How much should the child weigh?

In the first few days of life, a newborn usually loses up to 10% of the body weight at birth. Then within the first two weeks it is restored. On average, children double their birth weight after the fourth month and triple it after the twelfth month. The baby will be about four times as much as at birth, in two years. Some children reach these levels at an earlier age, others when they become older. But how much should a child weigh in each age period? The answer to this question is always worried about young mothers, as it is an indicator of the development of the baby. Growth rates are also important . The fastest growth is for a period of two weeks to six months. Slightly decreases after six months. Then the decline is observed after nine and twelve months. These age periods vary for each child.

WHO has developed norms to assess the development of the child, depending on gender and age. Standard indicators contain data on the dependence of height, length and body weight on age, body weight on its height and length, as well as BMI (body mass index) on age. The length of the body is measured when the child lies, and the growth - when it is standing. These values are presented in the form of tables and diagrams, using them you can determine, including how much the child weighs from 0 to 60 months or five years. Between 1997 and 2003, WHO conducted multicenter research on development indicators and built new curves designed to assess the development and growth of children around the world.

Data for longitudinal (time series of specific objects at successive instants of time) and cross samples (the same characteristic was recorded simultaneously for different objects) for samples of the body weight of children was studied to compile the "body-age-weight" standards. Then they were combined without any adjustments. As a result, a single model was created that was used to produce a set of curves that represent a standardized measure of "body weight-age" for each gender. These standard data in the form of graphs or tables can be found on the WHO official website and on them determine how much the child (both boy and girl) should weigh for a particular age.

Experts for the evaluation of children's development also use "BMI-age." An index is the value obtained as the ratio of body weight measured in kilograms to the square of the length of the body or to the square of the height of the child in square meters. For this indicator, the standards are constructed in groups: for children aged 0 to 24 months (up to two years) and for children over 24 and up to 60 months (two to five years). As a result of the studies, standard indicators characterizing the development of children under five were obtained. Using this data, you can not only determine how much the child should weigh, but also by comparing the actual values (mass, length of the child's body, its growth or BMI) to the norms established by WHO, to assess how the child is developed. That is, a technically reliable tool has been obtained that describes the physiological development of a child under optimal living conditions.

Mom can independently learn how much a child should weigh in 2 months or at any other age. Today it is easy to buy special scales for weighing a baby. But she needs to know what mistakes can not be tolerated when measuring (baby's body weight, length or height) or interpreting the results of measurements when compared with standard characteristics. The most important mistake is getting unreliable results when using weights. The balance must be attested, calibrated and periodically maintained. All these procedures are expensive and the budget of not every young family can withstand such expenses. Another mistake that parents make is that different weights are used to measure body weight. As a result (the error of some scales changes the result in a smaller direction, and the others in a larger one), one can get an alarm signal about the insufficient development of the baby, which will not correspond to reality.

Therefore, the most correct way to find out how much a child should weigh in 4 months, 6 months, and also earlier or later than this period is a regular visit to the children's district doctor. The results of measuring the mass, length or height of the child will be obtained with the help of attorneys or calibrated (the same!) Measuring instruments and correctly interpreted using growth charts or WHO tables. The doctor will inform the young parents about how the child develops, and also give recommendations (if necessary) on adjusting the diet or care. Mom or Dad has many other signs that make it clear that the baby is growing correctly. He has a good regular chair. Clothing often has to be changed, as it becomes small, and the seat belts on the wheelchair or car seat need to be weakened periodically. The face and hands are plump, but the baby is getting heavier. He has a good sleep and appetite, and during waking hours he is active and cheerful.