What should be the height of a 6 month old baby. How much should a six-month-old baby weigh and how tall should he be? Physical activity and weight

For each specific baby, the norm indicators can be individual, because babies are born with different weight and height, respectively, and develop in different ways.

Baby weight and height at 6 months

Indicators of normal weight and height for a six-month-old baby are averaged, since they depend on the initial parameters with which the baby was born, on the heredity of each individual child, and on many other factors.

Average normal weight for a six-month-old boy, it should be in the range from 6.4 kg to 9.7 kg; the weight of the girl is from 5.8 kg to 9.3 kg.
The height of a boy at six months should be about 63-71 cm, girls - about 61-70 cm.

We remind you that these figures are averages, they may vary in individual cases.

Weight gain and growth of the child

A newborn boy gains an average of 4-6 kg in six months; from the fifth month of life to the sixth, the baby gains approximately 350-510 grams. For six months, a girl generally gains 4-5 kg, and from the fifth to the sixth month - about 340-510 grams.

From the fifth to the sixth month, boys grow by 1.5-1.9 cm, and girls by 1.3-1.7. After six months, the growth rates for boys and girls no longer differ.

Chest and head circumference of a 6 month old baby

In a six-month-old boy, the average head circumference ranges from 40.9 cm to 45.8 cm, chest circumference - from 41.4 cm to 47.6 cm.

In girls, head circumference at the age of six months can range from 39.6 cm to 44.8 cm, chest - from 41.6 cm to 45.8 cm.

Diary of development of a 6-month-old baby

A six-month-old baby already knows how to roll over from the back to the side and on the tummy. If you hold him by the handles or by the armpits, he can stand on his legs for a short time.

Also, the baby at six months already knows how to sit. In addition, the baby tries to crawl while lying on his tummy.

The baby confidently holds toys and rattles in his hands, stretches his arms to his mother when he wants to be picked up.

The baby actively babbles, tries to repeat the sounds. Reacts when a finger is pointed at a familiar object.

In addition, the baby's teeth begin to erupt. From the age of six months, crumbs can be introduced complementary foods.

What should parents be concerned about?

If your baby, instead of gaining weight, loses it - this is a bad sign, you should definitely consult a doctor.

If the indicators of the rate of weight gain and growth are very far behind or exceed the average level, it is also worth seeing a doctor.

After the birth of a long-awaited baby, the parameters of his height, weight, head circumference are recorded for a patronage card. With the further maturation of the baby, these indicators undergo great changes. What should be the weight of a child at 6 months, what can be the deviations in both directions? What do physical parameters depend on, is it necessary to worry if their dynamics is very different from the norm?

Baby's height and weight at 6 months

The weight of the newborn is one of the main factors for assessing the correct development. In a normal pregnancy, there may be deviations in birth weight. When a pediatrician examines a baby, weight gain is as important as calm breathing. Main indicators physical development used for monthly monitoring:

  • weight (with an accuracy of 0.001 kg);
  • growth;
  • girths of the head, chest.

The mass of the baby is an unstable characteristic. It is noticed that even within one day this value is not constant. The average daily weight before the age of 6 months depends on many factors:

  • baby food;
  • the amount of water drunk;
  • baby temperature.

According to the mass of the newborn, an objective assessment of his condition in currently time. Weight is sensitive to any change in a child's health compared to height.

Normal weight and height at 6 months

The parameters at birth are in the range of 2500-3800, height is determined between 48 and 55 cm. There is no need to be afraid of weight loss in the first days of life. This is a physiological norm, which depends on:

  • Fluid loss in the body. With the birth, there is a loss of moisture through the skin and respiratory organs during inhalation and exhalation.
  • Changes in the type of food. The first days in the diet of the baby are small portions of colostrum until constant breastfeeding.
  • Family stress. A child in a new world for him is hard to get used to the environment.

Weight loss at discharge reaches up to 6-10% of the initial. This value is considered the baseline for weight gain control. In the first three months, weight gain is especially noticeable. Usually by 1 month it is more than half a kilo, the next two thirty days give an increase in weight of about 800 grams. Given that the initial weight was in the region of 3-3.3 kg, the mass jump is impressive (an increase of almost half of the starting value). The following months are characterized by a slowdown. Each next weighing fixes a decrease in growth of about 50 g.

A child at six months is significantly different from a newborn, both in physical development and emotional state. He can and does a lot. The first milk teeth begin to erupt, he is active, he can observe the movement of people and objects.

For 6 months of life, weight gain is on average 650 g, growth is extended by about 2 cm. normal development body weight is twice the weight after discharge. The volume of the lungs increases, they work with greater impact. How much should weigh healthy child in six months? There are certain average normative indicators.

Norms for boys and girls

To evaluate the weight characteristics, the values ​​of the indicators are analyzed. Taking into account the individuality of each baby, one cannot rely only on norms. To compare weight gain values ​​for ages from birth to six months, different recommendations are used:

  • standards of the Health Organization (WHO);
  • average values;
  • growth indicators.

The values ​​​​of the weight of a child up to a year are more often used for clarity to compile centile tables. Thus, a certain scale is used to measure height or body weight. According to it, values ​​​​are taken from the minimum to the largest possible.

In 2006, WHO adopted for practical application a table of weight gain and height in children of the 1st year of life. The data is given depending on:

  • type of food;
  • starting weight;
  • individual characteristics.

Height of 6 month old babies

At birth, the average height for girls is 49 cm, for boys - 50 cm. This is an important parameter for normal physical maturation and development. It is an individual indicator, depending on the reasons:

  • hereditary predisposition - if parents are tall, their child will be significantly ahead of their peers;
  • balanced nutrition - sufficient intake of trace elements, vitamins;
  • the absence of congenital pathologies that inhibit the increase in growth.

Attention! Even if the child is smaller than the normative indicators require, one should not give in to panic. For any rule there are objective exceptions. More careful monitoring of the parameters of a non-standard baby is required.

To find out the growth of the crumbs, you can measure it at home. It makes no sense to wait for the next visit to the pediatrician. What algorithm of actions:

  • put the baby on a children's table or any suitable surface;
  • head position - emphasis on the wall;
  • straighten one leg, while the foot is at a right angle to the horizontal;
  • fix the mark with a chalk or marker;
  • measure the distance to the vertical.

The table shows the values ​​of growth, head circumference monthly up to six months of age according to WHO standards, without breakdown by sex.

Growth from 0 to 6 months

Age in monthsHeight, cmHead circumference, cm
0 50-51 33,0-37,5
1 54-55 35,0-39,5
3 57-69 37,5-41,5
4 62-65 40,0-44,0
5 64-68 41,0-45,0
6 66-70 41,0-45,0

Parents need to remember that for the health of the baby, high-quality feeding, sleep, walks and strict adherence to the mother's diet (if the child is breastfed) are necessary. When switching to artificial mixtures and cereals, it is better to consult a pediatrician about a possible change in nutrition. If the baby is almost missing centimeters, there is no need to worry too much. Growth rates healthy child at 6 months may vary. Perhaps he will catch up with his peers a little later, when he adds in development.

Height and weight at 6 months according to Russian standards

By the age of six months, the baby can actively roll over, begins to learn to crawl, can crawl a little forward or backward, scroll, lie quietly on his stomach, leaning on his palms. He learns to sit, first with support, then on his own. Tries to bend the body forward from a lying position. If mom comes to the crib, he recognizes and pulls her hands to her.

Domestic pediatricians at the age of six months adhere to the standard indicators.

Growth values ​​for boys and girls at 6 months

CharacteristicsGeneral indicators for the sixth monthBoys, six to seven months old.Girls at six or seven months.
Weight, kg)7.3-7.9 6.4-9.8 5.7-9.3
Height (cm)65.7-67.6 63.3-71.9 61.2-70.3
Chest circumference (cm)43.7-44.5 41.4-47.6 41.6-45.8

When a child is not gaining weight

On average, growth in babies is uneven. From 3 to 6 months, it is 2.5 cm, in the period from 6 to 9 months a little less - 1.5-2 cm per month. The average height of a child at six months is 66.5 cm. By the age of six months, an increase in weight, according to Russian standards, by 4 kg 300 gr. from the moment of birth.

Often there are deviations in the direction of decreasing from the normalized indicators. There are many reasons for this, for each baby there may be individual factors that affect weight gain.

Attention! You should never jump to conclusions. Weight loss is not the only sign of pathology. More research and analysis is needed. The problem of a shortage of kilograms can be far-fetched.

What determines the weight of the baby

If the baby at birth had a weight below the normative values, the monthly increase will be less. With the appearance of a large baby, further intensive growth is not necessary. With a slender constitution of dad and mom, the baby will not be so well-fed, respectively.

For body weight parameters, diet is important. Formula-fed babies gain weight faster than formula-fed babies. breastfeeding. When the baby is not breastfeeding, mothers try to feed the baby as tightly as possible. As a result, they get the opposite effect - overfeeding.

In a situation where the monthly weight gain is less than 500 g, the child of the first months of life needs additional nutrition - complementary foods. If the baby's body responded positively to enhanced nutrition, all indicators will gradually approach the standard values.

Attention! A hyperactive baby is gaining weight poorly. Its mobility consumes most of the calories. Consultation with a neurologist is recommended to determine the cause of the behavior.

How health problems affect weight

The value of the increase depends on many factors, the main ones are pathological changes, both congenital and acquired:

  • transferred infectious or viral diseases, they lead to a malfunction of the body;
  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • Iron-deficiency anemia.

The baby needs to be watched closely. If there is a persistent decrease in weight gain or almost no increase, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician for diagnosis of the disease and timely therapy. Factors indicating a violation of the health of the baby:

  • the child is lethargic, sleeps more than usual;
  • frequent regurgitation;
  • profuse vomiting after feeding.

If the weight gain is less than 200 grams, urgent hospitalization is necessary. The child's condition is critical, his life is in danger.

If the weight is overweight

Pediatricians advise to control excess weight in the first months of life. Parents need to know that not always such a situation can lead to health problems. Perhaps this is just a feature of the baby, and he has no pathology. The main causes of the problem are the mode and type of nutrition.

Weight gain in excess of the norm can be with any type of feeding:

  • on the breast milk;
  • on a mixed diet;
  • only artificial feeding.

The reasons for the extra grams of gains that add up to kilograms are different:

  1. When breastfeeding, overeating and weight gain are the least likely to occur. In terms of composition, milk differs in calorie content: fore milk is less valuable, hind milk, on the contrary, is fatter. The baby is tired by half feeding, it is difficult for him to suckle intensively all the time. Therefore, some of the more high-calorie milk may remain unused. Problems occur with protracted procedures and with high fat content of milk. Up to six months of age, there may be violations of the endocrine system.
  2. For artificers, the risk of overfeeding increases significantly. An increase in the frequency, volume of food does not always correspond to the age of the baby.
  3. In infants who alternate breast milk with milk mixtures, excess body weight gain is rare. If it is fixed, consultation of an endocrinologist is required - there may be problems with metabolism.

Children's doctors strongly recommend that parents monitor the regimen and volume of food consumed, especially on artificial mixtures. You should not rejoice or be touched by the extra folds on the body of the little one. You need to monitor the signs of health:

  • the child is active, mobile;
  • urine is clear, no constipation;
  • lack of emotional and mental problems;
  • healthy skin color.

In the absence of two of the listed parameters and due to a sharp weight gain, an urgent consultation of a pediatrician is necessary.

How to normalize weight

To bring the weight of the baby back to normal, you need to clearly know the cause of the extra pounds. If there is a banal overfeeding, then it is necessary:

  • Adjust your diet. Reduce the amount of food or replace one feeding with a lighter one - cottage cheese, vegetable or fruit juices.
  • Dieting. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the pediatrician. No need to give high-calorie milk cereals or mixtures.
  • Therapeutic massage in a day hospital will stimulate blood circulation and metabolic processes.
  • According to the recommendations of a specialist, you need to perform the simplest exercises with the baby as part of a complex of physiotherapy exercises.
  • Walks in the open air. Increased oxygen supply, solar vitamin D will help strengthen bones.
  • Avoid constipation. If necessary, consult a pediatrician about the possible use of laxatives, according to the age of the infant.

Statistics show that the maximum incidence of obesity occurs before the age of 1 year. When overfeeding up to six months, the weight will increase by more than 3 kg per month. This will lead to further obesity in adolescence and adulthood. In infants, the volume and number of fat cells are rapidly growing. If excess weight due to pathology, it is necessary to conduct drug therapy.

Important! Parents need to constantly monitor the weight and growth of the baby from birth. In case of large deviations, an urgent consultation with a pediatrician is required.

Video

The kid has reached the age of six months, during which time he has turned from a helpless baby into an active and intelligent baby who already knows a lot. In addition, the baby grew a lot and gained weight, could even get the first tooth. What should parents know about a six-month-old baby?

By this age, the baby has already learned a lot, he has grown and grown stronger, has certain skills, actively explores the world, develops all the senses. The development of a child at 6 months, whether a boy or a girl, is about the same. Although there are tendencies to lead in height and weight among boys, girls develop emotionally faster. Now in the physical development of a child at 6 months there are many new successes:

  • The baby can actively turn on its side and back, and it can also roll over in the opposite direction
  • The baby actively plays with his hands and feet, due to the flexibility he can easily suck not only his fingers, but also his feet. He actively raises his head to his feet to grab them with his handles.
  • The child can take a toy from the hands of adults, as well as from any surface, while he holds it tightly in his hands, knocks or waves it, throws it and picks it up again
  • Can play simultaneously with two rattles in two hands, hitting them against each other or on surfaces
  • Bends the back, leaning on the legs and the back of the head like a "bridge"
  • Tries to get on all fours, swaying to the sides and squatting on the buttocks, tries to crawl, lying on his stomach for objects, or makes translational movements on all fours
  • Learns to sit on the arms
  • Makes attempts to pull himself up in the crib
  • Reaches for toys hanging in front of him, grabs them.

Keeps up with the physical too mental development children up to 6 months. Learning the world, the child pulls everything into his mouth, thus stimulating the receptors not only of taste, but also of touch, determining the density and shape of the object. Until the moment the baby speaks, he can pull everything into his mouth, thus developing. Now the child should be occupied with toys and objects that adults “play” with (phone, remote control, laptop). They reach out to them, touch them, try to play with them. In communication, babble with different intonations appears, the baby well distinguishes the emotions of adults, positive and negative, and reacts to them. Also, at the request of relatives, the baby can look for familiar objects with a glance, distinguishes between relatives and strangers, and may be frightened. The baby already establishes connections between the action and its consequences, reacts to sounds - newer and familiar, will study a new toy with interest.

What does a 6 month old baby look like?

A six-month-old baby looks chubby. His cheeks, arms and legs are significantly rounded, cute constrictions are formed on them. The hair on the head can change its color, as well as the color of the eyes, in many children the first vellus hair gradually falls out and the head may be covered with short new hairs. The main parameters of a child at 6 months are his height and weight, as well as the circumference of his chest and head, which the doctor measures monthly at appointments. Often parents are also interested in such a question, what should be the size of a child's legs at 6 months. it is determined by the length of the foot, by this time they can be 9.5-10.5 cm or it is 16-18 shoe sizes. It is important to know this in order to be able to take the first shoes with a margin, the legs grow very quickly. But before their first steps, it is not necessary to buy sandals, the baby can be in socks or booties.

How much should a baby weigh at 6 months

Now one of the main indicators of development will be the average weight of a child at 6 months. it is, on average, 6500-7800g with fluctuations that depend on the initial weight at birth. you should not be guided in assessing the gains on the standard norms for the weight of a child at 6 months. If the baby was born with a weight of 2000g or 4500g, by six months they will have their own norms and dynamics of weight gain. On average, it is permissible for a baby to gain from 500 to 1000g per month in the first half of the year. It is worth remembering about gender differences, there is a difference in how much a girl should weigh at 6 months or a boy. Usually boys weigh 200-400 g more, since at birth they usually weigh more.
If a baby is not gaining weight well at 6 months while breastfeeding or formula, this may be the first signal that it is time to introduce complementary foods, he no longer has enough calories in food. If the weight tends to decrease, it is worth driving more high-calorie cereals first. But usually poor weight gain is associated with digestive pathologies, allergies and other health problems. It is worth once again consulting a pediatrician.

As soon as the baby appears in the house, caring parents carefully monitor its development and, first of all, control:

  • weight gain;
  • increase in growth;
  • child's head circumference.

For some young mothers, it is very important to control every gram and centimeter that a newborn adds. And, of course, everyone wants to know exactly: how much should babies weigh when they reach the age of 6 months?

How much do 6 month old babies weigh?

To answer the pressing question that worries caring parents, how much children should weigh at 6 months, taking into account the norm of this indicator, it should be taken into account that each child develops individually and is born with his own complexion. First of all, it is influenced by the genetic factor. Therefore, the norm of this indicator cannot be the same for all babies of 6 months.

For example, if a child was born with a weight of 3000 to 3500 grams, that is, his performance is normal, then every month he needs to add about 700 grams to his own weight. This means that by 6 months he should gain weight from 7000 to 8500 grams.

Of course, this rule is not mandatory for all children without exception. No one can clearly answer the question: how much should a baby weigh at this age? After all, children are born with different weight indicators and some features:

  • the newborn may be all larger or smaller due to the factor of heredity;
  • the mass of girls is much less than boys;
  • a baby may be born with a lower weight due to abnormalities that occurred during the mother's pregnancy.

Therefore, newborns are initially able to gain only 300 grams per month, as they are still very weakened. But do not despair, babies will definitely begin to gain precious grams 10-12 days after birth. If during the first two months of his life a person gains more than a kilogram, then he cannot be considered sick. It should also be borne in mind that if children were born prematurely, then by 6 months they will weigh as much as provided for in the minimum indicators of these criteria.

Summing up, we can answer a question that is important for many parents, that is, how much should weigh children who have reached 6 months. At this age, the weight can reach 9.5 kg, and the minimum weight indicator is equal to 6 kilograms. During the 6th month of life, children can gain up to 800 grams, but do not despair if the weight is a little more or less than normal.

What factors can affect the development and weight gain

Weight gain in children at 6 months of age depends on physical development. The following components are ready to influence the weight indicator:

  • hereditary genes passed down by both parents;
  • initial parameters that were fixed at birth. This means that if a child was born weakened and weighed little, then he will gain weight somewhat more slowly;
  • artificial or breastfeeding is insufficient or, conversely, excessive.

The first two points have already been briefly discussed above, and all parents should know about the balanced nutrition of infants at the age of 6 months and how much children should use artificial or breastfeeding.

How much and what should children eat

When compiling a diet, you should carefully balance it in order to prevent a sharp weight gain or, conversely, weight loss. Children need to smoothly and evenly gain the necessary grams, while the mass indicator should not be at the same level for a long time.

It is from 6 months that complementary foods can be introduced into the menu. Some parents prefer to choose earlier dates for entry, but this process should not be rushed, since the gastrointestinal tract will be able to accept new food only after six months.

As the first bait, it is best to choose vegetable dishes. The basis can be:

  1. Steamed zucchini puree.
  2. Boiled and pureed cauliflower.
  3. A little later, you can supplement the diet with boiled potatoes and carrots, as well as pumpkin puree.

Vegetable complementary foods are very useful for a child's body, however, if children of 6 months have not gained weight, then various cereals can be introduced along with vegetables. The fact is that any kind of cereal is much more satisfying than a vegetable, so children who receive such dishes will be able to quickly gain weight to the desired level. Six-month-old babies can cook porridge based on the following cereals:

  • buckwheat;
  • rice;
  • corn.

These cereals do not contain gluten, which is harmful to the child's body. Complementary foods from cereals can be cooked on:

  • purified water;
  • expressed breast milk;
  • diluted mixture, which is used as a constant feeding.

Any kind of cereal should be thoroughly ground so that the product turns into flour, check that there are no lumps. You can also buy ready-made porridge for the preparation of complementary foods, which is sold in the appropriate stores. Such a product should be given with a small spoon or taught to drink from a cup on its own. You can pour the vegetable mixture into a special drinker, then remove the lid from it and allow you to drink without supervision.

What weight should a 6 month old breastfed baby have?

A healthy and well-fed baby who is breastfed will not be naughty. As soon as the feeding is over, the child will simply fall asleep and stop disturbing the parents with constant crying. And, of course, it breast-feeding is a real protection for all children without exception, because mother's milk contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals that are required at an early age.

As mentioned earlier, there are simply no exact weight indicators for both breastfeeding and formula-feeding, but according to approximate indicators, children at 6 months should gain approximately 400-500 grams per month. You can find out if the child is satisfied by his behavior and habits. There are such indicators:

  • pink and clear skin;
  • absence of any rashes and irritation;
  • the smell of milk from the baby;
  • he empties at least 7 times a day, while his stool has a yellow color.

However, in order for breast milk to be in abundance, it is necessary to organize proper nutrition for a nursing mother.

Me for mother during lactation

In order for children to grow up healthy, receive as much breast milk as needed to saturate, a nursing mother must balance her own diet. In the daily menu of a woman should be all the nutrients that are required for the development of the baby. The mother's diet should include:

  • calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the bone skeleton. Most of it is found in milk, so a nursing mother should drink quite a lot of this liquid. That is, during the day a woman needs to drink at least 300 grams of milk, it is important not to forget about the use of other products made on its basis;
  • vegetable salads, raw vegetables, and different types fruits in the daily diet of a nursing mother should be mandatory;
  • meat and fish dishes are also on the menu. Calf's liver should be introduced into the meat diet, as this product is very rich in vitamin C.

Each child is unique and unique. After all, adults are all different: tall and short, broad-shouldered and graceful, dense and asthenic physique. Of course, the child in this sense is a reflection of mom and dad. However, there are certain rules that parents should be aware of in order to monitor how their baby develops and grows. In this article, we will tell you how much a baby should weigh at 6 months.

Half a year is a kind of milestone, after which a visit to all children's doctors is mandatory: a pediatrician, a neurologist, a cardiologist, an ENT specialist, an ophthalmologist and an orthopedist.

The pediatrician, of course, monthly measures all the anthropometric indicators of the baby, noting their dynamics. However, at six months there should be an important consultation regarding the introduction of complementary foods. The recommendations of the pediatrician depend, among other things, on the weight of the baby.

What weight is considered normal?

Many parents have heard that by six months a child should weigh exactly twice as much as at birth, and there is a certain reason for this. Often, children really fit into this indicator, but it is too average and does not take into account many individual moments.

A month after birth, the baby on average adds from five hundred grams to a kilogram. The second and third months will give another five hundred or six hundred grams. The fourth and fifth months, the increase is six hundred to seven hundred grams, and the same for the seventh. Thus, a baby who was born weighing 3500 grams doubles its weight by six months (which will now be 6900-7800 grams). The performance of a child born with a greater or lesser weight, respectively, will differ.

Olga, mother of 8-month-old Ignat: “Ignat was born thin, only 2980 g, with a height of 51 cm. But after 3 months he began to gain weight so actively that at 6 he already weighed 8200! This is 1120 more than 2 times, and only on breast milk. The pediatrician was only glad, she said, she caught up with her peers.

What determines the weight of an infant

From the anthropometric characteristics of the parents. If mom and dad are below average height, their baby will be significantly different in height and weight from the neighbor's child, whose parents met in the basketball section. Obesity in parents is a risk factor for a child, because he can inherit the characteristics of metabolism.

From the floor. At birth, girls usually weigh a little fewer boys. At a certain age, boys begin to yield to their peers in weight and height, but at six months they are usually larger.

From the conditions of birth. The weight of a premature baby is always below normal, but over time it evens out. The baby who was born ahead of time, should catch up in weight with peers by 12-14 months, but with prematurity III degree (less than 31 weeks, weight below 1500 grams), this period can last much longer. At six months, such a baby will weigh less than its peers. There is nothing wrong with this, the main thing is that the increase is stable.

From nutritional habits. Formula-fed babies often gain weight faster than breastfed babies.

From the state of health. Diseases transferred in the first months of life, surgical interventions, taking antibiotics and other factors lead to a significant deviation of weight from the norm.
So, all children are different, so the normal weight is the one at which the child develops normally.

The child is healthy if:

  • development meets age standards (he began to hold his head in time, sit, and so on);
  • no manifestations of rickets or anemia;
  • there are no “failures” in weight gain (that is, at least 100 grams, but gained, the weight does not stand still and does not decrease);
  • teeth erupt in accordance with age;
  • no digestive problems liquid stool, constipation).

Even Benjamin Spock urged not to worry too much about weight gain, since this is far from the only indicator of a child's development.


Features of the introduction of complementary foods

As mentioned at the beginning, complementary foods are introduced depending on the weight and type of nutrition of the child. If the weight is within the norm, the pediatrician will recommend that you start feeding with one-component vegetable puree. If the child has not gained weight to normal, complementary foods can be introduced earlier than 6 months. At the same time, the pediatrician may advise starting with gluten-free one-component porridge, since such food is higher in calories than vegetable puree.

If the baby is on mixed or artificial feeding, pediatricians usually recommend starting complementary foods a little earlier. The gastrointestinal tract of such children gets used to a new type of food faster. At the same time, some excess weight in this case is compensated by eating vegetables. If the child weighs a lot, it is better to wait with cereals, as well as with sweet fruits (bananas) and mashed potatoes.

If your baby is anemic and underweight, your pediatrician may recommend mashed meats as early as 6 months of age.

The introduction of complementary foods may be delayed if the child has health problems, such as food allergies or dysbacteriosis with dyspeptic symptoms, as well as if there is an acute illness.

Inna, mother of one-year-old Liza: “Our complementary feeding began with a problem - the whole family fell ill with ARVI. And my daughter only managed to eat zucchini puree for a week according to the pediatrician's scheme. They interrupted, recovered, waited another week and repeated from the very beginning, first with half a spoon a day, then more, and so on.

Weight and height tables

In order for all parents to monitor the development of their baby, the World Health Organization has developed tables of standards for a boy and a girl by months and years.

Interestingly, these standards were developed in 2006. The norms that were in force earlier were higher by about 20%. This is due to the fact that since the middle of the 20th century in many countries it has been common artificial feeding. After doctors began to popularize long-term breastfeeding, children began to weigh less in general.

The table below shows in detail the weight of a child at six months.


Weight of a 6-month-old girl according to WHO standards:

From this table it can be seen that the normal weight of a girl ranges from 6.46 to 8.25 kilograms, and the average weight is 7.3 kg. The two extreme columns on both sides show deviations from the norm: with such indicators, a doctor's consultation is recommended.

The growth of a 6-month-old girl in accordance with WHO standards:

excessively low short below the average middle above the average tall excessively high
58.9 cm 61.2 cm
63.5 cm
65.7 cm 68 cm 70.3 cm 72.5 cm

Here, too, the two extreme columns show deviations from the norm. If the growth does not fit into the average, it is better to clarify this issue with the pediatrician.

The weight of a six-month-old boy is reflected in the following table:

As can be seen from the table, the weight norm for boys is higher than for girls.
If you pay attention to the growth chart of boys, you can see the same thing:

excessively low short below the average middle above the average tall excessively high
61.2 cm 63.3 cm 65.5 cm 67.6 cm 69.8 cm 71.9 cm 74 cm

If it seems to you that the baby is slowly gaining weight, or, conversely, “heavier” than peers, then be sure to consult a pediatrician on this issue. Perhaps the doctor will dispel your fears, or vice versa, suggest measures in time to solve the problem.

Related videos

Up