All new parents worry about their baby's weight. They often face doubts about the normal baby girl and baby boy weight. Here, a proper 1-year-old baby weight chart in kilograms might help, a lot
"How is my baby growing?", "What is the ideal weight for her age?", "How much weight should a baby put on gradually every month?", these are the commonest questions that most pediatricians face from worried parents.
New parents who have just started out on this new and exciting but stress-filled journey of parenthood, are anxious to know if their baby is growing well or not. Hence, doctors advise parents to refer to a standard child growth chart or an infant weight calculator to keep track.
And the most popular and scientifically established growth chart for parents to keep a steady track of their baby girl or baby boy's weight by month in kilos is the weight graph from the World Health Organization (WHO). It takes into account that every child all over the world has the same potential to grow. Also, we must always remember that it is the growth pattern and not a single weight value of the baby that matters.
According to an article, The development of growth references and growth charts, by TJ Cole, published in 2011, growth references describe how children grow, and the references can be applied to other children to establish whether or not their measurementsare typical of the reference group.
But before we get to the chart, let's understand weight gain in babies.
Weight gain at birth
When a new baby is born, one can give about a 10 percent cushion of acceptable weight loss (nature allows for this until the mother's milk comes in). Most babies will lose two to three ounces of weight in the first 24 hours as their soggy skin dries out and they pass their first meconium stool (the dark green substance forming the first feces of a newborn infant).
Weight gain faster during the first three months
At birth, an average Indian boy weighs 3 to 3.2kg at term and a girl weighs 2.8 to 3.2kg. In the first three months, weight gain is faster with an average of 800-1000g per month. Over the next three months, it slows down to 600-800g and between 6-12 months, it is not more than 500g usually.
In simpler terms, a baby must double his birth weight by the time she completes four months and triple it by the time she turns one. This is of course provided that there are no other health issues involved.
Breastfeeding till 4-6 months for babies
Breastfeeding exclusively till 4-6 months is highly recommended, even if the baby is not as chubby as you expected. When monitoring weight gain, keep in mind that this is not the sole growth criteria. The head size/circumference, length of the baby, and developmental milestones are also to be taken into consideration along with weight at every visit to the pediatrician.
If the child does not show adequate improvement in growth parameters, the pediatrician must try to assess the cause first. In the case of exclusive breastfeeding, make sure that your baby intakes hind milk. Hind milk refers to the milk at the end of a feed, which has a higher fat content than the milk at the beginning of the feed. And after six months of age, breast milk cannot sustain the good growth of an infant. A proper weaning plan and introduction of healthy and calorie-dense semi-solids is key.
If, however, formula milk is being fed to your baby, check and see how you are preparing it and if you are following the instructions and proportions appropriately. Sometimes, wrong methods of preparation like excess water to mix the formula can result in low weight gain.
Many factors contribute to a baby's weight
Besides feeding, there are certain other factors, which contribute to a baby's weight. If both the parents are heavily built or overweight, there are chances of the infant being born on the heavier side as well.
There is also a greater likelihood of a baby being born with a more than normal weight, due to factors such as the mother's ethnicity, weight gain during pregnancy, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, or the mother having diabetes before or during pregnancy.
Further, overweight babies may have metabolic abnormalities (low blood sugar and calcium), traumatic birth injuries, higher hemoglobin levels, jaundice, or various congenital abnormalities.
Similarly, certain babies are underweight. And if a baby is born small, it could be due to various reasons:
1. Preterm birth: when babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.
2. Mother's health condition: Mothers may be suffering from medical conditions like high blood pressure, and heart or kidney disease.
3. Malnutrition: A baby may need to have his temperature, glucose, and hemoglobin levels closely monitored to ensure normal weight gain, if he is not receiving the right nutrition.
Baby girl and boy weight chart: 0 to 12 months
Here is the baby weight chart for reference. The following numbers are the 50th percentile weight for male and female babies. The 50th percentile means that 50 percent of babies of the same age weigh more than your baby, and 50 percent of them weigh lesser.
Baby weight chart (in kg)
When tracking a baby's growth and development, it's essential to have a reliable baby weight chart (in kg) as a reference. For newborns, the average birth weight is 3.5 kg for males and 3.4 kg for females. As the months go by, you can observe the progression. At 1 month, males typically weigh around 4.4 kg, while females average 4.2 kg. This pattern continues, with 2-month-old males weighing approximately 5.2 kg and females weighing 4.8 kg. By the time they reach 3 months, males might weigh around 6 kg, while females tend to be around 5.4 kg. This trend continues, and at 4 months, males average 6.7 kg, while females average 6.2 kg.
It's essential to monitor their weight as they grow. At 5 months, males may weigh around 7.4 kg, and females usually reach about 6.7 kg. By 6 months, males tend to be around 7.9 kg, while females usually reach 7.2 kg. As the baby reaches 7 months, males could weigh around 8.4 kg, and females may be approximately 7.7 kg. This progression continues, with 8-month-old males weighing about 8.9 kg and females around 8.1 kg.
As they near their first year, at 9 months, males might weigh around 9.3 kg, and females around 8.5 kg. At 10 months, males typically weigh about 9.7 kg, and females around 8.8 kg. By 11 months, males may reach 10 kg, while females usually weigh around 9.2 kg. Finally, at the age of 12 months, males generally weigh around 10.3 kg, and females tend to be about 9.5 kg. This comprehensive baby weight chart can be a valuable tool for parents and caregivers to ensure healthy growth and development during the first year of a baby's life.
All babies grow at their own pace, and what matters at any given point of time is the growth pattern and not weight value. At your pediatric visits, the healthcare provider will plot your child's growth on a baby growth chart to make sure she's on track. The chart might look daunting, but your doctor can help you understand this useful tool and what the results mean for your little one. Kindly note, that the inputs and tips mentioned in this article must be done under the guidance of your doctor. As the factors involved to determine proper weight gain might differ from baby to baby. With that being said, relax and enjoy your new parenting journey!
