How Breastfed Babies Grow

Important Note: Current growth charts are based on babies that are formula fed and may not reflect a normal growth pattern for fully breastfed babies.

Birth - 2 weeks
Most babies tend to lose 50-10% of their weight during the first 3-4 days after birth. They regain their birth weight within 2-3 weeks.

2 weeks - 4 months
Babies gain about 4-8 ounces a week. This leads to doubling of birth weight by 4-7 months.

4-6 months
Babies gain about 3-5 ounces a week or 1 pound a month.

6-12 months
Babies gain about 1.5 - 3 ounces a week or .5 pounds a month.

Most breastfed babies weight about 2.5 to 3 times their birth weight by their first birthday and have increased their birth length by 50%. Breastfed babies are usually leaner at one year compared to formula fed babies. Some healthy breastfed babies grow slower/faster than these guidelines. If you have concerns about your child's weight gain please contact your pediatrician.

Getting Baby Started on Solid Foods

I got some great information from my breastfeeding support group on solids that I wanted to pass along.You should start your baby on solids at 6 months old. Some babies are ready sooner but don't start any earlier than 4 months. How will I know if my baby is ready for solids earlier? If your child pushes food out of their mouth with their tongue when offered food then they are not ready for solids. You can place an empty spoon in your child's mouth. If they push the spoon away then they aren't ready yet. You can wait a week and then try again.

It's important to remember that solids don't take the place of breast milk until the end of the first year. Usually babies start with cereals because they are iron fortified. Start with a small amount once daily and then increase the amount and frequency slowly. The solids should be given in between feedings. Never replace a feeding with solids. When baby is taking solids they should be given some water to help with digestion. You could also use diluted juice, 1 to 2 oz a day.


Start with one solid at a time. Wait for three days to see if your child has an allergic reaction to the solid they were given. If they didn't have an allergic reaction then you can introduce a new solid. Don't start these high allergy foods until after the first year: strawberries, citrus, egg whites, corn, soy, cow's milk, wheat, chocolate, tomatoes, shell fish, and nuts. You can give small amounts of cheese and yogurt after baby reaches 8 months. It is best to wait until your child is 3 years of to give peanuts and peanut butter.

I found this great video that gives a simple demonstration on how to make your own baby food.

Product Review - Levana Video Baby Monitor

I bought my Levana CXS6-01 Digital Wireless Video Baby Monitor on Costco.com because of the features listed: night vision, voice activated standby mode, night light, and lullabies. It was a pretty good price at $135 compared to the other monitors on their site. I was very excited when I got it in the mail last night as we desperately needed a baby monitor. The instruction booklet was simple to follow and we were able to get the monitor ready to use in 10 mins. I didn't like the base for the camera, as only a magnet holds it in place, but it came with a crib mount that was much sturdier. I love how you can turn on the lullabies from the control as well as switch songs. The voice activated standby mode was also very impressive but my daughter has to make a loud noise for it to be activated or be moved closer to the camera. The picture is very clear, even at night, and we experienced no interference of any kind. Overall I am very happy with this product and I would highly recommend it.

Looking for Baby Monitor

Why is it so hard to find a good baby monitor?  My daughter is finally old enough to be left in her crib while I finish items around the house. I looked online, Babies R Us, and at Buy Buy Baby but I am not sure which one to buy. Everything is so confusing. Do I need video? What range do I need? Is this a good product? How will I know if it failed? The reviews don't seem to help either because every product has mixed reviews. I will continue my search for a good baby monitor online since they have more products. I will keep you updated if I find a good monitor.