Self weigh your baby

Scales for self weigh are now available in our Family Hubs and across Suffolk Libraries.

The guidance below will help with weighing your baby. This guidance can be used for most scales, however, some scales may be different so please follow the guidelines for the scales that you use at the self-weighing station.

Self-weighs are not staffed, so always supervise your baby. If you would like to see a member of the team you can attend one of our drop-in clinics. 

If your baby is 6 weeks old or younger, we do not recommend you use self-weigh. Please attend one of our drop-in clinics. If you have any concerns about your baby's weight or you would like to book an appointment with a clinician, please contact the Health Business Centre on 0345 607 8866.

How often to weigh your baby

Weighing your baby too often may cause unnecessary concern. The list below shows how often, as a maximum, babies should be weighed to monitor their growth. However, most children will not need to be weighed as often as this:

Weighing your baby

Step by Step guide:

• if your child is under 2 it is recommended your child is naked when weighed
• ensure you have washed your hands or used the hand gel provided
• before placing your baby on the changing mat, make sure it is clean
• undress your baby. Press the start button. Wait for 0.000 to appear on the display. The scale is then automatically set to zero and ready to use. If you are using a blanket, you can place this on first and reset the scales to zero by pressing the start button
• place your baby on the tray, ensuring that they lie as still as possible. If your baby can sit unaided, you can sit them on the scales. If not, please lay your baby on their back on the scales and ensure your baby is not holding onto anything which may affect the weight
• take a note of the weight. Take your baby off the scales and redress them
• turn to page 51 of your Red Book to record the date, your baby’s age and weight
• clean the mat and the scales with the wipes provided
• take any dirty nappy home with you
• wash your hands or use the hand gel provided.

Recording your baby’s weight in your Red Book

After you have weighed your baby, plot their weight in the Red Book. You can also record your baby’s weight in a table.

If your baby’s weight has:

• dropped, crossing 2 centile lines (the blue or pink curved lines on the weight chart) if the birth weight was between the 9^th and 91^st centile or
• fall across 1 or more centile spaces if the birth weight was below the 9^th centile or
• a fall across 3 or more centiles spaces if the birth weight was above the 91^st centile or
• when the current weight is below the 2^nd centile for age, whatever the birth weight or
• increase of 2 centiles or more

Please contact the Health Business Centre on 0345 6078 866 and they can review this with you.

Where to go for help

You can: 

• Call the Health Business Centre on 0345 6078 866 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, please wait for the answerphone and leave a message. The team will respond.
• Email us at childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk

Family Hubs / Children's Centre's where you can self weigh your child

Drop in to the following Family Hubs at the time indicated if you wish to weigh your child.

Suffolk Libraries where you can self weigh your child

Details of baby weighing facilities where you will be able to self weigh your child can be found on the Suffolk libraries website.