of normalizing weight during the baby's life. In children born with low birth weight, thermoregulation is impaired. As a result, babies freeze faster and take much longer to warm up and restore their temperature balance. Such children are more susceptible to various diseases and colds, since in most cases they have reduced immunity. Hypovitaminosis and anemia are other frequent companions of children with insufficient body weight.

What can cause excess body weight in a newborn?

It has always been believed that the greater the weight of a born child, the healthier it will be. They especially often say this about boys - they say, they will grow up to be a real hero! This assumption is fundamentally incorrect, because the normal weight of a child at the birth of a boy should be up to 5 kg. Perhaps, in the first years of life, a baby born with a larger weight will get sick less often than his peers. However, he may have serious problems in the future. These include allergies, retardation in physical development (since the child will experience difficulties in controlling his body), as well as misunderstanding on the part of friends (which can later cause the development of mental disorders).

Regular weight control is the key to proper development

A child’s normal weight at birth is, of course, excellent, but in the future, parents can, without noticing it, fatten the baby (or vice versa). It is not only possible, but even necessary, to avoid problems in this regard at the initial stage of a child’s growth. First of all, it is necessary to carefully develop a diet, discussing and clarifying all the nuances with a specialist. In the future, you need to constantly monitor the baby’s growth and weight.

However, there is one “but” here: if the child’s health is stable even if he is overweight (within acceptable limits), then parents should not worry about it. The main thing is that the child feels good and is comfortable at this weight. In this case, young parents can simply consider their child to be moderately well-fed and strong and not take any action towards weight loss.

The normal weight of a baby is from 2500 to 4000 grams with a height of 46-56 cm; these figures were determined based on a large sample of healthy children. To control, the weight of the newborn is measured daily during the first six months of life, especially in artificial babies, in order to avoid overfeeding.

The ratio of weight and height is important; for children, the Quetelet height-weight index is used (norm 60-70): weight in kilograms divided by height in centimeters. A value of less than 60 is a deficiency, more than 70 is an excess of mass.

Factors affecting weight

A baby’s body weight is determined by many factors, primarily heredity. Fragile, thin-boned parents are unlikely to give birth to a five-kilogram baby, and vice versa. The following affects the weight of a newborn:

• genetic factors: the constitution of the parents and their weight at birth play a primary role in the baby’s body weight;
• whether the baby was born on time or not: premature babies are usually lighter than those born by term birth;
• balanced nutrition of the mother during pregnancy;
• type of nutrition: artificial feeding stimulates rapid weight gain; a child will never gain excess weight on breast milk;
• maternal health: toxicosis, infections, smoking and alcohol lead to the birth of a low-birth-weight baby, diabetes, overeating, vitamin abuse, Rh conflict - to the birth of a baby heavier than 4.5 kg;
• baby’s health: intrauterine infections and defects lead to malnutrition or low weight; Down syndrome and immune pathology, on the contrary, lead to greater weight;
• boys are heavier than girls by an average of 200-250 grams;
• Each subsequent baby from the same mother is larger than the previous ones.

The weight of a child at birth does not predetermine his further weight and constitution by 100% - by the age of one year, babies who started with 2500 and 4000 grams can weigh almost the same. But a significant deviation from the norm may indicate a possible pathology in the present or future.

Lack of weight

Low birth weight babies are a group of babies weighing less than 2500 grams due to multiple pregnancies, malnutrition or prematurity. Children freeze faster, often get sick, suffer from anemia and hypovitaminosis, and develop more slowly.

A full-term baby of twins, triplets or quadruplets is usually smaller than 2.5 kilograms, but is fully developed and ready for life outside the mother's body. Only observation by a pediatrician is required, without therapeutic interventions.

In premature infants (born before 37 weeks), in addition to insufficient weight, the immaturity of the respiratory, thermoregulatory and other systems comes to the fore. Such babies need proper nutrition and a sterile incubator, plus the supervision of qualified personnel.

Hypotrophic children or children with impaired nutritional status (INS) are born to mothers with a history of pathology. Also cardiovascular, endocrine, gynecological, renal, occupational hazards, infections, stress and placental insufficiency. They are divided into four groups:

1. Normal height and low weight when exposed to a provoking factor after 16 weeks of pregnancy. The child eats poorly and gains weight.
2. Low weight and slightly delayed growth, physical and psycho-emotional development.
3. Weight and height are proportionally reduced, development is delayed, and immunity is reduced. By the age of 18, development is normalized.
4. Height and weight are significantly reduced, mental and mental development suffers, childhood disabilities.

How to help a low birth weight baby

Low birth weight children should be fed little by little, given sweetened water between feedings, and hardened (douches, air and sun baths). Massage, gymnastics, swimming improve blood flow to the muscles and activate growth and mass gain. Among the drugs, adaptogens (ginseng, lemongrass, echinacea, eleutherococcus) and mineral-vitamin complexes have a good effect. Complementary foods and supplementary feeding should be added to breast milk and formulas in a timely manner; mixtures should be enriched with proteins and fats. It is necessary to properly attach the baby to the breast (frequent, long-term feedings from each mammary gland), do not use a pacifier and do not supplement with water.

Excess weight

Large children, over 4500 grams, are prone to diabetes and obesity in the future; during childbirth, such a baby and his mother are highly likely to be injured. In childhood, children have difficulty adapting to stress, and the risk of allergies is high.

Excess weight of a newborn baby is corrected (only if the baby is on formula milk) with the correct dose and frequency of feedings, introducing complementary foods a little later and according to the schedule. A breastfed baby with a large weight usually reaches the age norm by one year. Swimming, massage and gymnastics help harmonious development and reduction of fat mass.

Weight dynamics in the first days of life

In the first week, the baby loses up to 150 grams or five to seven percent of its weight: the stress of birth and a radical change in diet make themselves felt. Children heavier than four kilograms do not get enough colostrum; “small” babies find it difficult to breastfeed at full strength. After a week, the baby begins to gain weight; the norm is found according to weight-height tables. Up to six months, the monthly increase is about 500 grams, then – 400 grams, by the year the child’s weight is 9-14 kilograms, height increases by one and a half times.

Newborn	50-52	3,2-3,5
1 month	54-56	4,0-4,3
2 months	58-60	4,9-5,3
3 months	60-62	5,8-6,3
4 months	64-66	6,4-6,8
5 months	65-68	7,2-7,6
6 months	67-70	7,7-8,5
7 months	69-72	8,2-8,7
8 months	70-73	8,6-9,4
9 months	71-74	9,0-9,8
10 months	72-75	9,4-10,4
11 months	73-76	9,7-10,6
12 months	74-77	10,0-10,8

When a child is born into a family, the first thing parents rush to tell all their relatives and friends is the baby’s gender, height and weight. Doctors are the first to enter these same indicators into his medical record. What is the importance of these parameters for parents and doctors? And what should be the normal height and weight of a child at birth?

The very first, the most important

The height, weight of the child at birth, as well as the girth of his chest and head are the first and most basic parameters that allow doctors to correctly assess the physical condition of the baby born. Too low or too much weight, body proportions are not just numbers. Based on them, experts can assume (and also exclude) many different deviations in the health of the newborn baby. As the child grows up, based on these data, pediatricians monitor his health, give advice to parents on the daily routine, feeding the baby, massage, gymnastics, and make the necessary appointments.

That is why, immediately after birth, the baby is weighed and measured, and then this data is recorded in the medical record. Next, the entire first year of the little person’s life will be measured and weighed monthly at a pediatrician’s appointment, monitoring the dynamics of changes in the basic proportions of his body. After all, in the first year, children grow very actively and gain weight. And the main physical indicators can tell the pediatrician whether everything is happening normally in a small body, whether there are any deviations that are worth paying attention to, whether something needs to be corrected.

What is considered normal?

The pediatric norm for full-term newborns is a height of 45–56 cm and a body weight of 3–4 kg. At the same time, the height and normal weight of a child at birth depend on various reasons.

• Heredity. Tall, large parents most often give birth to large children, and vice versa.
• Gestation period. Full-term babies (gestation period of at least 38 weeks) should weigh around 3–4 kg. In premature babies, height and weight depend on the degree of prematurity. For example, at up to 35 weeks a baby can weigh a little more than 1.5 kg, and at less than 28 weeks - less than 1 kg (such babies are considered extremely premature).
• Gender of the child. According to statistics, the weight of a newborn boy is on average 100–300 g greater than that of a girl.
• Birth order in the family. It is considered the norm that children born second or third in a family are larger than the first born.

In addition, recently there has been a tendency to accelerate the biological development of children. Increasingly, they are born quite large - weighing 5 or even more kg.

For clarity, the weight of newborn children (in kilograms) is given in the table:

Indicators that are in the table between “below average” and “above average” can be considered normal. The rest require closer attention from specialists.

After birth, the baby loses a little weight in the first few days. This is a physiological process that you don’t need to be afraid of at all. Typically, a healthy full-term baby by the 3rd–4th day loses up to 10% of its weight at birth. This is due to a deficiency of milk in the mother in the first days, the passage of meconium (feces of newborns), urine, as well as loss of moisture (when the baby breathes, in the form of sweat). But with proper care and sufficient feeding, by the time of discharge from the hospital the baby weighs the same as when it was born.

Deviations from the norm

Large or too small children are not always born according to genetic principles. It happens that this is significantly influenced by risk factors that require special attention to the newborn and its further development.

Thus, children with large body weight are often born to mothers who suffer from diabetes or thyroid diseases. In addition, due to various disorders during pregnancy, the baby may be born with signs of postmaturity (such children do not have vernix lubrication on their body, their skin is dry and may peel).

Low birth weight babies (less than 3 kg) are often born as a result of the bad habits of the mother, her poor nutrition (the mother was afraid to “feed” the baby), acute or chronic diseases (including infectious ones), and other pathologies in which the nutrition of the fetus through the placenta is impaired, genetic diseases of the fetus itself. This can lead to its improper development. A noticeable discrepancy between the height and weight of the fetus and the gestational age is called intrauterine growth retardation syndrome, or malnutrition.

There are symmetrical and asymmetrical forms of malnutrition. The first can be detected during an ultrasound scan even at fairly early stages of gestation: all fetal parameters will be less than normative. The second is detected after 28 weeks, while the size of the body and head of the fetus does not correspond to the size of the abdomen in terms of development.

Do not ignore the referral for an ultrasound examination, undergo scheduled (and if necessary, unscheduled) ultrasound scans, follow the recommendations of the doctor managing the pregnancy if medication correction is required.

According to the severity, malnutrition can be the first (lag of less than 14 days), second (lag of 14–28 days) and third (lag of more than 28 days) degrees. Grade 1 usually does not have a significant impact on the further development of the baby. But 2 and 3 can cause pathologies (depending on which organ is lagging behind). The most dangerous complication that can result from malnutrition is underdevelopment of the nervous system (the baby may lag behind in mental development).

That is why it is important to monitor the physical parameters of the fetus even before the birth of the child. Often the problem can be solved (or its consequences can be minimized) while still in utero. And then neither the weight, nor the height, nor the health of the newborn baby will worry the parents.

Surprisingly, we forget a lot in life, but we remember the height and weight of a born child all our lives. Probably, it is nature’s nature for a woman-mother to know and remember these numbers, because by them, by their changes, we judge the state of the baby’s health.

The weight of a newborn baby is an important indicator of its development. Therefore, the first measurement and weighing is carried out immediately or a couple of hours after birth. These indicators are carefully recorded in maternity hospital registers and written on a tag on the baby’s arm.

There is a practice of weighing infants daily while they are in the hospital. Medical staff carefully monitors the dynamics of increase or decrease in size and takes measures to regulate the data. Then, after being discharged from the maternity hospital, the parents go to the clinic for control weighings and monitor the increase in grams and centimeters month by month.

Sizes at birth

According to the standards established by the World Health Organization, the average weight of a boy at birth is 3400-3500 g. And girls are born smaller - 3200-3400 g. These are average figures; in fact, the weight of children at birth can be much higher or lower than WHO data.

It is considered normal for a baby to be born between two and a half and four and a half kilograms. Babies born below or above these weights are considered premature or overweight. If the parents of underweight children are not very short, and the parents of overweight children are not giants, then the children are at risk. They may experience psychomotor and other disorders; a neonatologist and pediatrician constantly monitor them.

The normal weight at birth of a child is 2500-4500 g. If the baby weighs less or more than these values, he is at risk for health

In fact, the weight of a newborn depends on many factors.

• If parents are people of average build and height, then their children are born weighing about 3 kg, that is, within the average weight, according to WHO.
• The second and third babies of the same mother have a higher weight than first-born babies. Parents over 35 years old have larger children than younger ones (although there are exceptions).
• A child whose mother did not eat well during pregnancy, did not adhere to the diet, or had bad habits, will be born thin.
• A pregnant woman who eats fatty, sweet, high-calorie foods will give birth to a larger baby.

Weight gain up to one year

In the first days of life, the baby physiologically loses up to 250 grams. This is normal, since the baby is not eating enough yet, and quite a lot of fluids are coming out. After a few days, weight gain begins.

A special weight and height calculator will help you calculate the correct weight of your child by month. You can do this using formulas yourself. Calculation up to six months.

For example, this option. The baby was born with a body weight of 3100 g, the weight at two months should be as follows: 3100 + 800 x 2 (age in months) = 4700 g.

Another variant. It is accepted that at six months a child weighs 8200 g; in 2 months the baby will grow to the following sizes: 8200 - 800 x 4 (not enough to reach six months) = 5000 g.

From six months to one year, a child’s weight is calculated using a different formula.

• First option: 3100 + 800 x 6 + 400 x 7 (number of months) = 10700 g.
• Second option: 8200 + 400 x 7 (number of months) = 11000 g.

From the examples it is clear that the calculations are approximate, each formula gives its own result. At the same time, the formulas show what weight parents should target. Nature develops a child according to its own laws, and its mass may well not correspond to the calculated data.

Medical scientists have developed a special calculator with which you can easily, quickly and accurately calculate the weight and height of your baby for each month and week. For convenience, it is posted on our website. You can use it to calculate your baby's body weight.

Deviations from the norm

Characteristic marks in the development of a baby are based on weight and height. When asked how much a child should weigh at a certain age, your pediatrician or centile tables developed based on research by WHO doctors will answer you. Centile tables present indicators of weight norms and deviations in the direction of increase or decrease.

To estimate your child's weight or height, measure his height and weigh him. Find the baby's age in the tables and compare it with the number you estimated. In the colored “frame” of the table are the normal indicators. Everything to the left and right are deviations.

For example, yours. Height is 68 cm, and body weight is 8 kg. These numbers fall into the purple “frame” of the table, and this is the norm.

Infants up to six months gain 600-800 g each month and grow by 2-3 cm. After six months to a year, the increase decreases slightly and ranges from 600 to 350 g and from 2 to 1.5 cm in height. These are average standards that correspond to the development of a healthy child. Changes in the baby that differ in the direction of increase or decrease indicate errors in nutrition and health problems. To solve problems in a timely manner, consultation with a pediatrician, neurologist or endocrinologist is necessary. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the child’s anthropometry.

Table of monthly changes in child weight and height

The weight and height calculator, based on anthropometric data, will calculate the appropriate dimensions at a given age, calculate the body mass index, assess deviations and display indicators of the correspondence of the height and weight of the newborn. Based on these data, the pediatrician will identify possible inconsistencies and give recommendations on the nutrition, development or treatment of the baby.

Infant body mass index is an important indicator of development. With the help of ITM, it is possible to accurately assess whether the baby’s height, weight and age correspond to the monthly norms. The formula for calculating BMI is simple, every parent can do it:

I (index) = M (weight in kg) : H2 (height in m2)

The generated conclusions show how the baby grows and gains weight, and also gives an estimate of weight by month. If your score is average, it means your baby is developing normally and has enough nutrition. If your weight is less or more than average, but corresponds to your family constitution, this is also normal. And underweight or even severe underweight, as well as very high weight, indicates pathology; consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Centile table of changes in weight and height of girls

It should be noted once again that all indicators are averaged and calculated for the average child. If you get deviations from the norm, do not rush to panic; first show the baby and the calculations to your pediatrician. The doctor will evaluate the dynamics of indicators, study the condition of the baby, draw the right conclusions and make the necessary prescriptions.

Causes of underweight

Using tables, formulas or using a calculator, you discovered that your baby is under or overweight. This is a signal to parents about nutritional problems. Until the doctor diagnoses malnutrition, watch your baby. If the baby is inactive, sleepy, lethargic, then it is quite possible that he does not have enough mother’s milk, and therefore, activity, strength for growth, harmonious development.

Pediatricians distinguish between two causes of weight loss: internal and external. In a normally born child, without anomalies or injuries, internal causes are not considered. And external causes are associated with lack of nutrition. Weight loss with a lack of nutrients will be reflected in the newborn's body by the development of anemia, immune problems and other disorders.

The main cause of underweight is most often nutritional problems. This is what you should focus on

Analyze the reasons why your baby may be underweight for his age, as well as weight loss. Or, conversely, too much weight. Perhaps you have insufficient lactation, the baby does not have enough milk, and he is hungry. Perhaps the baby only sucks out thin, front milk. Or maybe you live in constant stress. This feeling is passed on to the child, and he fights stress with you, wasting all his energy on the fight.

Is there enough food for the child?

To understand why a small child is not gaining as much as he needs and whether he has enough food, check his diapers. A well-fed infant soils diapers at least three times a day and urinates at least 8-12 times.

You can monitor your baby’s nutrition for a maximum of a month. Compare the graph of the dynamics of weight and height, which normally change proportionally. Check to see if your baby has learned age-appropriate activities and skills.

If, apart from weight indicators, nothing in the baby worries you, if the baby is cheerful and active, sleeps peacefully, sucks well and poops on time, then underweight may not play a decisive role - you have an absolutely normal child.

If you notice a developmental delay, this is important. For example, at 3 months a baby cannot hold his head for more than 4 minutes or open his mouth when approaching the nipple. Draw conclusions, consult a doctor to take action.

Remember, boys usually gain weight faster than girls, so you shouldn’t compare your first-born son with your second child, a daughter, and run to the pediatrician in a panic that the baby at the same age weighs a couple of kilos less.

Deviation from the norm (mainly in the direction of preponderance) may occur in artificially-trained children. Depending on what mixture they eat. As a rule, premium formulas are more balanced than budget lines; they do not make babies fat.