"Baby weigh group- Ashfield Central Children's centre"

Thank you for sharing your view. I know as a parent of a young child it can feel comforting to check your child is gaining weight as expected however after the early days, your baby only needs to be weighed at the time of routine checks, as long as all is well. Many parents like to have their babies weighed more often than this. However, this is not always helpful, and can cause unnecessary worry. For example, if one week your baby was weighed just after a big feed but the next week they were weighed after a big nap and before a feed, this could make it look as if they had not gained weight. Weights measured over a longer time are more likely to show the true weight change. This is why it is recommended by the World Health Organisation and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, that babies should not be weighed more often than once a month from 2 weeks to 6 months of age, no more than every 2 months up to 1 year of age, and no more than every 3 months after that, unless there are special reasons. The time between weighing is longer for older babies because they are growing less quickly.

Your health visitor may suggest that your child is weighed more often than this if there are concerns about their health or growth. If this is the case the health visitor will arrange to see you at an appointment.

As part of ensuring the best use of resources in Nottinghamshire the child health clinics are changing so that access to health visitors will improve for those parents and children who require support or a review by providing an appointment. Self-weigh is an additional option that will be available locally in a Childrens Centre or other local community venue and will be made available for parents who are interested in the weight of their baby.

Health Visitors will continue to regularly see families who need a range of supportive interventions and those where there are concerns identified.

Please be assured we will continue to review our services and the impact any changes make on the wellbeing of the families we serve.

Kind regards

Karon