NORMAL HEIGHT & WEIGHT FOR BABIES
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If you are concerned that your baby is larger
or smaller than other babies in his age group, remember that babies come in a
variety of perfectly normal shapes and sizes. What's more important than their
size at any given point is their overall health and the consistency of their
growth.
Average Size at Birth
The majority of full-term babies, which are
babies born between 37 and 40 weeks, are between 19 and 21 inches long andweigh between 6 lbs., 2 oz. and 9 lbs., 2 oz., says the Nemours Foundation.
Although a newborn may still be healthy if he is over or under these
measurements, she may receive extra attention after she is born to be sure that
she has no health problems.
Common Size Factors
Many factors contribute to a baby's newborn
weight and length, including how many children came before him, the size of his
parents, his gender, whether he is part of a multiple birth, his health and his
mother's health and nutrition during her pregnancy. One major contributor to
his size is how long the pregnancy was. A baby who may have been genetically
destined to weigh more at birth would end up weighing less if he arrived
prematurely.
Monitoring Baby Size
Your pediatrician will assess your baby's size
by using a growth chart. This chart will compare her weight and height, as well
as the circumference of her head, with babies who are of the same age and sex,
according to Mayo Clinic consultant emeritus
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Ultimately, the doctor
will mention that she's within a certain percentile for each measurement. A
baby who's currently in the 10th percentile for weight, for example, weighs
less than 90 percent of babies of the same age and sex. Your baby's percentile
shouldn't be disconcerting unless it fluctuates rapidly from check-up to
check-up.
Normal Growth
Your baby's weight and height will change
drastically in his first year. From the time he is born until he is 6 months
old, he may grow between ½ inch and 1 inch per month and gain between 5 and 7
oz. a week, according to MayoClinic.com. Between 6 and 12 months of age, he may
grow about 3/8 of an inch in a month and gain between 3 and 5 oz. per week. By
his first birthday, he will have about tripled his birth weight and doubled his
birth height.
Outlook
Your baby's size at birth doesn't always
dictate his future size. According to the Nemours Foundation, many tall teens
began as small babies and many small adults began as large babies. The most
reliable indicator of a baby's future size is the size of his parents, but
factors such as a healthy diet are also contributors.
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