It is very common to be worried that your baby isn’t growing properly or seems to not be getting enough food. The ideal image of the 'bonny baby' with chubby arms and legs can create concern if your baby does not conform to this image. New evidence has emerged which suggests that it is not always healthy for babies to be too chubby as this can increase their risk of obesity as they grow.
Babies growth is dependent on a number of factors from family genes through to their own metabolism. When you first see your health visitor he or she will provide you with a booklet which will detail the progress your baby will make until they reach school age. The booklet will include graphs onto which your baby’s weight and growth will be recorded. Your health visitor will explain how these graphs work, but you can find out more about the WHO growth charts here.
Apart from measuring growth and weight there are other ways that you can tell if your baby is getting enough milk and these include:
- Lots of wet nappies (at least 3 heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours by day three, and around 6 every 24 hours by day six)
- Your baby will pass meconium (the sticky black stool) for a day or two after birth. After this time the stool should change from a green to brown / tan colour. A bottle-fed baby will pass a firmer, more bulky stool than a breastfed baby but there should be at least 1 stool in 24 hours from around day 6. Bottle-fed babies are more prone to constipation, so if your baby’s stooling pattern changes or he/she is straining or in pain when trying to pass a stool you do need to contact your health visitor or doctor.
Your midwife or health visitor should help you to recognise these signs and also to work with you to check that your baby is feeding effectively and help you solve the problems if he is not.
FAQs
I’m feeding on demand but he’s still waking up hungry in the middle of the night?
Babies will need to feed regularly at night, so it is not uncommon to have to get up a few times a night to feed him. This applies even if you are bottle-feeding, despite the (false) common perception that bottle-feeding babies sleep longer. Double-check that it is definitely hunger that is waking him up by seeing if he is displaying feeding cues (rooting, sucking his fists). Check that he is able to feed effectively. If you are still concerned he is not receiving enough food consult your midwife or health visitor.
