All babies are different and develop and grow at different rates, but we have prepared a very comprehensive guide for you. Every week you will see your baby’s average “numbers.” Remember, these are only averages so that you know that your baby is on track. As new parents we tend to get very caught up in the numbers and percentiles. Most pediatricians would say, “Let us worry about the percentiles, you just worry about feeding and caring for your baby.” That being said, it is reassuring for a new parent to have a guide to consult with to know that your baby is gaining weight and growing and developing as expected.
We take our numbers on growth and development from the same sources as the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is what your pediatrician is referring to. For the first two years, the norms come from the World Health Organization (WHO) and after that, they come from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Healthychildren.org, a division of the American Academy of Pediatrics offers some great information on reading growth charts and understanding percentiles.
In “By the Numbers” we will also provide you with statistics on recommended sleep times, how much babies are typically eating at each developmental stage, and what new foods to introduce, and when to introduce them.
Sleep is also very variable, while most newborns sleep 16-17 hours per day, he may only sleep for one to two hours at a time, so his sleep may be very difficult to keep track of.
We also keep track of the typical teething schedule so you know what tooth to expect popping through next.
Don’t be worried if your baby doesn’t fall into a schedule until after he is six-months-old. Babies’ varying needs make it very difficult to establish a schedule early on. Some babies crave consistency and fall into a pattern, but most babies are not that predictable.
References:
American Academy of Pediatrics Parent Vaccination Schedule https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Documents/2018-parent-friendly-schedule-0to6-FINAL.PDF
American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.aap.org/en-us/Pages/Default.aspx
World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mediacentre/infographic/new-born/en/
Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov
Healthy Children https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Babys-First-Tooth-Facts-Parents-Should-Know.aspx