Final answer:
Parents should be concerned if their baby is growing too slowly or losing weight between doctor visits as this may indicate health issues or undernourishment. Conversely, a rapid weight increase may put the infant at risk for future obesity. Both low birth weight and excessive weight gain are potential health concerns that should be addressed with a healthcare provider.
Step-by-step explanation:
Parents should monitor their baby’s weight gain with the guidance of their healthcare provider. If a baby is growing too slowly or losing weight between doctor visits, it may indicate a health problem or undernourishment, potentially leading to permanent deficits in size if uncorrected. On the flip side, rapid weight increase can put an infant at higher risk of obesity and associated health issues, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A baby’s weight at birth and subsequent weight gain are important indicators of overall health. A full-term newborn typically weighs between 2.5 to 4.5 kg (5.5 to 10 lb). It is normal for newborns to lose a small amount of weight in the first week but they should then begin to gain weight steadily. Significant deviations from these patterns may call for medical attention.
Parents should also be conscious of the risks associated with low birth weight (< 2.5 kg, or 5.5 lb.), which can be a result of various factors including maternal undernutrition, intrauterine growth restriction, or preterm birth, and is related to a greater susceptibility to disease and developmental delays as the child grows.