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One of the most common questions from new parents is whether their baby is healthy and gaining enough weight. Every baby grows at their own rate; a single weight measurement cannot tell whether they are gaining enough weight.
Paediatricians look at weight, length, head circumference, age, feeding pattern, and growth over time to understand the baby’s growth.
The rising paediatrician clinics and childcare health in Pune are making it a popular choice for new parents to search for a paediatrician here. A quick search for “childrens dr near me” in Pune can introduce you to experts who can monitor your child’s health.
Go For Regular Growth Check-Ups
One of the best ways to determine your baby’s weight growth is through regular growth monitoring. Get appointments for regular growth checkups where the paediatricians will measure your baby’s weight and length and plot the measurements.
Rather than focusing on a certain weight number, the doctors will focus on the pattern of growth over time. Remember, the growth charts they provide are tools to understand your child’s overall growth, not to diagnose a problem on your own.
What Happens to Baby’s Weight After Birth?
New parents should know what happens to their baby’s weight after birth. It is normal for newborns to lose some weight during the first few days after birth. Breastfed babies are expected to return to their birth weight by around 10-14 days. After that, you can expect steady growth to assess whether feeding is going well.
Moreover, as babies grow, their weight gain naturally changes. For example, breastfed babies typically gain weight more slowly than formula-fed babies.
Signs That Your Baby Is Feeding Well
Weight gain is not the only way to assess your baby’s growth. For breastfed babies, parents can use these signs to check whether the baby is feeding well:
- Feeding regularly and effectively
- Being able to suck and swallow during feeds
- Appearing satisfied after many feeds
- Having regular wet nappies
- Showing steady growth over time
WHO (World Health Organisation) notes that adequate wet nappies together with appropriate growth indicate that a breastfed baby is receiving enough milk.
Should Parents Worry About Percentiles?
A percentile is data that shows how a baby’s weight, length, and head size compare to other babies of the same age and sex. However, seeing your baby on a particular percentile sometimes makes parents anxious. But being on a lower or higher percentile does not automatically mean that a baby is unhealthy.
Paediatricians don’t judge a baby’s health from one percentile alone; instead, they consider the baby’s overall growth pattern.
How Can You Support Healthy Growth?
For young babies, appropriate breast milk or infant formula is enough to provide the nutrition they need. For the first six months, you can feed breast milk exclusively when possible; after six months, you can add complementary foods from around six months while continuing breastfeeding.
New parents should get their paediatrician’s guidance on feeding frequency, formula preparation, breastfeeding support, and the introduction of complementary foods. On the other hand, avoid adding supplements and other products to your baby’s diet without medical advice.
When Should You Speak to a Paediatrician?
You can seek a consultation with a paediatrician to learn more about a baby’s diet. You can also seek help if you are worried about your baby’s weight. But don’t try to judge growth from weight alone. The doctor reviews previous measurements, feeding patterns, the baby’s overall health, and growth-chart trends to properly judge the baby’s growth.
The Cloudnine Advantage
Cloudnine provides paediatric care that includes regular consultations and growth monitoring to help parents follow their baby’s growth and development. If you are a resident of Pune, searching for “children hospital near me” in Pune can help you find professional hospitals like Cloudnine. The Cloudnine paediatric team provide guidance based on the child’s individual needs.
Conclusion
Parents find the most reliable way to judge their baby’s health is through weight monitoring. However, only through regular growth monitoring and professional assessment can you judge your child’s growth.
If you are a resident of Pune, searching for “childrens dr near me”, you would be introduced to expert paediatricians at Cloudnine. They can help you with all your concerns about breastfeeding, formula feeding, feeding difficulty, and whether your baby is getting enough nutrition.
