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Average Weight Gain for Breastfed Babies (Metric)
[click
here for English Units (ounces/inches) and discussion]
| Baby's
Age |
Average
Weight Gain 1 |
Average
Weight Gain 2,3 |
| 0-4 months |
155 - 241 grams per week |
170 grams per week † |
| 4-6 months |
92 - 126 grams per week |
113 - 142 grams per week |
| 6-12 months |
50 - 80 grams per week ‡ |
57 - 113 grams per week |
| †
It is acceptable for some babies to gain 4-5 ounces (113-142
grams) per week.
‡ The average breastfed baby doubles
birth weight by 3-4 months. By one year, the typical breastfed
baby will weigh about 2 1/2 - 3 times birth weight. 1
Sources:
- World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, 2006. Available at: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/en/. To figure average weight gain, we used the weight-per-age percentile charts for birth - 5 years. The range is a combination of boys and girls 5% to 95%, rounded to the nearest 5 grams. Click here for more details on calculations [PDF file].
- Riordan J. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation,
3rd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett, 2005, p. 103, 512-513.
- Mohrbacher N and Stock J. The
Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised ed. Schaumburg,
Illinois: La Leche League International, 2003, p. 148-149
|
| Baby's
Age |
Avg.
Length Increase |
Avg.
Head Circumference Increase |
| 0-6
months |
2.5 cm per month |
1.27 cm per month |
| 6-12
months † |
1.27 cm per month |
64 mm per month |
| †
By one year, the typical breastfed baby will increase birth
length by 50% and head circumference by 33%.
Source:
Mohrbacher N and Stock J. The
Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised ed. Schaumburg,
Illinois: La Leche League International, 2003, p. 148-149. |
Page last modified:
07/07/2006
Written: 05/13/1998
