Growth in Infancy

by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
During infancy, growth is one of the most important signs that a child is healthy. Babies usually gain about an ounce a day for the first three months, then two-thirds of an ounce a day until about age one.

Another useful rule of thumb: Babies often double their birth weight by age four months and triple it by their first birthday.

These rules are fine if your baby is average in his growth. But many healthy babies follow their own plan. If your baby does, then you'll want the reassurance of a wise pediatrician, family doctor, or nurse practitioner who can help you to look at your baby as a whole person, not just as a bunch of points on a growth chart.

When babies are born big
Babies who start out at the top of the weight range often grow relatively slowly for the first several months. We think that their large size at birth is the result of having an especially roomy uterus to grow in and good nutrition through the placenta. But if their actual genetic potential is to be more average in size, their bodies will naturally grow somewhat slowly, so that by six or eight months, many of these very big babies are closer to average.

When babies start out small
Children who are born small due to prematurity very often catch up in weight over the first year of life by eating more than their average-sized peers. Extremely premature babies have a harder time doing this, and many of them don't catch up for a long time--in some cases, years.

How to enure your baby grows normally
The best way to make sure your baby is growing normally is to take her to her regularly scheduled checkups, usually starting at two weeks.

If you are concerned that she might not be gaining enough weight, definitely call your doctor or nurse practitioner for a weight check appointment. This will be quick. Most likely, you'll be reassured. If there is a problem, it is much better to catch it early than late!

Source: DrSpock.com