Use our baby weight chart to find out where your baby falls on the growth charts. Plus, get tips on how to help babies who are a little behind catch up.
At some point, almost every parent wonders if their baby’s weight gain is within normal range. Is she growing too fast? Not fast enough? This baby weight chart can help ease your mind.
Switch to Metric
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Girls Baby Weight Chart
Age
|
Weight
|
Length
|
|
Birth
|
5.1 - 9.7 lb
|
17.6 - 21.1 in
|
|
1 Month
|
6.6 - 12.6 lb
|
19.3 - 22.9 in
|
|
2 Months
|
8.4 - 15.2 lb
|
20.6 - 24.3 in
|
|
3 Months
|
9.7 - 17.2 lb
|
21.6 - 25.5 in
|
|
4 Months
|
10.6 - 19.0 lb
|
22.5 - 26.4 in
|
|
5 Months
|
11.5 - 20.3 lb
|
23.2 - 27.2 in
|
|
6 Months
|
12.1 - 21.4 lb
|
23.8 - 28.0 in
|
|
7 Months
|
12.8 - 22.5 lb
|
24.4 - 28.6 in
|
|
8 Months
|
13.2 - 23.4 lb
|
24.9 - 29.3 in
|
|
9 Months
|
13.7 - 24.3 lb
|
25.4 - 29.8 in
|
|
10 Months
|
14.1 - 24.9 lb
|
25.8 - 30.4 in
|
|
11 Months
|
14.6 - 25.8 lb
|
26.4 - 30.9 in
|
|
12 Months
|
15.0 - 26.5 lb
|
26.8 - 31.5 in
|
|
15 Months
|
16.1 - 28.4 lb
|
28.0 - 33.0 in
|
|
18 Months
|
17.2 - 30.4 lb
|
29.1 - 34.4 in
|
|
21 Months
|
18.1 - 32.2 lb
|
30.1 - 35.7 in
|
|
24 Months
|
19.2 - 34.2 lb
|
31.1 - 37.0 in
|
|
27 Months
|
20.3 - 36.2 lb
|
31.7 - 37.8 in
|
|
30 Months
|
21.2 - 38.1 lb
|
32.5 - 38.9 in
|
|
33 Months
|
22.0 - 39.9 lb
|
33.2 - 40.0 in
|
|
36 Months
|
22.9 - 41.9 lb
|
33.9 - 40.9 in
|
|
4 Years
|
26.0 - 49.8 lb
|
36.5 - 44.4 in
|
Switch to Metric
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Boys Baby Weight Chart
Age
|
Weight
|
Length
|
|
Birth
|
5.1 - 10.1 lb
|
17.9 - 21.4 in
|
|
1 Month
|
7.1 - 13.2 lb
|
19.8 - 23.3 in
|
|
2 Months
|
9.0 - 16.3 lb
|
21.2 - 24.8 in
|
|
3 Months
|
10.6 - 18.3 lb
|
22.3 - 26.1 in
|
|
4 Months
|
11.9 - 20.1 lb
|
23.2 - 27.0 in
|
|
5 Months
|
12.8 - 21.4 lb
|
24.0 - 27.9 in
|
|
6 Months
|
13.5 - 22.5 lb
|
24.6 - 28.6 in
|
|
7 Months
|
14.1 - 23.6 lb
|
25.2 - 29.2 in
|
|
8 Months
|
14.8 - 24.5 lb
|
25.8 - 29.8 in
|
|
9 Months
|
15.2 - 25.1 lb
|
26.3 - 30.4 in
|
|
10 Months
|
15.7 - 26.0 lb
|
26.8 - 30.9 in
|
|
11 Months
|
16.1 - 26.7 lb
|
27.2 - 31.5 in
|
|
12 Months
|
16.5 - 27.3 lb
|
27.6 - 32.0 in
|
|
15 Months
|
17.6 - 29.5 lb
|
28.9 - 33.5 in
|
|
18 Months
|
18.5 - 21.3 lb
|
29.9 - 34.8 in
|
|
21 Months
|
19.6 - 33.1 lb
|
30.9 - 36.1 in
|
|
24 Months
|
20.5 - 35.1 lb
|
31.8 - 37.4 in
|
|
27 Months
|
21.4 - 36.8 lb
|
32.3 - 38.2 in
|
|
30 Months
|
22.3 - 38.6 lb
|
33.1 - 39.3 in
|
|
33 Months
|
23.1 - 40.3 lb
|
33.7 - 40.3 in
|
|
36 Months
|
23.8 - 42.1 lb
|
34.4 - 41.2 in
|
|
4 Years
|
26.9 - 48.7 lb
|
37.0 - 44.5 in
|
The information in this chart is from The World Health Organization (WHO) and is for educational purposes only. This chart should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care. If you have any concerns about baby’s health, talk to your pediatrician right away.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about your baby’s weight.
How Do Doctors Use a Baby Weight Chart?
At each well-child checkup, your baby is weighed and measured, and these numbers are recorded on a chart. The doctor looks at these numbers to determine if baby is growing well for his age.
Each baby is different, and not all babies will fall directly in the middle of the chart. In fact, most won’t.
As long as baby is growing steadily and on the chart, there is usually no cause for concern.
Breastfed vs. Formula-fed: How Growth Patterns Differ
Breastfed babies gain weight differently than formula-fed babies.
- Days 1-3: Before mom’s milk comes in, breastfed babies lose about 7 percent of their birth weight. Formula-fed babies, on the other hand, only lose about 3.5 percent of their birth weight.
- 0-3 months: Babies resume patterns of rapid growth after the first few days of life, with breastfed babies initially outpacing their formula-fed peers.
- 3-12 months: Once baby approaches three months of age, formula-fed babies begin to catch up to—and even tend to exceed—breastfed babies.
But until recently, many growth charts didn’t reflect this. In 2016, the CDC finally changed their charts to better reflect the growth patterns of breastfed children. (Note: The interactive chart above is based on WHO baby weight charts, which accounts for breastfeeding, since globally there are more mothers who breastfeed.)
Baby Weight Chart – WHO – Boys and Girls Growth Curve
Unfortunately, many pediatricians still go by the old version of the CDC’s charts, which can lead to confusion if a baby does not appear to be gaining weight accordingly. This may also result in unnecessary supplementation with formula, introducing solids earlier than generally recommended, or, in extreme cases, even the recommendation to stop breastfeeding altogether.
Is Your Child Low on the Baby Weight Chart?
Just because your baby is on the lower end of the scale doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong. Average baby weight is just that—average.
In fact, only half of babies fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles, meaning that half of all babies fall outside of that “normal” range, though they are still perfectly normal!
Paying attention to your unique child’s growth curve is a better indication of health. If baby is at the 25th percentile and then starts going down in percentiles, that may be a concern. If baby is at the 3rd percentile and continues to grow (but stays at the 3rd percentile), there is likely nothing to worry about.
My Baby’s Height Doesn’t Match His Weight
Not every baby will be both short and thin or both tall and chubby. Some are tall and thin; some are short and chubby. This means your baby could be in the 50th percentile for weight and the 12th for height and still be considered perfectly “normal.”
How Much Does the Average Baby Weigh at Birth?
The average baby girl weighs between 5.1-9.7 pounds at birth, while the average baby boy weighs between 5.1-10.1 pounds at birth.
For girls, the 50th percentile—right in the middle of the pack—would be about 7.1 pounds; for boys, the 50th percentile would be about 7.3 pounds.
How Much Weight Does a Baby Gain in the First Month?
The average breastfed baby will lose about 7 percent of their birth weight in the first three days and the average formula-fed baby will lose 3.5 percent of their birth weight, according to one study. If baby loses more than 10 percent, speak to your pediatrician and see a lactation consultant to make sure baby is getting enough to eat.
Over the course of the next two weeks, baby should gain back any weight lost. According to Dr. Jay Gordon, a pediatrician and author, the average baby gains 4-8 ounces per week in the first month.
What is the Normal Weight for a 3-Month-Old Baby?
The normal weight for a 3-month-old baby girl is between 9.7-17.2 pounds, while the normal weight for a 3-month-old baby boy is between 10.6-18.3 pounds.
For girls, the 50th percentile—right in the middle of the pack—would be about 12.8 pounds; for boys, the 50th percentile would be about 14.1 pounds.
To better understand if your baby is on track, think of it this way: Most babies will double their birthweight by about 4-5 months of age, and triple it by about 12 months.
My baby is Under 6 Months Old and Not Growing Well. Should I Introduce Solids?
The short answer is no. Solids are not recommended for babies under 6 months of age. The major health organizations, including the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians, all agree with this statement.
If a baby this age isn’t growing well, there is often an underlying reason that needs to be addressed, and adding solids won’t fix it alone (and may even cause more damage).
Slow weight gain may happen for many reasons, like:
- Baby isn’t getting enough food
- Baby isn’t absorbing food adequately
- Baby has an especially high metabolism
- Parents are on the smaller side
A doctor who is knowledgeable about the most up-to-date information on baby weight charts and nutrition is an excellent ally when navigating baby weight issues.
What to Do If Your Child is Behind on the Growth Charts?
There are many things you can do to support baby’s growth that are natural and healthy.
Call a lactation consultant
If you’re breastfeeding but baby is not gaining or growing well, that does not necessarily mean you don’t have enough milk. Baby can only eat what he can remove from the breast, and if he has a bad latch or a lip or tongue tie, he can’t remove milk well. Formula may be needed in the short term (because, yes, fed is best), but breastfeeding can almost always work with the right support (and it gets easier too!). A lactation consultant is a great first step to getting back on track.
Test your milk quality
If baby isn’t gaining weight appropriately, consider sending a sample of your milk to the Lactation Lab. This service will analyze your breast milk composition and tell you how much fat is in it. If your breast milk is low in fat, you can boost fat levels by adding alfalfa tablets and borage oil to your diet. You can also add food rich in omega-3s, like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed.
Better formula
If you do need to supplement, you don’t have to go with a brand that contains questionable ingredients. There are better brands out there and even homemade versions that can help keep baby’s gut health intact and keep him growing well. (Read more about the best formula here.)
Improved nutrition
If your baby is 6-12 months old and not growing well, make sure he gets enough breast milk or formula but also be sure to introduce solids for added nutrition.
Banana, avocado, squash, egg yolks, coconut cream, and even pasture-raised meats are all excellent nutrient-dense foods for baby that will help him head north on the baby weight chart.
Support digestive health
You can also support baby’s digestive health, which can help him absorb nutrition more readily. Breast milk is an excellent way to heal and soothe baby’s gut. Some babies need added probiotics to help them with digestion and absorption of nutrients. (The highest rated infant probiotic on the market can be found here.) You can also add an infant probiotic to baby’s diet directly by placing a drop on your nipple, finger, or pacifier before baby starts suckling. (Learn more about baby probiotics here.) In addition, you can offer fermented foods (beet kvass is easy, because it’s in liquid form) as well as prebiotic foods, like under-ripe bananas, to babies over 6 months old to feed the good bacteria.
Try baby massage
Many studies also link infant massage with healthy weight gain. In fact, in one study, premature babies who received a massage gained 47 percent more weight than premature babies who did not receive massage. In another study, newborns who were massaged not only gained more weight per day, but also appeared more aware and had increased motor skills.
Baby Weight Chart: Bottom Line
Just like a snowflake, every baby is different. As long as your baby is growing steadily along his own curve, there is usually nothing to worry about. But when you do need help, rest assured—there are simple, natural things you can do to support baby’s body in growing big, strong and healthy.
