Infant Weight Chart

Home > Taking care of newborns > Infant weight chart

What is a normal weight gain for your baby?

Most pediatricians use a weight chart as a reference for your baby's growth and development. Infant weight charts consists of a series of curves that compare an infants measurements with those of other children in the same age group.

Percentiles is the most used indicator for growth patterns in weight charts. There are different charts for boys and girls because their growth patterns are different.

What is a normal infant weight gain?

An infants weight gain depends on more than their diet. Newborns loose about 5-10% of their birth weight in their first week of life. It may take sometimes 2 to 3 weeks for breast fed infants to regain their birth weight.

Every new mother should realize that every child grows at its own pace. For instance formula fed and breast fed infants gain weight differently.

Breast fed infants are usually leaner and are not gaining weight as fast as formula fed babies. Experts belief this is due to extra water retention and different composition of body fat.

Other factors that may influence an infants weight gain:

An infants temparement . A very lively baby burns more calories than an inactive baby.
Babies that are breast fed on demand are growing faster than a baby with set feeding times.
Different body types and metabolic rates that are usually inherited of the parents.

Infant weight chart for boy or girl.

Infant weight chart.

You can print or download the infant height and weight chart in PDF format.

Infant boy weight chart, birth to 36 months:

Infant weight chart for girls, birth to 36 months:

Do you need an infant weight scale?

In baby's first year you will visit your doctor for regular check ups. If your baby is drinking well and your baby is gaining weight as expected there is realy no reason to purchase an infant weight scale for home use.

Some of these infant scales can be very expensive and prices can range from 50$ to 1300$.

If you still like to keep track of your babies weight gain between regular check ups;

Check out the following more affordable infant weight scales.

The First Years American Red Cross Soothing Baby Scale

Bebesounds Digital Baby Scale

Salter 914 Electronic Baby and Toddler Scale

The following table shows an infant's avarage monthly weight gain.

	Lbs/ per month	Kilograms/per month
0 - 3 months	2,2 lbs	1 kg
3 - 6 months	1,1 lbs	1/2 kg
6 - 9 months	3/4 lbs	1/3 kg
9 - 12 months	1/2 lbs	1/4 kg

This means that most babies have doubled their birth weight by 4 months and tripled it at the age of 1 year.

Use the below calculator to find your baby's weight percentile based on age.
You can see the result as a green and red dot on the infant weight chart below.

By infantchart.com

A percentile of 50% indicates the avarage weight. A value below 50 percent means a baby weighs less than the average. A value greater than 50 percent means baby weighs more than the average. If your baby is not on the 50% line is not a reason to worry your baby is overweight or underweight. Weights and heights that are anywhere within the centile lines on the chart are considered normal.

For example your baby weighs more than the average but is also longer than the average. If you compare the weight with its height this baby is not overweight. If you have doubts consult your doctor and let him determine your infant's weight status.

Back to taking care of newborns