Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to not get --pfb-- DS weighed every week

22 replies

MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 13/06/2011 11:49

or even every month?
I'll be honest, he was last weighed by the HV when he had his 4m jabs, and is 8.5m now.

He's in the right clothes size for his age, and I have weighed him on the bathroom scales with me. I know he's putting on weight, I know he's healthy, and don't have any questions.

But my friends and family all imply that not weighing him is A Bad Sign... :(

AIBU and lazy?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 13/06/2011 11:51

no, neither of my second 2 were weighed at all after their 6 week checks.

it isn't necessary really.

Eglu · 13/06/2011 11:51

YANBU. It is not necessary to know how much your baby gains every week. I took DS1 all the time when he was littel, purely because I was naive and thought you needed to. DS2 hardly went at all.

marzipananimal · 13/06/2011 11:52

YANBU, my DS hasn't been weighed except when the HV has visited. Last time was at 6m, he's now 9.5m.
No need. I know he's healthy and growing, i can use the bathroom scales to work out when he's too heavy for his car seat etc
Why do your friends and family think that?

Honeydragon · 13/06/2011 11:53

YANBU..... and please elaborate on a bad sign, this will help me to the elaborate on what numpties they are being

SisterCarrie · 13/06/2011 11:54

YANBU. I didn't take DS to the clinic from January onwards - the HV came last week for his 11mo check and weighed/measured him.

Just don't tell family/friends you haven't taken him along - when someone asks how much he weighs, I just say, "ooh I dunno, can't remember".

Clothes size seems to be no indicator of age any more now - he's in some 9-12 but mostly still in his 6-9 size, though on the chart he was 50th centile for weight and 75th for height (so taller than average, but bang on for weight). I think baby clothes are like women's clothes in terms of sizing - different in every shop!

Allinabinbag · 13/06/2011 11:54

Not at all, weighing can be reassuring first time around, but second time, I just didn't bother, though I did pop on the bathroom scales with and without my daughter say once a month just to check there were no issues.

TheCountessOlenska · 13/06/2011 11:57

Dd got weighed her first set of baby jabs, then I took her at 6 months and then not again till her 1 year check. I don't really get the whole weighing thing. Surely as long as you are feeding them something they will grow ok? And surely you would notice if there was a serious problem?

LostInTransmogrification · 13/06/2011 11:58

I had DS weighed every week until he was 6 months when the clinic changed their rules and said it was max. once a month. It was mainly because he is my first and I was fascinated by how much weight he was putting on. I haven't had him weighed since January though since I relaxed about everything. I don't think weighing on a weekly basis is necessary, but if I had another dc I would probably do it again out of nosiness

CrystalQueen · 13/06/2011 12:00

Our HVs don't have a weighing clinic anymore, so obviously they don't think it's necessary either!

MenaZovut · 13/06/2011 12:09

I went a lot early to meet other lonely Mums. It worked and now I don't go!

ScroobiousPip · 13/06/2011 12:11

No, never bothered either, except when I took DS in for jabs and then they weighed him anyway.

Why are they so worried?

reallytired · 13/06/2011 12:33

lol ....

I think you were taking your 8.5 month old to the baby clinic every week then that would mean you have a problem.

Once your lo has gained his birth weight you don't really need to go unless you have a question to ask your hv. In our area its called the "Well baby Clinic" you don't have to get your baby weighed. You can go to get advice on nappy rash or echema for example.

I got dd weight a handful by health visitors in her first year.

primary visit
Eight weeks check
six months. (I thought it would be a laugh)
12 months

Unfortunately her weight fell from the 50th centile to the 0.4th centile between 6 months and 12 months. I then had the health visitor coming out every month for about 3 months.

LaWeasel · 13/06/2011 12:40

Definately not necessary unless there is some other worry.

I quite liked going every few months just to see how DD was doing (bang on average every time... I really could have worked it out myself after a while) but if you aren't fussed, don't go!

Original poster

MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 13/06/2011 12:50

I dont know, in the old days did it used to be compulsory to get the baby weighed often? My family worry out loud that the HV is going to report me to SS for not caring I know this is nonsense though, as luckily my mum agrees with my CBA attitute Plus all family on dads side FF whereas I BF, so they were constantly worried that he wasnt putting on enough weight.

I guess for friends, they are also on their PFBs and a lot less laid back about it than I am?

OP posts:

mistlethrush · 13/06/2011 12:57

My HV told me when she came out the last time to the house that I needn't get ds weighed again, although I was very welcome to come in if I did. However, I just took him for his jabs and check ups then (also PFB). Mind you he was always in the next clothes size at least 8 wks early - so wasn't exactly concerned about weight.

EauRouge · 13/06/2011 13:06

DD1 was weighed every week because I was bored curious about her weight. DD2 has been weighed twice, once at her 10 day check and once at her 3 month check. I've never taken her to clinic to be weighed. IIRC the red book says you should not get them weighed more than once a month unless you are worried.

If your family are annoying you then just tell them that you've had him weighed and make something up, if you follow the centile line then you can have a rough guess.

RitaMorgan · 13/06/2011 13:10

You're not supposed to get them weighed more than monthly at most.

Taking him weekly would be a total waste of HVs time and overstretched NHS resources.

happygilmore · 13/06/2011 13:16

NHS guidelines are actually to only weigh (after first month) at official checks e.g. jabs. No need at all to get them weighed if you're happy with their growth!

I never took DD to be weighed, thought it was a bit bizarre to be honest, she clearly was thriving so what was the point? My ILs are a bit like yours but then they're obsessed with weight generally, and always comment on it, continuously. Very odd.

blackeyedsusan · 13/06/2011 13:17

weigh every week for the first couple of months then every month for a couple of months, and then after that, when you happen to be passing the clinic and there is nothing else to do right now...

GooGooGadget · 13/06/2011 13:21

yanbu.

I took pfb all the time, but dd I just don't feel the need. Like you, I can see she's getting bigger

Graciescotland · 13/06/2011 13:27

My (pfb) DS is nearly 10 mo and I've not him weighed since 4 mo either. He's healthy, growing and hitting all his milestones. I'll have him weighed at a year with the next set of jabs.

Rosa · 13/06/2011 13:29

I used to go as it was a social thing meeting other mums and getting me out. This was an open door clinic no appointments and weighing in was an excuse to chat.......

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread