Welcome to Koyo’s series of trusted healthcare articles. If you need more personalised advice, you can chat with a Koyo doctor today.
Written by: Favour Francis | Reviewed by: Dr. Ortega Ogomigo
INTRODUCTION
A mother’s joy is always to see that her child is growing in good health and strength.
So, imagine Amara’s concern when she realised that her baby wasn’t gaining weight the way other babies seemed to. At seven months old, after months of exclusive breastfeeding, her baby still weighed just 5.6kg, far below what she expected, even though she made sure to eat enough rich Nigerian meals to support her milk supply.
As the weeks passed, her concern slowly turned into worry. “Is my baby not getting enough milk?” “Is my baby sick?”
She had been told that babies grow at different paces, but both of her cousins who gave birth around the same time had chubby, active babies. It was becoming harder to ignore the difference she was seeing.
Eventually, her worry led her to speak to a doctor online, who explained what could be going on and what could be done about it. These insights are what this article will also walk you through.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why your breastfeeding baby may not be gaining enough weight
- What is considered normal weight gain at different baby stages
- Simple steps you can take to improve your baby’s weight gain
Why Your Breastfeeding Baby May Not Be Gaining Enough Weight
When a breastfed baby is not gaining weight as expected, it does not always mean something is seriously wrong. Doctors often notice that, in many cases, it comes down to how much milk the baby is actually getting.
Breastfeeding is not just about putting the baby on the breast; this is where many mothers get it wrong. It involves latch, milk transfer, feeding frequency, and the baby’s own ability to feed effectively. If any of these are not working well, weight gain can slow down.
Here are some of the most common reasons for poor weight gain in breastfed babies:
1. Poor latch or feeding position
If your baby is not latching properly, they may not be getting enough milk, even if they feed for a long time. Sometimes, your baby is sucking but not effectively removing milk from your breast.
2. Not feeding often enough
Newborns and young infants need to be fed as frequently as possible. If breastfeeding times are spaced too far apart, your baby may not be getting enough overall milk for growth.
3. Low milk intake (Not always low milk supply)
In some cases, you may be producing enough milk yourself, but your baby is not transferring it well. This can happen when your baby is sleepy, has a weak suck, or is improperly positioned.
4. Short or ineffective feeds
Some mothers pull their babies off their breast too quickly without allowing them to feed long enough to get the richer, calorie-dense milk that comes later in a feeding session.
5. Tongue tie or oral issues
Conditions like tongue tie can make it harder for your baby to suck properly, which can affect how much milk they get during each feed.
6. Medical or health-related conditions
In rare cases, underlying health issues such as infections, reflux, or metabolic conditions can affect weight gain. These usually come with other signs, not just slow growth.
What Is Considered Normal Weight Gain at Different Infant Stages?
Clinically speaking, infant growth doesn’t look the same for every child. Some babies grow quickly in the first few months, while others can grow much more slowly. What matters most is consistent growth over time.
In the first 12 months, a baby’s growth is usually tracked using weight, length (height), and head size. These measurements help doctors understand if the baby is developing well.
To understand if your breastfed baby is gaining well, it helps to know what is generally expected at different stages:
0 – 3 months
This is usually the fastest growth period.
- Babies typically gain about 150g–170g per week
- Many babies will also grow in length noticeably during this stage
- Most babies regain their birth weight within 10–14 days after delivery
3 – 6 months
Around this age, growth begins to slow down a bit, but should still be steady.
- Average weight gain is about 100g–150g per week
- Babies become more alert and active, which can sometimes make feeding feel more “distracted”.
6 – 12 months
This is when weight gain naturally slows further.
- Average gain is about 50g–100g per week
- Growth becomes more gradual as babies start sitting, crawling, and becoming more active
Important to understand:
Your baby does not need to be “chubby” to be healthy. What matters more is:
- They are steadily gaining weight over time
- They have enough wet diapers in a day
- Your baby feeds well and doesn’t always seem too weak or too sleepy
- Your baby is growing and doing things expected for their age (like smiling, sitting, or trying to move around)
However, if your baby’s weight is consistently below expected patterns, like in Amara’s case, it may be a sign that feeding or absorption needs to be checked, and you may have to consult a doctor.
Simple Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Baby’s Weight Gain
If your baby is not gaining weight as expected, small changes in how and when they feed can make a big difference. The goal is to help your baby feed more effectively and more often.
1. Feed more often, based on your baby’s cues
Instead of waiting a while before the next feeding time, watch for early hunger signs from your baby, such as turning the head, sucking on hands, or mouth movements. These are better signals than crying, which usually means your baby is already very hungry or unsettled. Frequent feeding helps improve milk intake. Doctors encourage mothers to feed their newborns and young infants often, sometimes about 8 to 12 times a day. This helps ensure they are getting enough milk for steady growth.
2. Make sure the latch is effective
Even if your baby feeds often, if they don’t latch properly, it can still lead to low milk intake. Make sure your baby takes in a good portion of the areola, not just the nipple, for effective feeding.
3. Keep your baby active during feeds
Sometimes, during feeding, your baby might get sleepy, which could lead to them not feeding well. Gently waking them during feeds, by changing position or lightly touching their feet, can help them stay active enough to suck properly.
5. Use skin-to-skin contact
Holding your baby directly on your chest (skin-to-skin) can encourage more frequent feeding and help your body respond better with milk production. It also helps your baby stay calm and more alert for feeds.
7. Observe and track patterns
It can help to notice when your baby feeds, how they feed, and how often. This makes it easier to understand their feeding pattern and spot anything unusual if weight gain remains slow.
8. Seek help early if nothing improves
If you’ve made all these adjustments and there is still little or no improvement in weight gain, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional or lactation support specialist.
From the Desk of Koyo Doctors
Many of the consultations we receive are from mothers who are worried about their baby’s development, especially when it doesn’t seem like their child is growing as expected. In the case of weight gain, the concern is understandable, but it doesn’t always mean something is seriously wrong. Sometimes, it comes down to feeding patterns or how often the baby is feeding.
We also see that comparison plays a big role. It’s easy to look at other babies of friends and relatives and feel like something is off. But babies grow differently, and not every healthy baby looks the same.
That said, it’s always better to be sure. When a mother comes in with this concern, we look at the baby’s growth over time, observe feeding if needed, and check for anything that might be affecting weight gain. In many cases, with a few adjustments and the right guidance, things improve.
If you’re worried about your breastfeeding baby’s weight, don’t ignore it, but don’t panic either. Just make sure to consult a doctor.
