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Mommy & Baby: Weight Gain & Failure To Thrive

 by: Kirsten Hawkins

A guide to appropriate weight-gain and what to look for if you suspect failure-to-thrive:

Weight Gain:

Birth – 2 weeks of age


  • Regain birth weight plus some


    2 weeks – 3 months of age


  • Two pounds per month or one ounce per day


    4 – 6 months of age


  • One pound per month or one-half ounce per day (should double birth weight by 6 months)


    One year of age


  • 2.5 to 3 times her birth weight

    Failure to Thrive:

    There is a difference between slow weight gain and failure to thrive. With slow weight gain, the gain is consistent. With failure to thrive, you will see a baby who continues to lose weight after 10 days of life, does not regain her birth weight by three weeks of age, or gains at an unusually slow rate beyond the first month of life. Things to watch for from the mother’s and baby’s side include:

    Mother’s side

  • Improper nursing technique (poor latch-on, etc.)


  • Nature or lifestyle (not enough sleep, liquids, nutritional foods, etc.)


  • Poor release of milk (related to let-down)


  • Feeding too frequently (this can give the baby an abundance of foremilk and a lack of hindmilk; the latter of which is nutritionally and calorie rich)


  • Feeding too infrequently (being a slave to the clock)


  • Not monitoring growth signs


  • Physical nurturing, holding, and cuddling

      (continued...)

    Mommy & Baby: Weight Gain & Failure To Thrive
      Page 2

    About The Author

    Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.