Having your baby weighed

[happygilmore]

I'm always getting asked by family how much DD weighs and I've no idea as I don't take her to get her weighed. I've always thought she seemed fine, she's very long and chubby too, and is in brilliant health as far as I can tell. She's ff if that's relevant.

If I'm honest I can't really be bothered to take her either, the clinic is grotty and although I don't have the most thrilling social life, spending an hour there is an hour of my life I'll never get back...

Is there any clinical need to have your baby weighed regularly? Or at all?

[happygilmore]

I should have said she's 6 months old - obviously I know it's important in the early days :)

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I have no idea how much DS2 weighs since he was 3 months old. He seemed to be putting on weight fine - scrawny legs when born, fat little legs at 3 months - and clinic was cold, there was no hand-washing facility, and clinic times coincided with nap times, and the queues were long.

They will weigh him at this year at reception, so we'll know soon!

In fact they will weigh them at reception and then at year 6. I wonder what that is for...

[Panzee]

The last time he was weighed was at his 8 month check. He's 16 months now. No idea what he weighs!

[asdx2]

I never took dd to be weighed. She fed and she grew out of her clothes that was good enough for me.Got numerous invites from HV but just didn't follow them up. Dd was weighed at 10 days and six weeks at routine check ups and that was it.HV offered at every immunisation but I declined because I didn't want her upsetting anymore than necessary.

[ConcreteElephant]

I took DD fairly frequently early on as she was 3 and a bit weeks premature and I just wanted to make sure we were on the right track. Then, once I found better things to do was more confident as her Mum, I didn't bother.

I took her a few weeks after we started weaning at 6 months, again to make sure we were on the right track, but that's been it. She'll get weighed next week at her ten-month check and no doubt at other 'official' checks but I won't be taking her other than that.

I suppose it can be reassuring, you can take the opportunity to chat to a HV if you have concerns etc. but unless you are worried about something I just wouldn't bother to be honest.

[happygilmore]

When are the 'official' checks? Does it vary area to area?

I haven't seen my HV since a home visit after DD was born.

[Rockbird]

Apart from the odd weigh in DD has had no official checks since 6 weeks. Everyone else seemed to get 12 month, 2 year etc.

[Firawla]

i just stick mine on the scales @ home, cant be bothered to take him in to the clinic although i used to take my 1st a lot more regularly. if your dd can sit up then its much easier to just sit her on your normal scales at home, if you are interested in her weight

[ConcreteElephant]

Well, I'm in Hertfordshire, and some of DD's little friends were invited to 8 month checks, whereas she and some others have a 10 month check - and they are only registered a couple of miles away

So it definitely varies here...

I think there is some weighing and measuring, some developmental checking (does DC respond to name, if they aren't sitting/crawling is there a possible clinical reason - check hip joints?), chance to talk to HV about any concerns..not totally sure so we'll see!

I'm mainly going to get the Bookstart freebies

Not sure what checks follow this one though...

[happygilmore]

Maybe it varies by area Rockbird? HV service is really quite useless here in my opinion, but I know others have a better service.

We don't have any scales here Firawla - not interested in my own weight either particularly :)

[happygilmore]

Oh yes the bookstart books - it did say in the first one that you get another lot at 8 months, so maybe I'll get invited to an 8 month check then.

[ConcreteElephant]

That's interesting Happy ... Sounds like you've had some Bookstart bits already? This will be our first batch.

[happygilmore]

Oh yes do you not get them everywhere? Here you get a bag with a couple of books when you register your baby.

[Rockbird]

I never got a sodding bookstart pack either!

[happygilmore]

I wonder if it's because we live in the ghetto an inner city area that you get an extra pack?

[happygilmore]

doh

[Forster]

I never did. Scales feed anxiety I felt and I did not want to be hassled if he/she did not gain enough. Trust your instincts.

[ConcreteElephant]

Pah! Deprived here too... Nothing at registration... Oh well, we'll live.

[happygilmore]

I haven't actually got all of the books out of the bag I got

Poor DD is neither read to nor weighed. And she's my PFB

[ConcreteElephant]

I suppose it's possible that they give an extra pack in targetted areas?

[Rillyrillygoodlooking]

I heard that it is reccommended you get your child weighed about 5 times in their first year. I am not sure where that was from tho. Could have been the red book.

If you want your bookstart pack, in our area, when we lived in England, you could go to the library and ask for it.

And, if you have a deaf child you get a special one. I didn't know this and only found out on the off chance so asked for it specifically.

I got my DS weighed regularly - it was something to do. Didn't bother so much with DD!

[ethelina]

We got the bookstart thingy when we registered his birth. So far the only one that's come out is the one with a mirror on the back page.
Re the second development check, until recently they were scheduled for 7-9 months but have changed to 10-12 months for some unknown beaurocratic reason. The HV didn't know why.

[happygilmore]

Snap ethelina about the book with the mirror

[Tortington]

i never took mine, my MIL practically thought i was committing a cardinal sin or something.