3. Weighing Infants: Alternative Approach

Occasionally, an infant is too active or too distressed for an accurate weight measurement. If the infant is too active, the measurement may be postponed until later in the clinic visit when the infant may be more comfortable with the setting.

An alternative measurement technique may be used if an electronic scale is available. Have the parent stand on the scale, reset (tare) the scale to zero, then have the parent hold the infant and read the infant’s weight. Remember that many adult scales generally only weigh to the nearest 100 gm.

			If infant is too active, postpone the measure until later
			Have parent stand on scale, tare, then read infant weight