Most babies continue to grow in weight and length this month.
How Much Will My Baby Grow?
The first few months of life are a period of rapid growth. Your baby will gain
about 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) in length and 1½ to 2
pounds (681 to 907 grams) this month. These are just averages — your baby may
grow somewhat faster or slower, and is likely to have growth spurts.
Your baby can go through periods of increased hunger and fussiness. This increase
in hunger means your baby is going through a period of fast growth (a growth
spurt). If you breastfeed, you might find your baby wants to eat more often
(sometimes every hour!) during certain times of the day. This is often called "cluster
feeding." Formula-fed babies may want to eat more often or will drink more formula
than usual during feedings.
You'll learn to see the signs that tell you that your baby is hungry or when your
baby is full. You will know your baby is hungry when she seems restless, cries a lot,
sticks out her tongue or sucks on her hands and lips. You will know your baby is full
when she is no longer interested in feeding or just falls asleep at the end of a feeding
session. Remember, babies' tummies are very small and they need to be burped
after feedings to release gas that can cause discomfort.
Your doctor will measure your baby's weight, length, and head circumference and
track his or her growth on a standardized growth
chart (there are different charts for boys and girls). Your baby might be large,
small, or medium-sized. As long as this growth pattern stays consistent over time,
chances are your baby's progress is just fine.
If your baby is born prematurely,
keep in mind that growth and development should not be compared with that of a full-term
child. Preemies will need to be followed more closely and may need to be weighed more
often during the first months to make sure they are growing properly. They have some
catching up to do!
Should I Be Concerned?
If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, or the growth rate slows, your
doctor will want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat.
The doctor may ask you about:
- How many feedings a day your baby gets. At 3 months old, a breastfed
baby may feed
8 times in a 24-hour day; formula-fed babies usually eat
less frequently, about every 4 hours.
- How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses
for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when
done. At this age, bottle-fed babies may eat up to 6 to 7 ounces (177–207 milliliters)
at each feeding.
- How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and
consistency. Most babies will have 1 or more bowel movements daily, but it
may be normal to skip 1 or 2 days if consistency is normal. Breastfed babies' stools
should be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little
firmer, but should not be hard or formed.
Most of the time, a baby's growth will be tracked over the next few months during
routine well-baby visits.
But if your doctor is concerned about your baby's growth, he or she will want to see
your baby more often.
What's Next?
Your baby will continue to grow in length and weight at a steady rate. By 4 months,
most babies have doubled their birth weight.
Date reviewed: January 2019
