How Many Pounds Should Your Baby Gains in a Day? Normal Weight Gain & Warning Signs

It's normal to have questions when you take your baby home, particularly about feeding and your baby's growth. One of the most frequently asked questions parents ask is how much their newborn weight gain per day, and if their baby is gaining weight enough. The loss of weight that occurs during the first few days after birth is to be expected, however, the overall growth of your baby and their feeding schedule and health are important considerations. Knowing what is normal can play a part in helping you determine if your baby is doing well or if there may be a reason to call a pediatrician.

Losing weight after birth is normal in newborns?

While it is true that some weight loss may be normal during the first few days after birth, it is not expected. As babies acclimate to the outside world, some of the fluid they gained at birth is lost.

Parents must be aware of the whole picture, however. It is important to talk to a pediatrician if your baby still isn't gaining weight, has a poor appetite or appears unusually sleepy.

Parental knowledge of normal weight loss after birth can assist them to differentiate between normal and abnormal changes.

If you are worried about your baby's weight gain, don't do it yourself; consult a doctor who can evaluate your baby's feeding, hydration and growth.

What should a baby's daily weight gain be?

When it comes to how much newborn weight gain per day., there is no single number that fits all.

When deciding if a baby is growing well, the pediatrician takes into consideration a variety of 

• Birth weight
• Gestational age
• Was the baby born too soon or too late?Was the baby premature or post-term?
• Feeding method
• How well baby is feeding
• Hydration
• General health
• Trend in weight over time

This is why it's not always easy to know what one day's weight is. Your baby's doctor will typically note these measurements during multiple visits to learn your baby's growth pattern.

If you feel your baby is not getting a good weight gain, a professional assessment will help you find out if your baby's weight gain is a feeding problem or other problem.

Matoshree Hospital offers growth monitoring and nutritional assessment of babies in its paediatrics and neonatology department.

Weight Gains for the Newborns Week by Week

Your baby's weight may fluctuate during the first couple of weeks. It's better to keep an eye on the bigger picture, rather than the details that might change from day to day.

Your pediatrician may want to check:

• Your baby's weight
• Feeding patterns
• Damp and soiled diapers
• Activity and alertness
• Physical development
• Any signs of illness

If your baby was born early or faced feeding challenges, it is especially crucial that they have regular checkups.

Matoshree Hospital provides well-baby checks and monitoring your child's growth so that parents can stay updated about their child's development.

What's a normal weight gain for a newborn?

There may be a number of reasons why your newborn is not gaining weight fast enough. It's more important to find out why the baby isn't gaining weight quickly enough than just to try to get the baby to gain weight quickly.

Feeding Difficulties

Some babies are not able to attach, suck or swallow. This can impact on your baby's weight gain if he or she is not getting enough milk during feeding.

Having trouble transferring milk.

A baby can seem to be nursing often, but not getting the milk into them. Talk to your child's doctor or lactation specialist about feeding concerns.

Frequent Vomiting

It is common for babies to vomit from time to time. But if vomiting occurs often or is a lot, it can impact on nutrition and hydration, so check with a doctor.

Premature Birth

Premature babies can have different nutritional needs, and may be more closely monitored for growth.

Illness or Infection

If your baby is not feeling well, he or she may not be interested in feeding, or have problems getting on with the feeding. Unusual sleepiness or other symptoms along with poor feeding should be assessed in a timely manner.

Jaundice

Feeding problems can sometimes be accompanied by newborn jaundice. The infant with jaundice may be drowsy and may not feed well.

Matoshree hospital's children's department offers various services such as nutritional assessment, phototherapy, and care for babies who are not gaining weight.

If your baby's skin and/or eyes are yellow and feeding is poor, find out more about newborn jaundice and when it is time to see a doctor.

What can you do to help your baby gain a healthy weight?

Appropriate feeding and regular checks of the baby's health and development and their overall health are the best ways to support healthy growth.

Follow the Pediatrician's Advice on Feeding

The amount of feed required by newborns can also differ. Use the feeding guidelines provided by your baby's health-care provider.

If you are breastfeeding, and have concerns about feeding or milk transfer, seek professional assistance, not make changes to the feeding routine yourself.

Monitor Feeding and Diapers

Your baby's stool and urine characteristics and feeding behaviors may help you determine that he is feeding well.

If you notice a big difference, consult your child's doctor about it.

Attend Regular Checkups

If your doctor sees your baby regularly, they can check on his/her growth and notice any potential issues early.

This is particularly crucial if the infant has lost weight after birth or if he or she has feeding difficulties.

Avoid any weight-gain products that are not controlled by a physician.

Don't use supplements, traditional remedies or other products to help your newborn gain weight unless recommended by a trained health care professional.

Focus on Overall Growth

Weight alone does not necessarily indicate health. Pediatricians consider the baby's growth curve (as well as the feeding, hydration, and development).

If you have concerns about your baby's health, growth, feeding, you can consult a pediatrician in Kamothe for professional advice. Nutritional assessment, growth monitoring and well-baby care are some of the pediatric services provided at Matoshree Hospital.

When should you see a Pediatrician?

Please contact your newborn's doctor if your baby:

• Continues losing weight
• Is feeding poorly
• Lacks the ability to suck and/or swallow
• Is unusually sleepy
• Has trouble waking up for feeding
• Has concerning changes in wet diapers
• Vomits frequently
• Seems frail or is very fussy
• Is less successful in showing growth than is expected
• Experiences other troubling symptoms

If there is poor feeding along with excessive sleepiness or jaundice, medical advice should be sought as well.

Specialized newborn care is available at Matoshree Hospital with a dedicated department of paediatrics and neonatology which offers nutritional assessment, growth monitoring, neonatal screening, and other related services for newborns.

Newborn weight gain and jaundice.

Jaundice is seen in newborns quite often. When a baby is jaundiced, though, feeding may be a factor to keep in mind.

A jaundiced baby might get drowsy, and may not feed well. Therefore, parents will need to monitor their child's feeding and adhere to their doctor's advice.

Look out for these symptoms:

• A rise in the skin or eye colour.Yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Poor feeding
• Weak sucking
• Excessive sleepiness
• The baby may be hard to wake up.The baby may not be easy to wake up.
• Fever
• Abnormal movements
• Jaundice that persists beyond the normal time

Read more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of jaundice in newborns.

What is used to track a baby's growth?

Pediatricians don't just consider the weight when evaluating the health of newborns. They take into account the baby's weight and feeding, hydration, development and other clinical factors.

Growth monitoring can be particularly important for babies who:

• Were born prematurely
• Have feeding difficulties
• Shedded a considerable amount of weight.
• Have jaundice
• Vomit frequently
• Not gaining weight as desired
• 13.5% have other health concerns.

Parental and medical monitoring of baby growth can be helpful to detect potential problems early. Growth monitoring and nutritional assessment is a part of pediatric services at Matoshree Hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expected weight gain for a newborn baby each day?

The number of pounds a baby should gain each day is not a fixed amount for every baby. Your baby's size, birth weight and gestational age, as well as their feeding and health, affect their growth.

Is it normal for a baby to lose weight after birth?

It is normal to lose some weight in the first few days. If however the weight loss is ongoing or problematic however, it should be discussed with a pediatrician.

When does the infant begin to gain weight?

Babies typically lose weight during the first few weeks, but after that, they will start to put on weight and then continue to grow as they get used to feeding. This pattern may be different for each baby.

What to do if Baby is not gaining weight?

Consult a child doctor. They can check feeding, drink habits, weight levels and any potential  problem areas.

How can I tell if my baby is gaining enough weight?

Regular pediatric appointments are the most effective means of evaluation your baby's growth. Your doctor will be able to check your weight over time and can take them into account when looking at your feeding and development.

Should I weigh my baby each day after birth?

Even though every baby needs to be weighed every day, this is only necessary if your baby's doctor says so. Sometimes this can lead to unnecessary anxiety if the child is weighed too regularly, but not interpreted properly.

Final Thoughts

Parents are expected to have concerns about their baby's weight, particularly in the first weeks. It's good to know how much your newborn baby is gaining each day, but don't focus on a day-to-day measurement; it's more important to watch your baby's growth pattern.

While some weight loss is normal immediately after birth, if it continues beyond the first few days, or if the baby doesn't grow enough, it is important to talk to the pediatrician.

Potential growth issues can be detected early with proper feeding, periodic checks and professional guidance.

You can consult a pediatrician in Kamothe for a one-on-one consultation if you have any concerns about your baby's feeding or growth development.

You can also read our newborn care tips for first-time parents for more news on newborn care.