Self-weigh clinics
Self-weigh clinics offer parents and carers of infants an opportunity to weigh their baby and log this in their baby's Personal Child Health Record (PCHR) Red Book.
Taking place in local Family Hubs and clinic settings, parents and carers can call and book their slot for a self-weigh clinic a week in advance. Each slot will last 15 minutes and provide an opportunity for parents and carers to weigh their baby's.
Anyone with concerns about their baby's weight is encouraged to contact their midwife or health visitor (if in contact) or phone the Telephone Advisory Service (TAS): 0300 123 9551 Mon-Fri 9am-1pm.
Book an appointment for a self-weigh clinic.
When should I weigh my baby?
Steady weight gain is one of the signs that your baby is healthy and feeding well.
It's normal for babies to lose some weight in the first few days after birth.
Your baby will be weighed during their first 2 weeks to make sure they're regaining their birthweight. Most babies are at, or above, their birthweight by 2 weeks.
A midwife or health visitor will support you if your baby loses a large amount of weight or does not regain their birthweight by 2 weeks.
They'll talk to you about how feeding is going, possibly ask to observe a feed if you're breastfeeding, and look at your baby's health in general.
How often should my baby be weighed?
After the first 2 weeks, your baby should be weighed:
- no more than once a month up to 6 months of age
- no more than once every 2 months from 6 to 12 months of age
- no more than once every 3 months over the age of 1
Your baby will usually only be weighed more often than this if there are concerns about their health or growth.
Your baby's length may also be measured at some of their developmental reviews.
Understanding your baby's weight chart
Your child's growth will be recorded on centile charts in their personal child health record (PCHR), or red book.
These charts show the pattern of growth healthy children usually follow, whether they're breastfed or formula fed, or having a mixture of both.
Visit the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website to see some examples of baby weight charts.
Boys and girls have different charts because boys tend to be a little heavier and taller, and their growth pattern is slightly different.
How to weigh your baby
Prior to weighing your baby, you should wipe down all of the equipment including the mat and scale with an antibacterial wipe.
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Undress your baby and remove their nappy. Dispose on this in the provided bin.
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Press the ‘start’ button on the scales and wait for 0.000 to show on the display.
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Place your baby onto the tray, try to keep them as still as possible. For an accurate weigh check your baby isn’t holding onto anything that could impact the weight showing on the scales.
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Briefly press the ‘hold’ button and take a note of the weight shown.
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Add this weight to your baby's Red Book, recording the date, your baby's age and weight.
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Once you have finished weighing your baby, please wipe all of the equipment with an antibacterial wipe and put all of your rubbish in the bin provided.
Recording your baby's weight
At the back of your Red Book you will find a table similar to the below to record your baby’s weight. You should complete this each time your baby is weighed and check your babies weight against the centile chart.
| Date | Age | Weight (kg) | Weight (lbs) | Other measurements | Name/Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add today's date | Your babies age | Weight in kilograms | Weight in pounds | You do not need to complete this box | Write 'self-weigh' |
Plotting your babies weight
- Find your baby’s weight and follow the line across to age
- Find your baby’s age in weeks/months and follow the line up to weight
- Mark in pencil with a dot
Remember the blue chart should be followed for boys and pink chart for girls.
For further guidance visit the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website [opens in new window].