Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-05
Weieht and Weighing the Baby.

weight anu WSiSHlU9 tHc Ddpys
The babys weight is perhaps the
best index the mother has of his con-
dition. The average weights of babies
of given ages are now pretty well
tablished, and weight noticeably
lower than the average indicates a
lack of development due either to de-
ficient diet, or to illness, while an
excess of fat may point to improper
feeding. If the baby's weight either |
remains stationary for any consider |
able time, or begins to fall off it lis
always sign that something is wrong
and the mother should seek the help
of good doctor, without delay.
The average girl weighs pounds at
birth, while boys average half a
pound heavier.
During the first four days the baby
may lose from one or two ounces to
a pound, while waiting for the moth
er's milk to be established, but as
soon as he begins to nurse regularly
he should quickly regain this loss. Dur
ing the first month he should gain
about three quarters of an ounce each
day; then up to the sixth month,
from four to eight ounces a week, and
from the sixth to the twelfth month
two to four ounces a week.
At three months the average baby
weighs from l. to Ia pounds; at six
months, 10 to 16 pounds; at nine
months, II to is pounds, and at one
year, 20 to % pounds. The baby thus
usually doubles his weight at five or
six months, and at the end of his
first year weighs three times as much
as at birth. Most babies do not gain
quite steadily, week by week. During
short periods, owing to excessive heat,
when the food is reduced, a baby may
show no gain, and may even fall off
a little. This condition should be tenn
porary and he ought to begin to gain
as soon as the disturbance subsidies.
Bottle fed infants do not gain as
rapidly during the first months as do
breast fed babies, but after the ninth
month they are apt to gain more stead
lily because they do not lose weight
as breast fed babies usually do at the
time of weaving.
y very fat baby is not to be de-
sired. Although mothers are prone to
believe that a fat baby is a healthy
one, this is not necessarily true. An
exclusive diet of certain Of the pro-
prietary infant foods, consisting large
. ly of sugar or of starch, is very apt
to produce excessive fat, and give a
false impression of Astounding health
since bones and muscles may thus be
deprived of their proper nourshment
Overfat babies are very uncomfort
able in the summer from prickly heat
4 and other ills
\ healthy baby has a well rounded
body. without wads and cushions of
fat. or pendulous cheeks and pudgy
legs. He has springy muscles. and
is alert, active and full of life and mo-
ton.
In order that the mother may be
informed as to the baby's progress. he
should be weighed at regular inter
walls throughout at least the first year
For the first week or longer, he should
be weighed every day; during the
first six months. once a week; ant
later once in two weeks.
Breast fed babies may be weighed
Just before and just after a nursing
to determine how much milk they arr
getting. and to find out whether OIL
not they need supplementary feeding
They should be weighed in exactly thu
same clothing both times, and to de
termine the daily gain. at the SAM
hour each day.
The best scales are ordinary plat
form balance scales such as are use'
in grocery stores A special basket o
pan which fits on the platform, an
which will hold the baby comfortabl
is desired. Spring scales are less ac
curate but are cheaper and are bet
ter than no scales at all Most coun
try households have enough genera
use for a good scale. so that such
purchase will not be an extravaganza
Many city mothers have the advantag
of being able to go to an infant wei
fare station where tho baby may b
weighed as often as desirable. |
these cases it is easy to keep a care