Baby’s weight at 5 months: WHO standards, what a boy and a girl should be

Updated: 06/20/2021 17:13:42

During the first year of life, special attention is paid to the child's weight. Gaining body weight is of particular importance at this time. Thanks to its measurements, it is possible to assess the presence of deviations from the norm. Let's try to figure out what a child's weight should be at 5 months, and whether there are differences in these indicators between boys and girls.

Child weight according to WHO

Scientists from the World Health Organization conducted large-scale studies that helped establish optimal parameters for growth and weight gain in children, which can be taken as normal. Most often, parents are interested in the rate of weight gain in children in the first year of life. It is this indicator that provides information about the correct development of the child, allows you to assess his health, and can be used to determine whether the baby needs to be shown to a doctor.

Often, parents are forced to deal with rather contradictory information regarding the child’s weight; they do not understand what indicator is the norm. In addition, different doctors may interpret the current weight of children in their own way. Therefore, WHO has established weight standards separately for boys and girls by month up to a year, and then by year. These are the most accurate and modern indicators. You can rely on them when interpreting your baby's weight.

Those standards that were in effect until recently and were widespread did not actually show how things were, what a child’s weight should be in order for him to be healthy. These were the average weights of children.

The standards developed by WHO are more than the standards that were in force until recently. With their help, parents and pediatricians were able to assess and compare the child’s weight with the normative optimal value.

How were child weight standards set?

According to the World Health Organization, the best nutrition for children in the first year of life is breast milk. It is an ideal food that promotes healthy growth and optimal weight gain. In the first 6 months, it is recommended to feed children only breast milk. After this age, in order for children to have adequate weight and development in the future, timely and correct complementary feeding is necessary. At the same time, if the mother wishes and is able, breastfeeding can continue for up to 2 years.

Modern norms take breastfeeding as the biological standard. Healthy children who are fed with mother's milk and are not overweight are taken as the standard. In this regard, the new standards differ significantly from the previous ones, which assessed the parameters of children, both breastfed and bottle-fed.

To obtain a new standard for the weight of children in the first year of life, WHO experts conducted a study of 9,000 children. The subjects grew up in a favorable environment, were breastfed, and had no infectious diseases. Their mothers did not have bad habits, both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This project was the largest in the world.

As a result, WHO experts received data on the basis of which tables of children’s weights were compiled by month and by gender, separately for boys and separately for girls. These tables show the absolute value of weight, the relationship of weight by month, and enable parents and pediatricians to assess the harmonious development of children.

Baby's nutrition at 5 months

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the introduction of complementary foods should begin at 6 months.

This is the most suitable age for new food, because... It is too early for 4.5-month-old babies to introduce complementary foods due to the gastrointestinal tract being unprepared for food other than breast milk or formula. And after 7-8 months it’s already quite late, because... solid food requires special efforts on the part of the articulatory apparatus.

Getting acquainted with solid food, the baby learns to control the tongue, masters chewing and swallowing functions, gets used to new food, and the production of enzymes is stimulated. All this subsequently has a beneficial effect on the development of speech and food interest.

Therefore, be patient and take your time with complementary foods. Continue to feed your baby breast milk or formula if your baby is bottle-fed. At 5 months, babies usually have 5-6 feedings during the day and 2-3 feedings at night. The baby eats about 900-1000 g per day.

At this age, many mothers notice that the baby can sometimes play and act out while eating, not out of “spoiledness,” but out of curiosity. Hearing some noise, even the slightest rustle, or seeing some movement, the baby immediately comes off the chest.

In order for the child not to be distracted by extraneous matters, it is best to find a fairly quiet, calm and secluded place in the house. But even if this method didn’t help you much, and the baby still finds his own reasons to break away from the process, you just have to come to terms with this feature of his behavior and be patient yourself. In any case, such feeding does not prevent him from eating enough, which means gaining weight and feeling good.

You can also use a calculator to calculate the baby’s diet at 5 months (with breastfeeding and bottle feeding) and a calculator to calculate the child’s daily intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

We measure the child's weight at home

Most parents at home evaluate such an important indicator as the child’s weight. Pediatricians give recommendations on how to correctly measure the weight of children in their first year of life at home.

1. Weighing should be carried out only on children's scales.

   Adult scales cannot accurately estimate a baby's weight at 5 months. Today there is a large selection of baby scales. Moreover, there is no need to buy them. This device does not require a long time. You can either borrow it from friends or rent it.

2. The weigh-in must take place without clothes or a diaper.

   It is advisable to carry out the procedure at the same time. The morning after the first feeding is best for this purpose.

3. Place the diaper on the scale and weigh it separately.

   After you weigh your baby, subtract the weight of the diaper from the baby's weight.

4. When weighing, make sure that all the child’s limbs are on the scale tray.

   . If the child can sit, weigh him while sitting.

Weight and height charts

Healthy baby weight at 5 months

Baby's growth at 5 months

* The child’s weight must also correspond to his height; use a personal calculator to estimate.

* 94% of healthy children have the normal weight and height indicated in the tables (more details).

* If the child’s weight or height is more/less than normal.

How often do you weigh yourself?

Unless your pediatrician recommends weighing you every day to assess weight gain, you should not weigh your baby more than once a week. Otherwise, it is impossible to obtain objective information, because the child gains weight unevenly and spasmodically. This can only develop maternal anxiety. The following indicators will help you evaluate the increase:

1. In the first month, a child should add from 150 to 250 grams per week.
2. A child from 1 to 3 months should add from 200 to 250 grams per week.
3. A child from 3 to 6 months should add from 100 to 150 grams per week.

After six months, the rate of weight gain decreases and weekly weighing becomes uninformative.

We've listed 1-month weight gain data for 5-month-old babies, according to the World Health Organization, according to their gender.

Normally, five-month-old boys gain the following weight per month:

1. The lower limit is 311 grams.
2. The average value is 522 grams.
3. The upper limit is 746 grams.

Normally, five-month-old girls gain the following weight per month:

1. The lower limit is 286 grams.
2. The average value is 489 grams.
3. The upper limit is 703 grams.

Weight of girls at 5 months according to WHO

The World Health Organization conducted research and found that the weight of girls at 5 months who are breastfed should meet the following parameters:

1. A very low figure - 4800 grams.
2. The low figure is 5400 grams.
3. Below average – 6100 grams.
4. The average is 6900 grams.
5. Above average – 7800 grams.
6. High indicator - 8800 grams.
7. A very high figure - 10,000 grams.

Baby's height and weight at 5 months

Rash near the mouth of a child

Every month, parents and pediatricians monitor changes in the newborn's body. Weight and height indicators make it possible to understand how the baby is developing and growing, and to identify possible deviations in time. Domestic pediatricians and WHO scientists have developed tables with height and weight values ​​for all ages.

Normal weight and height of a child aged 5 months

How much should a baby weigh at 5 months? All children develop separately; normal height and weight values ​​have lower and upper thresholds. The average weight of a child at 5 months is 6-8 kg, which is 2-2.5 more than that of a newborn. The normal height of a 5-month-old is from 60 to 68 cm.

Weight chart at 5 months

Growth chart at 5 months

For example, the weight of a healthy girl at 5 months is from 6.1 to 7.8 kg with a height of 61.8-66.3 cm.

Data from domestic pediatricians

The indicators in the table of domestic doctors have upper and lower limits. Intermediate figures are considered normal for weight at 5 months. The norm for a girl and a boy are different values.

Table of weight and height according to domestic doctors

Boy and girl

Weight of boys at 5 months according to WHO

The World Health Organization conducted research and found that the weight of boys at 5 months who are breastfed should meet the following parameters:

1. A very low figure is 5300 grams.
2. The low figure is 6000 grams.
3. Below average – 6700 grams.
4. The average is 7500 grams.
5. Above average – 8400 grams.
6. High indicator - 9300 grams.
7. A very high figure - 10400 grams.

What should a 5 month old baby be able to do?

Physical development

Some babies develop a little faster, others a little slower. But there are general skills that most children have at 5 months.

1. Confidently rolls over from back to stomach, to side. Rollovers from stomach to side or back are also mastered. Therefore, the baby is able to choose a more comfortable position for himself.
2. Lying on his stomach, he raises his upper body, leaning on his hands. From this position he can already reach out and take toys that are nearby.
3. Lying on his back, he can pull his legs towards his face and study them.
4. Some children already begin to make their first attempts to crawl during this period of time. At first, the baby's crawling seems clumsy, but after 2-3 weeks he will begin to move more confidently.
5. Many babies can sit with support or hold onto something with their hands. It is important not to overload your back muscles at this time! The baby should be able to return to a horizontal position at any time. If your baby gets up holding the crib or something else, make sure there is something soft around him. After all, he can lean back at any moment.
6. If you take the child under the arms and place him on a hard surface, his legs will be almost straight.
7. Confidently grasps a toy and is able to transfer it from one hand to another.

Neuropsychic development

• The child’s speech changes, syllables are added to the sounds. The baby can talk to himself for a long time, while listening to the sounds he makes.
• The baby attaches importance to the intonation of speech addressed to him. He hears when they play with him and when they scold him, and may be offended by rude speech.
• The child learns to attract attention in different ways, with the help of screaming, crying or a ringing toy.
• Games with mom are accompanied by joy and laughter. The range of emotions increases, the baby can feel fear, resentment and show if he doesn’t like something.

What should parents do?

Parents need to measure their child’s weight and correlate this indicator with the values ​​in the table. If it is in the “very low” and “very high” parameters, then we recommend consulting a pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist.

It is important that the child’s weight indicators are not in the “very low” or “very high” corridor. Then we can assume harmonious development. If the baby’s body weight is in the extreme range, then it is better to visit a doctor to rule out disharmony. It can be caused by an unbalanced diet or pathologies and be associated with paratrophy. Very low values ​​may indicate an impaired protein-energy norm and be associated with malnutrition.

When assessing weight, do not forget about the genetic characteristics of the child and his constitutional data. Comparing your child with your friend's child is completely wrong. The disease can be judged only after examination and testing. First of all, judge the child’s general condition: his activity, appetite, sleep, skin condition, mood.

Why can a 5 month old baby be overweight?

Upper weight limit in children is the opposite problem of low body weight. Evidence of excess weight is pale skin, excess fat, diaper rash, short neck, and decreased skin elasticity. Excessive weight gain may be due to the following reasons:

1. Frequent feedings.
2. Edema.
3. Overly nutritious complementary foods started too early.
4. Increased insulin in the blood.

If your child has gained too much weight, you should not change your usual feeding regimen on your own. It is imperative to consult a specialist; perhaps the reason lies elsewhere.

Height and weight of a 5-month-old child, data from domestic pediatricians

5 months Lower limit Upper limit Boys’ weight, kg Girls’ weight, kg Girls’ height, cm Girls’ head circumference, cm Girls’ chest circumference, cm

Why does a 5 month old baby gain weight poorly?

It happens that a baby who is breastfed does not gain weight well. The most common causes of this condition are:

1. Impaired absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Allergic reaction.
3. Frequent and profuse regurgitation.
4. Lack of nutrients, milk.
5. Complementary feeding not started in a timely manner.
6. Initially low birth weight.

Lack of nutrition is just one of the reasons that cause low weight in children. Without knowing the truth, without identifying the cause of low body weight, you should not transfer your baby to enhanced nutrition. Contact a specialist to find out the exact cause of low weight gain.

Well-known pediatrician Evgeniy Komarovsky says that even if a child is significantly behind the norm in weight, but at the same time he is mobile, active, inquisitive, feels good, has excellent health, tests are normal, then there is no reason to worry. If low weight is simultaneous with pallor, lethargy, and moodiness, then you need to consult a pediatrician.

The rate of weight gain is not least influenced by the hereditary factor. If mom and dad are light weight, they did not gain weight well in childhood, then their children will most likely have the same problem. In addition, miniature parents usually give birth to a small child. Even if he gains weight in accordance with the schedule, his indicators will most likely be at the lower limit of his age.

Baby at 5 months: daily routine

Sleep and wakefulness

At five months, a baby sleeps about 15 hours. Of these, 10 hours at night and 5 hours for 3 naps during the day. During the night, the baby wakes up 1 or 2 times, wakefulness can last up to two hours. At this time, it is worth playing games, doing gymnastics, and communicating with the baby.

Baby food

Mother's milk or formula was the child's only source of nutrition for five months.

At your next appointment with your pediatrician, you should consult about the first complementary foods. If your doctor approves, you can begin introducing your baby to solid foods.

The first complementary food can be baby porridge without milk, a simple one-ingredient vegetable or fruit puree. You need to start complementary feeding with half a teaspoon before lunch. This is done in order to assess the baby’s reaction to the new product with minimal risk.

How to introduce complementary foods correctly?

A child at 5 months. What should be included in the regimen

• Daily walks.
• Bathing the baby at least once every 2 days.
• Gymnastics.
• Educational games.
• Communication: conversations, songs, rhymes, nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
• Air baths and massage.

Video - what to do with a child, suitable for both 6 and 5 months

Can the type of feeding affect weight gain?

If a child is fed an adapted formula, then his parents know exactly how much formula he receives in grams. If his weight gain is within normal limits, then the volume of the mixture is maintained. With breastfeeding, things are a little more complicated. It is quite understandable that the mother does not know how much milk the baby sucks.

The child may become malnourished. Sometimes it seems to the mother that the baby has sucked a lot of milk, and the weight gain remains at the lower limits. The reason may lie in a lactation crisis, which is characterized by a reduced volume of milk in the mother’s breast, less than what the child needs. In this regard, weight gain slows down. Mom’s task is to pay attention to the situation and improve lactation.

Overfeeding at the breast is extremely rare. Babies can gain a lot of weight on breast milk, but overeating is unlikely. This is due to the physiology of the child. His stomach does not expand with one feeding. If excess milk enters the baby's body, he will spit it up.

Children's weight is an important indicator of their development and growth. But when assessing a child’s health, you should not be content with it alone. It is important to look at the general condition of the baby, at his development as a whole.

Baby skills at 5 months

What a child can do at 5 months is not much different from what he could do a month ago. The difference between skills is what the child does more and more confidently and perfectly:

• The baby confidently rolls over from back to side, stomach and back. Moreover, some children achieve such success that they can instantly roll off the sofa or bed onto the floor. Therefore, it is not worth leaving them alone with themselves;
• grabs the rattle. Can transfer it from one hand to another;
• When pulled by the handles, he rises and sits down.

You cannot force a child to sit down. If you don't want to, don't.

A 5-month-old boy can already sit up on his own. In the case of a girl, it is not recommended to plant before six months.

If the baby is already sitting on his own, do not forget to place a pillow behind him. The back muscles are not yet accustomed to such a load and get tired quickly. The child can lean back at any time.

• When feeding, holds a bottle with formula. If she is breastfeeding, supports her, adjusts her position for her convenience;
• coordination of body muscles improves. The baby learns to sway, can pull his legs up to his head, put his fingers in his mouth;
• most of the newborn’s transient reflexes fade away by this age;
• with support under the arms, the child stands on solid support, with his legs almost completely straightened.

Useful and always up-to-date information is in the article by the pediatrician, which describes what a 1-month-old baby can do and how to ensure the baby’s full development.

Find out from your pediatrician what a 3-month-old baby can do and how to stimulate his development with simple exercises and activities.

An informative article by a pediatrician from which parents can find out what a child can do at 4 months and when to worry about delayed development.

A child at 6 months passes a kind of milestone. Find out what skills a baby acquires at this age from an article by a children's doctor.