The first year of a baby’s life is full of joy, momentous firsts, and rapid growth. In the midst of all the learning, it’s vital to monitor a baby’s growth to avoid developmental delays and stay on track with their nutritional needs. Investing in various teaching aids can help midwives, parents, and care providers ensure accuracy when tracking growth at home. Read on to learn more!

Invest in the Right Type of Scale

One of the most helpful tips for weighing a baby at home is investing in the correct scale. Infant scales can provide increased accuracy and alleviate a lot of stress. Sometimes a bathroom scale or kitchen food scale can work for rapid checks, but the outcomes may fluctuate.

It’s essential to note that all scale alternatives are designed for specific purposes, and preparing the baby and receiving an accurate weight will come with more challenges. If you intend to weigh your baby more frequently than the pediatrician, investing in an infant scale for home use may be worth considering.

Pre-Weighing Preparations

To ensure you receive an accurate weight on the scale, you should consider preparing your baby and the scale beforehand. Consider changing your baby’s diaper and undressing them to receive a pure weight without clothing adding to their ounces.

You’ll also want to correctly place them on the scale and ensure it is set to zero to provide an accurate weight before each check. If you are not using an infant scale, you may need to ask for assistance to help stabilize the baby, depending on the scale you chose.

Consider the Time of Day

You can weigh your baby at whatever time serves your family best but using the same timeframe at each weigh-in is recommended to maintain consistency. Generally, weighing your baby before or after a morning feed is helpful when monitoring the progression of overall intake. Additionally, consider using the mornings to your benefit, as this is when your baby experiences increased satisfaction.

Connect with Your Support Team

Any time you experience concern regarding your weighing methods or outcomes, it’s vital to remain transparent and connect with your support team. This may include your baby’s pediatric team and any postpartum service providers you employ.

Your baby’s weight is a significant sign of development in the first year, so it’s essential to raise questions whenever you have concerns. Sometimes, it can be a manual error during your weighing process and not a health-related issue. Connecting with your support team can bring reassurance and clarity on weights.

If you want to start weighing your baby at home, you may find these various lactation teaching tools helpful. Cascade Health Care carries a variety of practical teaching devices, including stool displays, nipple shields, tinctures, and infant scales, to assist in any infant home-administered care practices. Connect with us today to learn more!