Subscribe to our Blog
Healthy babies, like adults, come in a range of shapes and sizes. What new parents worry about most, however, is the weight of their soon-to-be born baby. Is he or she gaining too much? Is he or she underweight? Parents and medical professionals alike use weight as one way to assess a baby’s overall health. While you don’t want your baby to be obese, you also don’t want your baby to be underweight.
How much should a healthy baby weigh?
Weight varies from one infant to the next, but there are predictable patterns for infant growth. At birth, the average baby weighs about 7.5 pounds, according to the website whattoexpect.com. The “normal” range is between 5.5 and 10 pounds. All but 5 percent of newborns fall into that range.
Some factors that determine a baby’s weight:
- Genetics
- Baby’s gender (boys often weigh more)
- Baby’s race
- Your prenatal health (such as whether you drink, smoke or have diabetes)
- Your diet and weight before and during pregnancy
Eating for two
Expecting moms have some control over their baby’s weight when born. In the womb, he or she “eats” the same food as mom. If you’re over-indulging in potato chips, ice cream and cookies, your baby is, too. It’s therefore critical for you to have a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. The United States Department of Agriculture offers a personalized daily food plan for expectant and recent moms, customized based on your age, gender, height, weight, physical activity level, and stage of pregnancy or breast feeding status.
What to eat
As a rule of thumb, make sure at least half of your daily grains come from whole grains, advises the Mayo Clinic, such as eating a bowl of fortified cereal for breakfast or swapping out white bread for whole wheat bread at lunch. Additionally, fruits and veggies are critical to pregnancy nutrition because they provide essential vitamins and minerals to both you and your baby. For example, start adding blueberries to your morning yogurt and broccoli to your dinner casseroles.
The small changes noted above can make a big impact on your baby’s weight and most importantly to his or her overall health.
Source:
Mayo Clinic
Baby Center
The Grow-Up® Plan
Watch Video
About the Gerber Baby
Insurance for Families
