Is My Baby Growing Properly? | Kerry Weatherly

 

WEIGHT GAIN & GROWTH

The relationship between weight gain and growth begins at conception and continues through adolescence. From birth to the first year of life is a period of rapid weight gain and growth. The general guidelines for growth in the first year of life are:

Weight

• baby loses 5-10% of birth weight in the first week and regains this by 2-3 weeks
• birth weight is doubled by about 5 months and tripled by 12 months

Height / Length

• birth length increases 1.5 times in 12 months about 25.5 cm

Head Circumference

• birth head circumference increases by about 7.6 cm in 12 months.

It is important to remember these are guidelines. Weight gain and growth in infants will be individual. Clinicians track and assess growth using growth charts. These charts were developed based on standards which assume optimal conditions are present. Your infants growth and or weight may be above or below the standard. In many cases this is normal, and the overall trend is more important than a single recording. If you are concerned about a trend talking with a physician and a nutritionist who works with children may provide useful tips and practices to keep your baby on track. We strongly recommended that you keep a record of your infant’s growth and weight and update it regularly.

Important to note:

Exclusive breastfeeding means that baby gets ONLY breast milk only for the first six months of life.

This is recommended for an infant’s ideal growth and development.

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING

At the age of six months complementary feeding should begin. Complementary foods are added with continued breast or formula feeding. Breast milk no longer provides all the nutrients needed for continued healthy growth and development after six months. Complementary feeding is necessary for adequate nutrition.  One such nutrient required during this period of rapid growth is iron. Some good sources are fortified cereals, pureed meat, chicken, peas and beans. Vitamins C helps in the absorption of iron from plant sources. Vitamin C foods include pureed vegetables and fruit.

Complementary feeding, with the introduction of new textures and flavours is also important for taste development, acceptance of new foods and even speech.

 

Written by, Kerry Weatherly, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist