Babies this age continue to bloom - in size, physical skills,
and ability to interact with the world. In most cases, this is the
age when babies begin to respond to their name, reach for objects,
sit alone, and make happy sounds - or show frustration when a new
skill proves too hard to master right away.
Many of the new skills they're learning will come in handy
for eating solid food. In fact, sometime during this period, your
baby will probably get that first taste of food beyond breast milk
or formula. Although
breastfeeding or formula feeding
will continue to be the main source of nourishment, your
baby can start to explore different tastes and textures. As
long as your baby continues to grow steadily, eating habits
shouldn't be a cause for concern.
How Much Do Babies This Age Grow?
Babies continue to grow quickly in this period, gaining an
average of about 1.5 to 2 pounds (700 to 900 grams) a month at
first. At about 6 months, growth often slows slightly, to about 1
to 1.25 pounds (450 to 600 grams) a month. That rate usually
continues until the first birthday, when growth slows a bit more.
Babies' length also continues to increase greatly, perhaps 2
inches (6 centimeters) during this period.
There is no strict rule of thumb about how much a baby should
weigh at this stage, but by 8 months most weigh about 2.5 times
more than they did at birth. A 7-pound (3000-gram) newborn, in
other words, is likely to weigh 17-18 pounds (7,500-8,000 grams) by
the end of this period.
Since your child's birth, the doctor has been recording
growth in weight, length, and head size (circumference) during your
regular well-baby visits. The doctor tracks these figures on
standard
growth charts
. Ask your doctor to show you your baby's growth record. By
now, you should begin to see a personal growth curve emerging -
expect your child to continue growing along this curve.
Should I Be Concerned?
Is my baby too fat? Too thin? Is my child destined to be tall or
short? Parents often worry about growth and may compare a baby with
siblings and peers. It's important to remember that kids come
in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Growth depends on many factors, including:
- genes passed on by the parents (kids tend to resemble their
parents in height)
- the amount and quality of food a child eats
- overall health
- the functioning of the hormones that control aspects of
growth
Based on the growth chart, the doctor can determine whether your
child is growing as expected. If at any time you're concerned
about your baby's weight or growth in general, discuss your
worries with your doctor.
In response to your concerns, the doctor may ask you these
questions:
- How many feedings a day does your baby get?
- How much does your baby eat at each feeding?
- How long does a breastfeeding baby nurse at each
feeding?
- What else are you feeding your baby?
- How frequent are your baby's bowel movements? What do
they look like?
- How often does your baby urinate?
In addition, the doctor may ask questions about your baby's
health and development. All of these factors together will help the
doctor decide if your baby is growing at an appropriate pace. The
doctor may recommend further medical evaluation if he or she thinks
there may be an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
Premature babies may still be behind in size compared with their
full-term peers, but they should also be growing steadily at their
own rate.
What About the Chubby Baby?
With all the concern about childhood
obesity
, parents may worry that their baby is getting too fat. A few
babies and toddlers are overweight. For these children,
professional advice from the baby's doctor can be useful.
But never withhold food from a baby in an attempt to cause
weight loss. To grow and develop as they should, babies need proper
nutrition, including fat, in their diet.
Rather than limiting food intake, make sure the foods your baby
eats are nutritious rather than full of "empty" calories.
For instance, many babies drink a lot of apple juice, which is high
in calories and has little nutritional value. Juice is not
recommended for infants younger than than 6 months. After 6 months,
100% fruit juice can be introduced in a sippy cup (limited to less
than 4 ounces, or 118 milliliters, a day).
Introduce pureed vegetables and fruits without added sugar and
don't give your baby desserts or other sweets that are high in
sugar and offer little nutritional value. Also, look for the cues
that your baby is full, and don't use food to keep a baby quiet
or occupied. A crying baby may just be looking for some
attention.
If you're concerned about your baby's weight - or even
if you're not - encourage your child to be active. For a baby
this age, that means plenty of time to move around in a safe space
rather than being confined to a carrier, stroller, or other
equipment that limits movement.
It also means playing in ways that encourage your baby to
develop skills, such as reaching for objects, rolling, and
crawling. Some parents take babies this age to organized exercise
programs. That's fine if you and the baby both enjoy it, but
they're not necessary.
You might also want to look at your own habits. If parents are
overweight, have unhealthy eating habits, and get little physical
activity, their kids are much more likely to grow up to be
overweight.
Your child is growing so fast that before you know it, he or she
will be copying what you do. It's never too early to start
improving your own habits so you can be a better role model for the
ones you love. Besides, being in good shape to run, jump, bike, and
actively play with your child can be one of the great joys of being
a parent. It's like being a kid again.
What's Next?
Your baby's rapid growth will start to slow down as the
first birthday approaches. Expect big changes in the coming months
as your infant becomes more mobile.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: August 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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