Average Size Of Newborn

A newborn can also be called a baby or infant, which are terms used to address the offspring of human beings. The word ‘newborn’ can be used appropriately on babies belonging to the age range of 1 month to 12 months. However, other people also use this term loosely to describe children up to 3 years old. Aside from these contexts, it can also be used to describe babies who are just weeks, days or even hours after birth. In addition to these interesting facts, it is also quite interesting to find out the average size of newborns.

The Average Size of Newborns

On the average, the overall length of a newborn’s body is 14 inches to 20 inches or 35.6 centimeters to 50.8 centimeters. In terms of the average weight, a full-term newborn usually measures 7.5 pounds or 3.2 kilograms. However, newborns may still weigh somewhere between 5.5 pounds and 10 pounds or 2.7 kilograms and 4.6 kilograms. Premature babies can even be smaller. These measurements include full-term newborns, post-mature infants as well as premature infants.

Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details

If you are to look at the head of a newborn, it is not proportion to the size of its body because it is bigger. Likewise, the cranium is also big in relation to the size of the face. After birth, the genitals of a newborn become reddish and enlarged. Meanwhile, the scrotum is described as unusually large. Aside from these basic characteristics, the breasts are enlarged as well.

The newborn is connected to the mother with an umbilical cord, which is actually bluish-white. Once the baby is out, this part is cut, which will then darken, shrivel and dry out. After 3 weeks, this part will fall off spontaneously. Right after birth, a newborn can feel a variety of sensations right away. They enthusiastically respond to caressing, cuddling and soft stroking.

Newborns communicate instinctively by crying. This act may mean a number of different things including overstimulation, discomfort and hunger. Likewise, it may also indicate loneliness, wanting something as well as boredom. It is best to feed newborns via breastfeeding, which is highly recommended by health organizations all over the world.

Newborns are highly sensitive and very tender, which make them highly susceptible to different kinds of diseases. Sudden infant death syndrome, congenital malformation and dehydration are considered major causes of mortality amongst infants. Some of the important issues that parents need to learn include infant formula, immunization and bathing. Aside from these, it is also very important for them to know how to perform infant massage as well as treat diaper rash.