Newborn Measurements
Assessing a newborn's weight
A baby's birth weight is an important indicator of health. The average weight for full-term babies (born between 37 and 41 weeks gestation) is about 7 pounds (3.2 kg). In general, small babies and very large babies are more likely to have problems. Newborn babies may lose as much as 10% of their birth weight. This means that a baby weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces at birth might lose as much as 10 ounces in the first few days.
Your newborn will be weighed in the hospital and at all check-ups. In most cases, metric units are used to record babies' weight. This chart will help you convert the metric unit grams (g) to pounds (lb) and ounces (oz).
Converting grams to pounds and ounces
1 lb. = 453.59237 grams; 1 oz. = 28.349523 grams; 1000 grams = 1 kg.
|
Pounds
|
|
Ounces
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
0
|
907
|
1361
|
1814
|
2268
|
2722
|
3175
|
3629
|
4082
|
|
1
|
936
|
1389
|
1843
|
2296
|
2750
|
3203
|
3657
|
4111
|
|
2
|
964
|
1417
|
1871
|
2325
|
2778
|
3232
|
3685
|
4139
|
|
3
|
992
|
1446
|
1899
|
2353
|
2807
|
3260
|
3714
|
4167
|
|
4
|
1021
|
1474
|
1928
|
2381
|
2835
|
3289
|
3742
|
4196
|
|
5
|
1049
|
1503
|
1956
|
2410
|
2863
|
3317
|
3770
|
4224
|
|
6
|
1077
|
1531
|
1984
|
2438
|
2892
|
3345
|
3799
|
4252
|
|
7
|
1106
|
1559
|
2013
|
2466
|
2920
|
3374
|
3827
|
4281
|
|
8
|
1134
|
1588
|
2041
|
2495
|
2948
|
3402
|
3856
|
4309
|
|
9
|
1162
|
1616
|
2070
|
2523
|
2977
|
3430
|
3884
|
4337
|
|
10
|
1191
|
1644
|
2098
|
2551
|
3005
|
3459
|
3912
|
4366
|
|
11
|
1219
|
1673
|
2126
|
2580
|
3033
|
3487
|
3941
|
4394
|
|
12
|
1247
|
1701
|
2155
|
2608
|
3062
|
3515
|
3969
|
4423
|
|
13
|
1276
|
1729
|
2183
|
2637
|
3090
|
3544
|
3997
|
4451
|
|
14
|
1304
|
1758
|
2211
|
2665
|
3118
|
3572
|
4026
|
4479
|
|
15
|
1332
|
1786
|
2240
|
2693
|
3147
|
3600
|
4054
|
4508
|
What other measurements are taken of the newborn?
Like weight, length and head circumference help your baby's healthcare provider get an idea of their overall health. They may also be measured using metric units, with centimeters (cm) instead of inches (in). To convert inches to centimeters: 1 in = 2.54 cm.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Donna Freeborn PhD CNM FNP
Online Medical Reviewer:
Heather M Trevino BSN RNC
Online Medical Reviewer:
Liora C Adler MD
Date Last Reviewed:
3/1/2022
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.