To want to have my baby weighed

[sw2102]

Went to the baby cling yesterday to get my 15 week old weighed. All fine still and has been since birth. Good. But then the HV said that I probably didn't need to have her weighed again and could wait till the 10 month check. I feel this is a long time to wait for the next weigh in given she's not even 4 months yet! She made me feel I was quite silly for wanting to know my baby's weight before the next official appointment. When we were having antenatal classes (run by same HVs) they said weigh every month till 6 months and every two months after. So why the change of tune other than maybe budget cuts? But if I want an appointment I'm still able to book one..? So is it necessary? Should I wait or should I book further weigh ins? I know I could probably weigh her at home but not sure how accurate it is?

Any thoughts I will read with interest!

Hi, is there a reason that you are worried about your babies weight?
Are concerned about it?

What concerns do you have about your babies weight, that you feel she needs to be weighed more often?

You can get her weighed as often as you like honestly, don’t worry about it! I did weigh dd at home (me and her on scales, then just me and found the difference) and found it was really close to what they weighed her at the clinic though! You know yourself if she seems alert, is feeding well, wet and dirty nappies etc. They’re better to go by than weight in my opinion. I’d be tempted to go at around 6 Months then see how weaning is going to decide when to go back

Do you have somewhere that lets you "self weigh"? Our local sure start centre lets you pop in any time to use the proper scales, as does our doctors surgery.

To be honest I think it's fair if you want your child weighed, even if you have no concerns and it's just out of curiosity! Also it's often useful to know for the weight limits on certain carriers, car seats and play equipment, so don't feel guilty wanting to know.

Because they need to focus their attention on babies who might indeed have issues with gaining weight. Your baby is fine and been assessed as likely to continue to be so. In other countries, you would pay for this service, would you still want your baby weight checked for no reason if you had to pay for it.

You've been reassured that if you have worries about your baby losing weight, you can access the clinic again, so why is is an issue?

Can definitely see why’d you want to know her weight throughout.

Would have thought weigh8ng at home shouldn’t be too inaccurate, would recommend doing it at multiple tomes throughout next few days, to see what comes up as weight does fluctuate slightly throughout the day; water weight, undigested meals etc. Weighing in the morning is more accurate.

Will at least give you an idea.

I do think sometimes we can focus too much on baby weight and it can make some new parents very paranoid. As long as they aren’t growing and feeding and generally happy and alert then really there isn’t any need for obsessive weighing.

You don't need to get them weighed but you can if you want, so go every week if you feel like it. I'd say once a month is reasonable though.

I suspect they are trying to cut numbers so they have an excuse to reduce the service.

I was surprised to find out my surgery no longer have clinics to take dd to be weighed either. Dd is 8 weeks & Will see the hv again at 16 weeks then that will be her last visit until dd is around 10 months too. I understand cut backs etc and no there's no real reason I suppose I need her weighed other than reassurance all is ok/ she's gaining as she should (maybe just my first time parent nerves!) But I do feel like it's a big gap in between routine checks.

I remember when I had my first being told that they don't like to weigh too often because parents can fixate a bit on weight and worry about what are in fact perfectly natural fluctuations. I wouldn't have thought that would apply to once a month though - I presume there is an element there of they are overstretched and don't feel it's necessary. I would agree with those saying weigh him at home if you're curious, take him to the clinic if you're worried. Tip for weighing at home if you don't have a suitable scale for a baby: we weigh one of us alone and then holding the baby. Seems to work alright!

Where I go get 4mo DS weighed is a drop in clinic and you can go as much as you like but everyone seems to go once a month and if theirs any problems then fortnightly. It must be different to yours. That does seem a long time for you to wait to get your baby weighed again. I'd say go when you want really but I do understand it must be down to cuts. The baby clinic was a half an hour wait for me Monday as it was so busy.

My eldest was weighed regularly- it was the done thing in the area at that point.
My now 18month old needs to start being regularly weighed again as health issues have shown it necessary.
Maybe go to a different clinic; ours were really supportive and I found it gave me a focus and helped with my pnd

I think the red book recommends every 2 months at that age, if no concerns.

My babies have had weight gain issues, so I went weekly until 4 months, fortnightly after that, monthly and now she’s 9 months and is gaining well I’m going every 2 months. I also think it’s helpful to get a baseline just before you start weaning and then a month afterwards, so you can tell how that’s going.

Anyway, YANBU. Go and get your baby weighed when you want to.

Thank you all for your replies so far. No I have no concerns and I don't necessarily feel she needs to be weighed lots more often or anything it's just being given one bit of guidance and now being told something different. I do think waiting till ten months is too long especially with weaning so I think I'll have her weighed before we start weaning which would be in about two months and then again at some point after before ten months. Thanks for the reassurance to do what I feel is right. Also will try weighing at home and will google self weighing at sure starts or paying for it if that's an option etc.

Is she your first OP? Both of mine were on the small side but both gained slowly having dropped off the percentiles (but not lost weight) after they were born.

If she's developing as you think she should be, I wouldn't worry about weight. I think it's a fairly blunt measure.

Like most people, the weigh-in record page in DD1's red book is nearly full and is ahem, a little less full in DD2's!

We have a drop in clinic where we live, you can go whenever you like. With my daughter she had weight gain issues so we were told to take her every 2 weeks. This went on for months and to be honest was just annoying and made me a little obsessed.

I've since had another baby who is 6 months old and I haven't had him weighed since the 6 week check. I don't really see the point as I can see he's thriving well, I'm far more relaxed. I might step on our digital scales with him once a month or so just out of curiosity. People do seem to fixate on babies weight, relatives ask me what he weighs all the time, I just reply, no idea but he's clearly happy and healthy!

In our area there was a weekly drop in clinic where you could get baby weighed.

TBH I never bothered with any of mine - they grew, at different speeds - no concerns.

But if you want to have her weighed its not unreasonable to expect that to be available to you. And I doubt any HV would turn you away.

You can take her to baby clinic as often as you like, you just don't have to if you don't want to. It's completely up to you.

I think if it wasn’t too busy you should just go along to the clinic. I have been in a few different places due to being a bit nomadic when DS was smaller and they are not just about weight. It is a good time to chat about any other concerns you may have; beginning weaning for example or meeting milestones.
You are completely entitled to still go. Maybe the HV thought she was being helpful..? I went every month ish and my son was 91st centile steadily. I liked the contact point and reassurance. Your health (mental especially) is important too and if it makes you feel better you don’t have to justify it to anyone

Advice changes. It's now known that weighing babies frequently can cause anxiety in the parents as weight gain can be inconsistent. Babies generally do not gain weight steadily. Weight tends to go on in fits and starts, especially this time of year when there are so many coughs and colds about.

If your baby is contented, taking feeds, has plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is growing out of their clothes, then this is a far better way of monitoring her and gives an overall picture.

However, if you really want your baby weighed regularly there's nothing to stop you taking her to clinic.

I had my first weighed pretty regularly because I thought that's what you did. With my second and third I didn't ever get them weighed other than at review times.

Surprised there isn't the option to self weigh. At all the child health clinics near me you can pop in, weigh the baby yourself and then leave without seeing a HV unless you want to.

I didn’t get either of mine weighed between their 6 month check and their 10 month check. If I’d had any concerns I would have done, but I didn’t. It really isn’t necessary to weigh them, as long as they’re feeding well and having wet and dirty nappies.

I meant 6 week check above, not 6 month.

We had local baby weighs every week at our children’s centre - I took my twins at least fortnightly till they were about five months old as they were early and tiny! Third baby was weighed once by the midwife and never again .

Find the drop in and take her if you want - not really the HVs business unless you are very anxious and they are worried about you (as they clearly aren’t worried about your baby).