Understanding Infant Weight: Is Your Baby Healthy?

Babies usually shed their extra baby weight as they grow older and become active toddlers. But if a baby is too fat, he may have a harder time shedding those extra pounds. Dr. Matthew Gillman, a pediatrician at Harvard Medical School, warns that overweight babies can turn into overweight children, increasing their chances of developing asthma and high blood pressure. The sooner you know if your baby is overweight, the sooner you can remedy the problem and begin to lay the foundation for good health.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access
• Your child's height, weight, and head circumference
• Pen
• Paper
• Valid insurance card or money to cover a doctor's appointment

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Instructions

• 1

  Type the words "baby growth chart" into the search bar of your favorite search engine.

• 2

  Type in the infant's gender, height, weight, and head circumference. Click the "Calculate" button.

• 3

  Use the percentages to determine if your child weighs more than most children his or her age. Write down the percentages on a piece of paper.

• 4

  Call your baby's doctor and schedule an appointment.

• 5

  Bring the paper with the percentages to the appointment. Discuss the numbers with the doctor to get a professional opinion.

• 6

  If your doctor feels you should be concerned about your baby's weight, request information about how to remedy the situation. You may need to change your child's diet or the amount of sleep she is getting.