In the first months, most newborns gain about 5–7 ounces per week (0.3–0.4 lb) after they regain birth weight.
New parents hear lots of numbers about baby growth, and weekly weight gain can be one of the trickiest. You’ll notice big changes in the first weeks, with a brief dip right after birth and steady climbs once feeding settles. So what counts as normal week-by-week progress, and when should you check in with your baby’s doctor? This guide keeps the math simple, gives practical signs to track at home, and shows how professionals measure growth.
How Many Pounds Do Newborns Gain Each Week: Realistic Ranges
Once a baby has regained birth weight, the usual pace in the early months lands near 5 to 7 ounces per week—roughly 0.3 to 0.4 pound. That range matches daily averages of about 20 to 30 grams. Some weeks sit on the lower end, and growth spurts can push the upper end. What matters is the trend across several checks, not one weigh-in.
| Age Window | Typical Weekly Gain | What You’ll Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to day 5 | Initial loss up to ~7–10% of birth weight | Sleepy feeds; colostrum; diaper counts rising |
| Day 5 to about 2 weeks | Steady recovery toward birth weight | Milk “comes in”; more swallowing; stools turn mustard-yellow |
| After birth weight is regained (weeks 2–12) | ~5–7 oz per week (0.3–0.4 lb) | Hungry periods and spurts around 7–10 days and 3–6 weeks |
| Months 4–6 | Gain often eases toward ~4–5 oz per week | Longer stretches between feeds; growing strength and activity |
Why The First Two Weeks Look Different
A small early drop is expected as extra fluid shifts; many babies lose no more than about one-tenth of birth weight. Most return to birth weight by 7 to 14 days. If a baby hasn’t regained by the two-week visit, the care team will review feeding, diaper counts, and a follow-up plan.
The Daily Math Behind Weekly Gain
Daily change of 20–30 grams lines up with 140–210 grams per week, which equals about 5–7 ounces. That’s why you’ll often hear one ounce per day during the first months. By the middle of the first year, daily gain often drops closer to 20 grams, so weekly totals ease a bit too.
Factors That Nudge Weight Gain
Every baby grows on their own curve. These are the most common reasons numbers vary from week to week.
Feeding Frequency And Transfer
Newborns thrive on responsive feeding. Most breastfed babies nurse about 8–12 times in 24 hours, with short gaps at night as weeks pass. If using formula, early feeds start small and build; by the end of the first month many babies take around 3–4 ounces per bottle on a regular rhythm. Latch, milk supply, and effective swallowing all shape what reaches the stomach.
Breastfeeding Clues
Active sucks, audible swallows, and a baby who settles after feeds point to good transfer. If nursing is painful or the latch slips, weight may lag. A visit with a lactation specialist and your pediatrician can make a swift difference.
Formula Feeding Benchmarks
By the first month, many formula-fed babies take 3–4 ounces per feed about every 3–4 hours, with daily intake near 24–32 ounces. Exact amounts still vary; steady gains and comfortable, cue-based feeds matter more than hitting a single number.
Baby Size And Gestation
Late preterm babies, smaller newborns, and babies with birth stresses may need closer follow-up. Some will gain in smaller but steady steps and catch up across the first months.
Growth Spurts You Can Expect
Common spurts arrive near 7–10 days and again around 3–6 weeks. You may see cluster feeding in the evening, a little fussing, and then a jump on the scale at the next check.
How To Tell If Weight Gain Is On Track
Weight is only one sign. Judge the whole picture over a few days.
- Diapers: In the first days, wet diapers rise from about two to three per day; after day four or five, expect at least five to six wets daily. Stools change from dark meconium to yellow, loose, and seedy by day four, then vary by baby.
- Behavior after feeds: A baby who feeds well usually relaxes, sleeps, and wakes ready to feed again.
- Steady curves: Plotted points on WHO/CDC growth charts show whether a baby tracks along a curve across many visits.
Want to see the standards your clinic uses? Review the WHO growth standards adopted for U.S. babies under two, and learn how teams plot weight, length, and head size together. For bottle volumes and timing, the AAP’s guide to formula amounts and schedules is a helpful reference for the first months.
Home Weighing Tips That Work
If you’re tracking between checkups, weigh at the same time of day, with a dry diaper or bare, and on the same scale. Record three readings and use the average. Day-to-day bumps happen; weekly or bi-weekly snapshots tell the real story.
Daily Feeding And Diaper Guide
Use these ballpark ranges with your baby’s cues and your clinician’s plan.
| Age Window | Feeds & Typical Intake | Wet/Dirty Diapers |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 days | Breast: 8–12 sessions; small volumes. Formula: 0.5–1 oz per feed | ~2–3 wets daily; meconium stools |
| 4–7 days | Breast: 8–12 sessions; milk in. Formula: 1–2 oz per feed | ≥5–6 wets; 3–4 yellow stools |
| 2–4 weeks | Breast: 8–12 sessions. Formula: 2–3 oz per feed | ≥6 wets; stools vary from several daily to every few days |
| 1–2 months | Breast: 7–9 sessions. Formula: 3–4 oz per feed | ≥6 wets; soft stools; patterns individualize |
When To Call Your Baby’s Doctor
Reach out promptly right away if any of these show up:
- Not back to birth weight by the end of the second week
- Fewer than five to six wet diapers daily after day five
- Stools that stay dark and tarry after day four, or hard stools
- Weak suck, sleepy feeds with few swallows, or feeds that take far longer than usual
- Fast breathing, poor color, repeated vomiting, or a fever in a baby under two months
Smart Ways To Help Steady Gain
Make The Most Of Each Feed
Offer both breasts, switch sides when swallows slow, and compress gently to help transfer. If using bottles, paced-bottle technique helps babies keep a calm rhythm and stops over-feeding.
Protect Night Feeds Early On
In the first weeks, many babies still need one or two overnight feeds. Long gaps can trim daily intake. Wake for feeds if naps stretch too long in the early days.
Team Up With Your Care Crew
Frequent weight checks and latch help can turn things around fast. If your baby needed phototherapy, had tongue-tie, or arrived a bit early, your plan may include extra follow-ups.
How Clinics Measure And Judge Weekly Gain
At visits, teams use calibrated infant scales, plot weight on sex-specific WHO charts for 0–24 months, and compare the slope over time. A weekly number that sits slightly below the 5–7 ounce range can still be fine if the curve tracks well and diapers and feeding look strong. A number above the range can be fine too, as long as feeds are comfortable and baby looks well. If a number worries you, ask for an in-office weight check and a feeding review the same week.
What To Remember
After a brief early dip, most newborns gain near 5–7 ounces each week across the first months. Feed responsively, watch diapers and behavior, and use growth curves as your compass. When something feels off, call your baby’s doctor and ask for a weight check and feeding help. Small tweaks often bring quick progress and calmer days.
Breastfed And Formula-Fed Patterns Over The First Months
Both paths can lead to healthy growth. Early on, breastfed and formula-fed babies gain at similar rates. Past month four, curves often split a bit, with breastfed babies easing their pace sooner while formula-fed babies hold a slightly faster clip. In the newborn span, the goal is steady gain, content feeds, and good diaper output no matter the feeding method you choose.
Trusted Benchmarks And Where They Come From
Weekly ranges in this guide reflect pediatric references that families see in clinic: daily gains near 20–30 grams in early months, return to birth weight by about two weeks, and growth plotted on WHO standards. You can also read the AAP’s note that birth weight is often not back until days 7–14, and that steady gains near the ounce-a-day mark are common early on. Those same references explain why your care team looks past any single weigh-in and reads the whole picture—feeding, diapers, behavior, and trends across visits.