your baby growth
sents where he stands with respect to other baby is at the fortieth percentile for weight, it means that about 40 percent of same-age babies weigh more and about 60 percent of babies weigh less than he does. Many babies start life at one percentile
and eventually settle at a very different one. Your baby’s healthcare provider will track his growth on his growth chart at each regular visit. Very high, very low or changing percen- tiles may be cause for concern, but often require only continued close monitoring. A baby’s weight should always be consid-
ered in relation to other growth measure- ments, particularly length. A baby at the tenth percentile for both weight and length may just be naturally petite, whereas a baby at the tenth percentile for weight and the ninetieth percentile for height may need more calories to support continued vigorous growth. Pos- sible reasons for poor growth may include medical or developmental problems. Many healthy babies have periods of
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slow growth, and some can even lose a little weight from brief illnesses. These periods are typically followed by rapid make-up growth. Breastfed babies often gain weight faster
months. This initial growth may seem alarm- ing to you, but you should not be concerned. Since breastfed babies control how much they eat, they rarely overfeed. Bottle-fed babies are at risk for overfeed- not paying attention to cues that indicate a full belly — such as a slowing sucking pattern or turning the head away from the bottle. Keep in mind that there is no such thing
as a perfect weight — every baby is different
at Children’s National Medical Center and Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, both in Washington, DC.
For more info, go to
youandyourfamily.com.
www.youandyourfamily.com
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