The weight and height of the child should be noted in the first weeks of his birth and the doctor should be consulted about any changes that appear in him. Learn in this article about Ways to increase the weight of the infant in the first month And the reasons for being underweight.

Baby development in the first year

The weight and height of children vary in different ages, but you can learn about these general rules for child development in the first year:

• From birth until the age of 6 months, the child’s length increases by 1.5 to 2.5 cm each month, and his weight increases by 140 to 200 grams each week.
• From the age of 6 months to 12 months, the child’s height increases by 1 cm per month, and his weight increases by 85 to 140 grams every week.

When should I go to the doctor?

You should consult a doctor if you feel that your child is not gaining enough weight in the first months or when you notice a slow rate of growth of the child, as the doctor asks about the number of feeding times per day and the amount that the child gets in each feeding, the number of times the child urinates and defecates, and the amount of stool and its consistency.

Reasons why a child does not gain weight

The child’s failure to gain weight is due to a number of reasons and factors, including:

Improper breastfeeding

The baby’s failure to properly latch on to the nipple in his mouth leads to him not getting enough breast milk, and thus not gaining weight significantly.

Decreased number of breastfeeding times

In the first weeks of his birth, the baby needs to be breastfed every two to 4 hours, so the lack of number of feeding times or the baby’s desire to breastfeed more than the normal rate and not getting it causes the baby to lose weight.

Decrease in the duration of breastfeeding

One feeding lasts about 8 to 10 minutes. Less than this period means that the baby is not getting enough milk.

Premature birth

Large birth is one of the risk factors that affect the weight of the baby at birth and in the first weeks of his life as well.

Symptoms of underweight baby from normal

You will notice the baby’s weight loss during regular check-ups at the doctor, as the doctor weighs him at each visit. The baby’s stool and urine, and his feeding pattern should also be noted.

Ways to increase the weight of the infant in the first month

Gaining a baby’s weight should happen gradually and slowly. Here are some ways to help you increase your baby’s weight:

• Use a nipple shield to help the baby latch properly and get enough milk.
• Breastfeed the baby using a bottle of milk.
• Use some medications to increase milk supply after consulting your gynecologist.
• Take some nutritional supplements after consulting your doctor.
• Increasing the number of times the baby is breastfed per day, and increasing the duration of breastfeeding while waking up the baby when he falls asleep during feeding.
• Follow a healthy and balanced diet even before giving birth.
• Maintain body moisture and drink enough water and fluids.
• The baby must be awake during feeding for 20 minutes so that he can get enough and full of breast milk.
• Avoid using the pacifier in the first 6 weeks of the baby’s birth, because it leads to exhaustion of the baby while sucking it, so he cannot breastfeed sufficiently.

And now, dear reader, that you know me Ways to increase the weight of the infant in the first month And if you know the causes and symptoms of his weight loss, consult a doctor when you notice any strange symptoms that appear on the child, with my best wishes for health and wellness to all children.