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Weight

Weight is used to make many important decisions about a child's nutritional status and clinical care plan. It is imperative that accurate weight measurements are made.

It is more important to have an accurate bi-annual weight than an inaccurate monthly weight. Children under the age of 2 years should be measured on a pan- or bucket seat-type scale.

1 Equipment:
Use a calibrated beam balance scale or digital scale with "strain gauge" mechanism that is accurate to 10 grams or 1/4 ounce. A clean cloth or pad is often used in the "bucket" of the scale. The scale should be calibrated before each use to reflect the weight of the cloth or pad.
 infant weight
2

Child and Positioning:
The infant's clothing and diaper should be removed and the infant centered on the scale. Take the measurement when the infant is lying quietly. Although it is possible to estimate an infant's weight by subtracting the weight of the parent alone from the weight of the parent holding the child, this is not recommended. The platform scale used for this type of measurement is typically accurate to 100 grams; weight changes less than 100 grams may be missed.
3 Measurement:
Measure the infant's weight to the nearest 10 grams or 1/4 ounce. Record any conditions that might have interfered with an accurate weight (e.g., infant was moving).

   
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