Advice on Baby Weight Gain

An infant's birth weight is determined by the length of pregnancy, prepregnancy weight of the mother, weight gain during the pregnancy. Genetic influences of the weight gain occur after birth. Infants tend to lose weight during the first few days of life and then it is regained by the 7th to 10th day of life. Infants double their weight by 4 to 6 months and triple it by the age of 1 year. Infants increase the length by 50% during the first year of life and double it by 4 years of age.

If we specifically consider the rate of weight gain then it can be observed as follows:

A weight gain of 5 to 7 ounces (approx. 200 grams) per week for the first month.
A weight gain of 1 to 2 pounds during the first six months.
A weight gain of 1 pound from 6 months to 1 year.

Breast feeding the baby can be helpful in rapid weight gain of the baby. Although formula fed babies also tend to gain weight and that too in rapidly, formula fed babies achieve a plump body where the weight gain is higher than the height gain. Breast fed babies tend to achieve leaner forms where the gain in height is higher than the weight. They tend to burn off the calories faster and are less likely to have problems of obesity later in life.