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What is the average baby weight by

month?
Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — By MaryAnn De Pietro,
CRT — Updated on September 6, 2021

Average weights By age What to expect

What affects baby weight? Summary

Weight is one indicator of good nutrition and physical

development. It can therefore be helpful to know about
babies’ average weight month by month.

First, it is worth noting that average weight is not “normal” weight. Just
like adults, babies come in all shapes and sizes. If a baby’s weight is in
a lower percentile, this does not necessarily signal a problem with their
growth or physical development. With this in mind, using a weight chart
can help a person generally track their baby’s growth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) # recommend

using the World Health Organization (WHO) weight chart for babies up
to 2 years of age.

This article describes the average weight of a baby month by month

from birth. It also explores what can affect a baby’s weight.
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Average baby weights

Maskot/Getty Images

According to the WHO, the average birth weight of a full-term male

baby is 7 pounds (lb) 6 ounces (oz) #, or 3.3 kilograms (kg). The
average birth weight of a full-term female is 7 lb 2 oz #, or 3.2 kg.

The average weight of a baby born at 37–40 weeks ranges from 5 lb 8

oz to 8 lb 13 oz. This is 2.5 to 4 kg.

At delivery, experts # consider a low birth weight to be less than 5 lb 8

oz, or 2.5 kg.

It is common for babies to lose around 10% of their weight shortly after
birth. This decrease is mostly due to fluid loss and usually nothing to
worry about. Most babies gain back this weight within 1 week.

Baby weight chart by age

Weight charts can help a person tell what percentile their baby’s
weight falls into. For example, if their weight is in the 60th percentile, it
means that 40% of babies of the same age and sex weigh more, and
60% of these babies weigh less.

This does not necessarily mean that any baby weighs too much or too
little. It can simply indicate where a baby’s weight falls on a spectrum.

The chart below shows baby weights in the 50th percentile. This is the
average weight. Male babies tend to weigh a little more than female
babies, so the chart is divided by sex.

Female # 50th percentile Male # 50th percentile

Baby age
weight weight

Birth 7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg) 7 lb 6 oz (3.3 kg)

1 month 9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg) 9 lb 14 oz (4.5 kg)

2 months 11 lb 5 oz (5.1 kg) 12 lb 4 oz (5.6 kg)

3 months 12 lb 14 oz (5.8 kg) 14 lb 1 oz (6.4 kg)

4 months 14 lb 3 oz (6.4 kg) 15 lb 7 oz (7.0 kg)

5 months 15 lb 3 oz (6.9 kg) 16 lb 9 oz (7.5 kg)

6 months 16 lb 1 oz (7.3 kg) 17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg)

7 months 16 lb 14 oz (7.6 kg) 18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg)

8 months 17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg) 18 lb 15 oz (8.6 kg)

9 months 18 lb 2 oz (8.2 kg) 19 lb 10 oz (8.9 kg)

10 months 18 lb 11 oz (8.5 kg) 20 lb 3 oz (9.2 kg)

11 months 19 lb 4 oz (8.7 kg) 20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg)

12 months 19 lb 12 oz (8.9 kg) 21 lb 4 oz (9.6 kg)

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What to expect
Babies grow and gain weight the fastest within the first 6 months of
life. Although this can vary, babies tend to gain around 4–7 oz, or 113–
200 grams (g), per week in the first 4–6 months.

Weight gain then slows slightly, with an average gain of around 3–5 oz
(about 85–140 g) per week when the baby is 6–18 months. On
average, babies triple their birth weight by their first birthday.

Growth patterns do not follow a clear schedule, however.

Some babies gain weight steadily and stay in the same percentile, or
close to it, for several months. Others gain weight rapidly, signalling a
growth spurt, which can happen at any time. This may move a baby
into a new weight percentile.

What affects baby weight?

It is important not to focus on weight as the only indicator of physical
development. Other measurements of this development include the
baby’s length and head circumference.

Considering all three measurements gives doctors an idea about how

the baby is growing, compared with other babies of the same age and
sex.

Meanwhile, it is also important to keep other developmental

milestones in mind. Various checklists of milestones by age are
available, including one from Pathways.org, which is endorsed by
organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

For anyone looking for more information about what influences the
weight of a baby, several factors can be involved, including:

Sex

Male newborns tend to be bigger than female newborns, and they

typically gain weight a little faster during infancy.

Nutrition

Weight gain and growth rates can also depend on whether the baby
consumes breast milk or formula.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that breastfed babies gain

weight and grow faster than formula-fed babies during the first 6
months.

However, that rate can shift during the next 6 months. Breastfed
babies may gain weight and grow more slowly than formula-fed babies
when they are aged 6 months to 1 year.

Medical conditions

Underlying health issues can cause a baby to gain weight more slowly.
For example, babies with congenital heart irregularities may gain
weight at a slower rate # than babies without this condition.

Health issues that affect nutrient absorption or digestion, such as

celiac disease, may also lead to slow weight gain.

Prematurity

Babies born prematurely may grow and gain weight more slowly
during their first year than babies born at full term.

However, many babies born prematurely gain weight rapidly and

“catch up” by about their first birthday.

Summary
The average birth weight for full-term male babies is 7 lb 6 oz #, or 3.3
kg. For female babies born full-term, the average birth weight is 7 lb 2
oz #, or 3.2 kg.

Baby weight charts can help a healthcare team track a baby’s physical
development by comparing the baby’s weight with the weights of
others of the same age and sex.

Still, a doctor usually looks for steady growth, rather than a target
percentile, when assessing a baby’s physical development. And even if
a baby’s weight is in a lower percentile, they will not necessarily be a
small adult — just as longer babies do not necessarily become tall
adults.

Knowing about average weights by month can help people gauge their
babies’ physical development, but doctors also look for other
important indicators, such as length and head circumference.

Healthcare professionals also take into account whether a baby is

generally hitting other milestones on time. And by taking a detailed
medical history, they can rule out any medical conditions or nutritional
considerations that may be preventing a baby from gaining weight
appropriately.

Last medically reviewed on September 6, 2021

Pediatrics / Children's Health Pregnancy / Obstetrics Parenthood

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