In the first few days of life, a newborn usually loses up to 10% of body weight at birth. Then, during 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 weigh about four times more than at birth, in two years. Some children reach these levels at an earlier age, while others when they are older. But how much should a child weigh in each age period? The answer to this question always worries young mothers, as it is an indicator of the development of the baby. Growth rates are also important . The fastest growth is from two weeks to six months. Slightly reduced after six months. Then a decrease is noted after nine and twelve months. These age periods vary for each child.
WHO has developed standards by which 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 is lying, and growth - when he is standing. These values are presented in the form of tables and diagrams, using them you can determine, including how much a child should weigh from 0 to 60 months or five years. Between 1997 and 2003, WHO conducted multicenter studies of development indicators and constructed new curves designed to measure the development and growth of children around the world.
To compile the “body weight – age” standards, we studied the data of longitudinal (time series of specific objects at consecutive time points) samples and cross-sectional samples (the same characteristic was recorded simultaneously for different objects) of children's body weight samples. Then they were combined without any adjustments. As a result, a unified model was created, which was used to obtain a set of curves, which are a standardized indicator “body weight – age” for each sex. These standard data in the form of graphs or tables can be found on the official website of the WHO and from them to determine how much a child (both a boy and a girl) should weigh for a particular age.
Specialists also use BMI — Age to assess children's development. Index refers to a 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 growth of the child in square meters. For this indicator, the standards are built 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 research, standard indicators characterizing the development of children under five years of age were obtained. Using these data, you can not only determine how much the child should weigh, but also by comparing the actual values (weight, body length of the child, his height or BMI) with WHO standards, evaluate how the child is developed. That is, a technically reliable tool was obtained, with the help of which the physiological development of the child under optimal living conditions is described.
Mom can independently find out how much the baby should weigh at 2 months or at any other age. Today it is easy to buy special scales for weighing the baby. But she must know what mistakes cannot be made when measuring (the baby’s body weight, length or height) or interpreting the measurement results when comparing with standard characteristics. The biggest mistake is getting false results when using weights. The balance must be calibrated, calibrated and periodically serviced. All these procedures are expensive and not every young family’s budget can bear such expenses. Another mistake parents make is to use different weights to measure body weight. As a result (the error of some weights changes the result to a smaller side, and others to a larger one), you can get an alarming signal about the underdevelopment of the baby, which will not correspond to reality.
Therefore, the most correct way to find out how much a child should weigh at 4 months, 6 months, as well as earlier or later than this period, is a regular visit to the children's district doctor. The results of measuring the weight, length or height of the child will be obtained using 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 will also give recommendations (if necessary) on adjusting nutrition 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 seat belts on a wheelchair or car seat must be periodically loosened. The face and pens are chubby, and the baby himself is getting heavier. He has good sleep and appetite, and during waking hours he is active and cheerful.