Newborn Babies' Growth
Steady growth is a sign of good health in newborns. Your pediatrician will track several measurements at regular well-baby checkups and may plot these results on a growth chart to compare your baby to standard norms.
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Weight
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A newborn normally loses 5 to 7 percent of his birth weight in his first few days. At 2 weeks postpartum he should be back to his birth weight. Up to 4 months, your baby will be expected to gain between 1/2 and 1 oz. every day, or 4 to 7 oz. per week.
Length or Height
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The average baby will grow about 10 inches in his first year---between ½ and 1 inch each month.
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Head Circumference
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A newborn's head grows rapidly in his first year, from an average of about 14 inches around to 18½ inches. That's almost 3/8 inch each month.
Getting Accurate Measurements
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Your baby should be completely undressed whenever he is weighed, if possible on the same scale each time. Keep your baby relaxed and calm as the nurse or physician's assistant checks his length; an agitated baby is difficult to measure. Head circumference should be taken with a flexible measuring tape just above the eyebrows and behind the tops of the ears.
Too Big? Too Small?
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There is a wide range of normal in babies' growth patterns. Look to the overall health of the baby (alertness, appetite, developmental milestones) for a full picture.
Red Flags
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A marked departure from growth standards may signal a medical problem. For example, slow head growth after 6 months is a warning sign of Rett syndrome; low weight gain can mean a digestive or endocrine disorder.
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