A Parent’s Guide to Infant Growth
and Early Weight Concerns
When you first hold your baby in your arms, there’s an incredible mix of emotions, and a flood of questions. One of the earliest things parents think about is their baby’s feeding and weight gain. You might wonder if your little one’s weight and length measure up the way they should, especially when checkups show changes on growth charts (the dreaded centile drop) or when fussiness pops up out of nowhere. In today’s article, you’ll learn about typical growth expectations, watch for signals that something might need attention, and find useful tips to keep your baby thriving. All sizes and measurements are presented in metric units first (with imperial units in parentheses for those of you who still think in old money) to make it simple and clear.
Understanding What “Normal” Growth Looks Like
Normal growth involves steady increases in weight, length (or height), and head size. These increases reflect good nutrition, overall health, and each baby’s unique genetic makeup. Babies whose parents are shorter may settle into lower percentiles for height. Babies whose parents are taller may plot higher on growth charts.
A normal growth pattern shows that a baby is getting enough calories and nutrients for healthy development. It also indicates proper feeding, whether that is breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a combination. Sometimes, a baby’s measurements fall in the same percentile range over time. Other times, there is a shift as the baby settles onto a curve that fits their genetic potential, and that’s ok as well provided they don’t continue falling down the centile curves.
Many parents worry if their baby is at a lower or higher percentile. What matters is that the baby follows a trajectory that suits them. A jump or drop that continues over several checkups can hint at a feeding issue or an underlying condition, so it helps to ask the doctor if something seems off.