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?

This little baby says hello
this little baby is ready to go
this little baby plays with his toys
this little baby makes lots if noise
this little baby lies down for a rest
and this little baby is the one I love best

See I don't need to see the book anymore, it's imprinted on my brain forever...

3 dc- none of whom have ever been weighed after 6week check- i just don't get the obsession with it ( obviously as long as no health issues) always trust my own instincts. also never weigh myself, i'm happily delusional

Just make something up that sounds sort of right - will keep them happy

One clinical need is if you were to give your baby medication it's more acurate to dose by weight rather than age.

lal I never see any HCPs anyway, so no need

jadziadax - yes, but if she was on any meds I presumably could get her weighed when she saw a dr? Not on anything just now.

I understand the need if you've got concerns about feeding/growth/development etc, but haven't been able to see the problem if not. I've just been surprised at how often people ask me how much DD weighs and bemused at how shocked they are when I say no idea!

I do go to get dd done at baby group about once per month, that's more down to paranoia on my part re breastfeeding, but after 2 visits to see hv to get it done I stopped going, went like this:

Visit 1 - 4 weeks, mummy looking knackered due to ebf, hv calls round unannounced, she is one of the useless hv types, you know the type that suggest bottled water for bf baby, just in case mind (!), proceeds to tell me how rough and tired I look n no mention of babys welfare! Noshit Sherlock! You will call round at stupid o clock when I'm barely dressed

Visit 2 - I went to baby clinic, full face of make up, combed my hair, dressed, same hv tells Mr how much better I'm looking

I gave up then, much to DHs scorn, I just get the feeling I would be better spending my time elsewhere!

www.rcpch.ac.uk/doc.aspx?id_Resource=4469

link to guidance from World Health Organisation re growth, I work with HVs and prior to going on mat leave myself ran a baby clinic weekly, was the same old faces coming in all the time and I was forever telling them that it was not necessary to have baby weighed so frequently. Previous generations of parents went to the baby clinic to buy their baby milk and got baby weighed at the same time, was a bit of a social occasion and a chance to interact with other parents. As WHO point out frequent weighing causes more anxiety as in a young baby things like when they last had a feed/ dirty nappy in relation to when they are weighed can make a big difference in weight. Something I demonstrated to one mum by weighing baby just after a dirty nappy but before a feed and again after the feed, weight increased by 6oz!!!!

I seem to be in the minority here.
DS was weighed by midwife at home and when HV came at 2 weeks then due to the awful snow in December he was missed and couldn't go to baby clinic.
He was then weighed at 5 wks and weekly until 11 wks, fortnightly til 5 mths ( was unwell) then monthly until 10 mths. He's 1yr old in 2 wks so will weigh him then and will stop until needed or maybe at 18 mths.
He was weighed at the 8 mth check, 1 wk after I got him done.

I guess it's not due to being concerned but I just like to know and I like telling everyone. He's average in weight and length.

After the first couple of months, the only time I weighed DS was when he was about the right age to be growing out of his car seat (there was a maximum weight limit). Otherwise was not bothered :)