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What is the average newborn weight and is this an important information for parents? One or both of these questions may have crossed your mind, especially if you’re pregnant. The quick answer is that you can use it to monitor and support your baby’s growth. It allows you and doctors to spot irregularities, helping you make informed decisions. It will allow you to identify any concerns at an early age.
This article will provide you with the information that you need - the average newborn weight. Besides that, it will discuss the factors that influence the weight and growth patterns of babies. Continue reading to find essential information for moms.
The average weight at birth is about 7 lbs. Please note that this is for full term babies. The average for premature babies is different because they are typically lighter. Suppose your newborn is lighter or heavier by 2 lbs. It does not automatically mean that they are unhealthy. It only means that they are more susceptible to health issues.
Babies during their first year, especially in their first few months, are expected to gain weight quickly. Surprisingly, they will lose weight at first. However, it will increase steadily by 1.5 to 2 lbs per month over the first six months. By six months old, their weight will be doubled. The weight gain rate begins to decrease again after six months. After that, babies typically gain 1 lb per month. On their first birthday, you may notice that their weight has tripled.
Please keep in mind that growth patterns can vary due to genetic, feeding, and general health factors.
Provided here is the baby weight chart by age from MedicalNewsToday. This chart can help parents identify their baby’s 50th percentile weight according to age from birth to 12 months.
|
Baby age |
Female 50th percentile weight |
Male 50th percentile weight |
|
Birth |
7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg) |
7 lb 6 oz (3.3 kg) |
|
1 month |
9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg) |
9 lb 14 oz (4.5 kg) |
|
2 months |
11 lb 5 oz (5.1 kg) |
12 lb 4 oz (5.6 kg) |
|
3 months |
12 lb 14 oz (5.8 kg) |
14 lb 1 oz (6.4 kg) |
|
4 months |
14 lb 3 oz (6.4 kg) |
15 lb 7 oz (7.0 kg) |
|
5 months |
15 lb 3 oz (6.9 kg) |
16 lb 9 oz (7.5 kg) |
|
6 months |
16 lb 1 oz (7.3 kg) |
17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg) |
|
7 months |
16 lb 14 oz (7.6 kg) |
18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg) |
|
8 months |
17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg) |
18 lb 15 oz (8.6 kg) |
|
9 months |
18 lb 2 oz (8.2 kg) |
19 lb 10 oz (8.9 kg) |
|
10 months |
18 lb 11 oz (8.5 kg) |
20 lb 3 oz (9.2 kg) |
|
11 months |
19 lb 4 oz (8.7 kg) |
20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg) |
|
12 months |
19 lb 12 oz (8.9 kg) |
21 lb 4 oz (9.6 kg) |
The following factors affect a newborn’s weight:
A baby is considered to have a low newborn weight if they weigh less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces (2.5 kg). Commonly, these are premature babies. They are born before their 37th week. They need special medical attention and observation from their parents and medical professionals.
Babies that have completed the 9 months can still be born with low weight. Should you panic? No. They can still be healthy. However, these babies are more likely to have health complications because of their small size.
Yes. Low newborn weight can affect a newborn in many ways. They might experience some difficulties because of their smaller size and the lack of body fat. The difficulties they might face include:
To ensure that these babies will survive and will grow properly, medical attention, monitoring, and support care at early stages are essential. As such, low newborn weight babies are put in the neonatal intensive care unit or simply NICU.
To ensure that a baby is growing properly with utmost care, monitoring can definitely help in a baby’s development. The following are some methods which can help parents in monitoring the growth progress of their baby:
Home comfort also contributes significantly to a baby’s progress. Feeding may be more challenging with congestion. That can affect their growth. Nasal aspirators can help clear airways without causing discomfort or distress to your baby. These products help solve congestion, which makes it easier for your baby to feed and fall asleep. That said, they can support your baby’s growth.
Your best options include the Momcozy BreezyClear Pro™ 2-in-1 Spray & Suction Electric Nasal Aspirator and the Momcozy Hospital Grade Nasal Aspirator. The former is silent, so you can use it at night without causing wakefulness to your baby. It also has fewer parts, so cleaning is easy. The latter offers 9 levels of suction power. Thus, it can effectively clear mucus and nasal congestion.
Moreover, equally significant, proper sleep also aids in maintaining a healthy weight. The Momcozy DreamSync Tech™ Smart Baby Sound Machine and the Momcozy Portable Sound Machine can help by promoting calming sounds.
You can check the Momcozy Baby Nasal Aspirator and Sound Machine collection pages to look for the products right for your baby’s needs.
Babies can be formula-fed and breastfed. There are also differences and it can concern digestion, growth rate, and overall health. For breastfed infants, they tend to digest milk more easily and are less likely to be sick. They can gain weight gradually, however, in the first few months.
Babies that are formula-fed, on the other hand, are expected to gain more weight. However, breast milk offers immunologic benefits that formula does not. So, their immune system may be weaker. But keep in mind that that does not automatically mean your baby will be sickly. Both of these feeding options can be used to promote healthy growth, and it depends on which one would better accommodate the baby.
Here are some FAQs about newborn weight.
A 9-pound baby is not inherently classed as unhealthy. However, they are more susceptible to some health issues. For example, jaundice and low blood sugar are common in large babies. That said, a 9-pound newborn may require increased monitoring.
Indeed, a 12-pound baby is considered heavy, and it is a special case. To paint a picture, it is 5 pounds heavier than average.
Yes, a 10-pound baby is considered bigger than the average newborn for many. Genetics, maternal health, and the pregnancy period can be causes of this. Again, close monitoring may be required to detect any possible health issues.
Comparing your baby’s weight at birth to the average newborn weight is a way to immediately check their health. It can affect their needs and the ways to support them. For example, babies with significantly lower newborn weight require special attention. As months pass by, your baby should be gaining weight. Some issues, particularly illnesses, feeding issues, and sleeping issues, can prevent that. Thankfully, with doctor’s advice and some tools, you can help your baby overcome these challenges. With your support, they can have a healthy growth.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition. Momcozy is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this content.
