Attachment Parenting :: Articles :: Is My Breastfed / Nursing Baby Gaining Enough Weight?

A very common concern among newly breastfeeding mothers is whether their baby is gaining enough weight.

This concern is quite often borne of, or exacerbated by, their health care provider telling them that their baby is not gaining enough weight "according to the chart", or is, even, "falling off the chart".

Unfortunately, nearly all health care providers seem to be using the same old chart which has been around for decades, and which is based on the weight gain averages of babies who are formula fed! [Note: Remember that gaining more weight is not necessarily a good thing - i.e. it is not a "benefit" or "advantage" of formula that babies bulk up on it!]

Here's a rough idea of typical growth by weight:

Age	Approximate Daily Weight Gain	Approximate Monthly Weight Gain
0-3 mos	30 g	1 kg (2 lb)
3-6 mos	20 g	0.6 kg (1.25 lb)
6-9 mos	15 g	0.5 kg (1 lb)
9-12 mos	12 g	0.4 kg (12 oz)
1-3 yrs		0.25 kg (8 oz)

Note: 30 g = 1 oz.
Fortunately, there is a set of charts based on the weight gain averages of babies who are being raised on the food which nature intended for them - breastmilk. These charts are hosted at the ProMom site.

Click here to see the weight gain chart for baby boys

Click here to see the weight gain chart for baby girls