Baby may hit growth spurt

By now your baby should be growing rapidly, gaining about one and a half to two pounds (0.4 to 0.9 kilograms) per month.

Your baby's length should increase by one to one and a half inches (2.5 to 4 centimeters) and head circumference (hat size) by about one half inch per month.

Although growth will slow down after the third month, your baby will still put on lots of "baby" fat over the next few months. This normal accumulation of "stored energy" usually melts away after babies become more mobile and active.

Size in the first few months of age does not predict final size. Most large newborns will end up being children of average height and weight, as will small newborns.

Growth charts and measurements

Plotting your baby's growth on a growth chart will help you to know that your baby is growing appropriately. Many clinics take growth measurements using the metric system. For help converting from metric measurements to the pounds and inches, see growth charts by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Soft spots

Your baby still has two soft spots on the head, one on the top of the head and one at the back. These areas are the junctions of the multiple bones that make up the skull. As the skull enlarges and grows, these "soft spots" gradually disappear. Normally, the soft spot in the back of the head closes by about four months. The soft spot at the top of the head may remain open for more than a year or may close during the first six months.