The growth rate of babies can surprise you

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Weight, infant growth rate or infant growth are topics that are often hotly discussed by parents. Through regular checkups, the doctor will assess your baby's condition based on a standard growth chart.

1. Infant growth rate in the first year

All healthy babies can grow to a variety of sizes. However, infant development tends to follow a general average. Based on that, doctors and nutritionists will assess the growth rate of babies during the first year. Namely:
From birth - 6 months A baby can grow from 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1/2 - 1 inch) each month and gain about 140 to 200 grams (5 - 7 ounces) every week. At the age of 5 months, your baby's weight is expected to double its birth weight.

6 - 12 Months A baby can grow about 1 cm (3/8 inch) in height each month and gain weight by 85 to 140 grams (3 - 5 ounces) per week. At about 1 year old, your baby is expected to gain 3 times his birth weight.
During infancy, your doctor will draw weight-for-length charts, show your infant's growth rate, and calculate your baby's BMI. Parents can use the charts to track their baby's growth trends and compare their infant's development with other babies of the same sex and age. According to the growth chart of the World Health Organization, a baby with a weight-to-length ratio greater than the 98th percentile is considered overweight.

2. When your baby's weight is worrying

2.1. Growth graph fluctuates abnormally The doctor will regularly monitor the infant's growth during physical exams and mark the indicator on the standard growth chart. However, the position of the curve in the growth chart is not as important as the trend of the curve in general. This means that your baby is still considered healthy if he experiences a brief period of weight gain, or even slight weight loss. The case of concern is when the baby does not reach the minimum weight in many tests.
2.2. Excess fat and calories cause obesity To help support growth in infancy, babies need a high-fat diet. Calorie restriction measures to control weight in overweight children are also not recommended for children 2 years of age or younger. However, it is still important to pay attention to excess fat and calories because overweight children can affect physical and mental development. Specifically, your baby will have difficulty performing essential activities in life, such as crawling and walking.
If you are concerned about your baby's weight, you should consult your doctor to get more clear information. Because a large child is more likely not to become an overweight child, while an already obese child may continue to be overweight as an adult.

3. Keep your baby at a healthy weight

In order to keep the baby's growth at an appropriate and healthy weight, parents should:
Control the mother's weight during pregnancy Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born overweight born. Some studies show that high birth weight is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity.
Breastfeeding For babies who are exclusively breastfed, about half of their daily calories are from the fats found in this natural nutrient. In addition, studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of obesity in children.

Limit Sugary Drinks Juice is not a necessary element in your baby's diet. When entering the weaning stage, parents should introduce their baby to real fruits as well as nutritious vegetables.
Give your baby time to get used to it. Don't automatically switch to breast milk or formula if your baby cries while eating. Instead, you can try switching to a new feeding seat in a quieter environment or gently patting your baby to calm his fussiness.
Limit the use of electronic devices The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages children under 2 years of age not to use electronic devices. The more time a child watches TV or online cartoons, the higher the risk of being overweight or obese.
If there are still many doubts and doubts surrounding the infant's growth rate, parents should regularly take the baby to a pediatric medical facility for regular check-ups and discuss with the doctor about the condition. child's height and weight. In addition, consulting with pediatric nutritionists is also a good suggestion that you can consider to add to your knowledge about infant development.

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Article referenced source: Mayoclinic.org