Loretta Anderson IBCLC Lactation Consultant In Brisbane, Qld

Little Tweaks That Make A Huge Difference

  • Home
  • About
  • Free Consultation
  • Services
  • Blog

Baby Not Gaining Enough Weight? Start Here

Baby Not Gaining Enough Weight? Start Here
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Worried about your baby’s weight?

Good news: By finding the real reason your baby is slow to gain weight, you can resolve this issue in one week (or less!)

So –– no stress, OK? Here’s what you need to know.

A baby from 2 weeks to 5 months is expected to gain 150g per week. (If you’re concerned about weight loss under 2 weeks, read this blog post instead.)

About 60% of the mothers I see experience some weight issues. Mother’s come to me because their baby is NOT gaining those 150 grams a week. And it’s almost always for one of the following three reasons:

Reason #1: Baby Is Overtired

If Your baby is under 6 weeks old and is experiencing slow weight gain, see if any of these symptoms sound familiar:

  • Your baby breastfeeds for long periods of time, sometimes well over an hour;  
  • your baby will only sleep on you or your partner;
  • your baby is sleeping for long periods of time (over 6 hours more than once in 24 hours). 
  • Poo and wee are normal – ie wet each nappy change and soft, yellow poop 3+ times per day.

Any of these ring a bell? Your baby is probably overtired, and that’s why they’re not gaining weight. Here’s how you fix it: Slow Weight Gain With A Tired Baby

Reason #2: Baby Not Taking Enough Milk

The second possible reason for slow weight gain is that your baby is not taking enough milk.

Note: This has nothing to do with your milk production! It’s more to do with your baby’s latch and sucking skills. (Low milk supply is much less common.)

Here are some early signs:

  • Breastfeeding is hurting
  • Your baby is fussing and wanting to feed all the time
  • Your baby’s amount of poo is slowing down

If these symptoms ring a bell for you, there is a good chance your baby’s slow weight gain is due to latching issues. Jump over to my plan Slow Weight Gain – Baby Not Taking Enough Milk for all your answers!

Reason #3: Baby Born Prematurely  

Premature babies (born under 37 weeks gestation) often experience slower weight gain.

If your baby was born a preemie, click here: Slow Weight Gain With A Premature Baby

Other Reasons?

If none of these symptoms rings a bell, don’t worry!

Every baby is different. There are many other reasons why your baby might struggle to gain weight – and most of them a very easy-to-fix – especially if caught on early.

So if none of the three main reasons I mentioned applies to you, give me a call (or text me) at 0414 403 208 for a free consultation call.

I promise you – your baby will be back on track in no time!

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this

Disclaimer

All blogs on this website are provided to you in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.

The content on this website was created without considering your personal situation. It is presented for information purposes only.

You should get personalised advice from your qualified General Practitioner, Obstetrician, Paediatrician, and any other persons relevant to the specific problem you are experiencing before making a diagnosis or implementing advice!

As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I am happy to customise the information contained in this blog post to your own needs. 

Give me a call (or text me) at 0414 403 208, and I’ll help you figure it all out!

More information about free consultation options can be found by clicking here.

Filed Under: Emotions & Mindset, Expressing, Milk Supply Tagged With: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

About Me

Loretta Anderson, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and midwife.

If you are struggling with breastfeeding (or just feeling a bit overwhelmed) – don’t go at it alone. I'm here to help.

Call me now at 0414 403 208 and let’s figure it out together!

  View Other Services

Free Download!

The Ultimate Guide To Breastfeeding Success
  • ✓ 7 Simple Steps For A Perfect Latch
  • ✓ How To Create A Sleeping Routine From Week 1!
  • ✓ The Truth About Pacifiers 
  • ✓ Pumps – Which Should You Buy?
  • ✓ Everything You Need To Know About  Avoiding Blocked Ducts 
  • ✓ How To Naturally Prevent Nipple Damage And Breast Lumps
  • ✓ And More!

→ Download Now! 

Categories

  • Damage/Painful Nipples (2)
  • Damaged/Painful Nipples (3)
  • Emotions & Mindset (13)
  • Engorgement (4)
  • Expressing (11)
  • Latching (13)
  • Milk Supply (14)
  • Painful Nipples (1)
  • Sleep and settling (1)
  • Timing of Feeds (8)
  • Uncategorized (1)

What Other Mums Say

“Loretta was instrumental in making breastfeeding work for our family.

Thanks to her incredible support, breastfeeding is now just an easy and enjoyable part of our daily life!”

Anna Turnbull

“As first-time parents, we were completely overwhelmed.

All the advice we were getting from people around us only turned up the pressure… Then we met Loretta, and finally, everything felt much more relaxed!

She showed me the best position for baby Cooper and how to latch and get the best results from each feed.

She's incredibly motivating and was a total life-saver for us!

Loretta is amazing! I would absolutely recommend her services.”

Sally

“Half an hour after calling her, Loretta was at my front door with a calming smile.

The previous two weeks of bf had been an absolute nightmare and I was ready to give up. But after just two hours of Loretta's help and advice, we haven't had a single issue with breastfeeding since!

We are unbelievably grateful for Loretta's continuing support through text and calls. She is quick to help me with any queries at any time. We could not have come this far in our breastfeeding journey without her!

Thank you again Loretta!!”

Kate

“Loretta has been the best lactation consultant I have seen!

If I hadn't called upon her, I would have given up breastfeeding a long time ago.

With Loretta's help, I was able to resolve my milk supply problems, and exclusively breastfeed my baby until he was 14 months old!”

Leanne

“Loretta was the difference between throwing in the towel, and continuing to breastfeed!

Her warm and welcoming personality made a difficult time much better.

She custom-tailored all the information to OUR needs, and after she left, I felt empowered to continue on my breastfeeding journey…

And haven't looked back since!

I can't recommend Loretta highly enough!

If you are considering a lactation consultant Loretta should be at the top of your list!”

Lauren McKey

“I saw you once last year about recurrent clogged duct, and just wanted to say THANK YOU for the fantastic advice!

I've been able to clear all my lumps/clogs since then without it ever reaching full-blown pain stage again!

I really appreciated how you made me feel confident in breastfeeding my son Luke and trusting my instincts.

You are great at what you do!”

Jess Duncan

“I never expected breastfeeding to be so hard at first.

My son couldn't latch properly and I had significant pain while feeding. I knew I wanted to continue breastfeeding but didn't think I would be able to.

I had multiple people try to help me with no luck. Then, just one session with Loretta changed everything!

My son has been breastfed for 12 months now, and still going!!!

All thanks to Loretta's non-judgemental and supportive approach, combined with her knowledge and expertise!”

Gemma

“Loretta was instrumental in making breastfeeding work for our family.

Thanks to her incredible support, breastfeeding is now just an easy and enjoyable part of our daily life!”

Anna Turnbull

“As first-time parents, we were completely overwhelmed.

All the advice we were getting from people around us only turned up the pressure… Then we met Loretta, and finally, everything felt much more relaxed!

She showed me the best position for baby Cooper and how to latch and get the best results from each feed.

She's incredibly motivating and was a total life-saver for us!

Loretta is amazing! I would absolutely recommend her services.”

Sally

“Half an hour after calling her, Loretta was at my front door with a calming smile.

The previous two weeks of bf had been an absolute nightmare and I was ready to give up. But after just two hours of Loretta's help and advice, we haven't had a single issue with breastfeeding since!

We are unbelievably grateful for Loretta's continuing support through text and calls. She is quick to help me with any queries at any time. We could not have come this far in our breastfeeding journey without her!

Thank you again Loretta!!”

Kate

“Loretta has been the best lactation consultant I have seen!

If I hadn't called upon her, I would have given up breastfeeding a long time ago.

With Loretta's help, I was able to resolve my milk supply problems, and exclusively breastfeed my baby until he was 14 months old!”

Leanne

“Loretta was the difference between throwing in the towel, and continuing to breastfeed!

Her warm and welcoming personality made a difficult time much better.

She custom-tailored all the information to OUR needs, and after she left, I felt empowered to continue on my breastfeeding journey…

And haven't looked back since!

I can't recommend Loretta highly enough!

If you are considering a lactation consultant Loretta should be at the top of your list!”

Lauren McKey

“I saw you once last year about recurrent clogged duct, and just wanted to say THANK YOU for the fantastic advice!

I've been able to clear all my lumps/clogs since then without it ever reaching full-blown pain stage again!

I really appreciated how you made me feel confident in breastfeeding my son Luke and trusting my instincts.

You are great at what you do!”

Jess Duncan

“I never expected breastfeeding to be so hard at first.

My son couldn't latch properly and I had significant pain while feeding. I knew I wanted to continue breastfeeding but didn't think I would be able to.

I had multiple people try to help me with no luck. Then, just one session with Loretta changed everything!

My son has been breastfed for 12 months now, and still going!!!

All thanks to Loretta's non-judgemental and supportive approach, combined with her knowledge and expertise!”

Gemma

“Loretta was instrumental in making breastfeeding work for our family.

Thanks to her incredible support, breastfeeding is now just an easy and enjoyable part of our daily life!”

Anna Turnbull

Free Consultation!

If you are struggling with breastfeeding (or just feeling a bit overwhelmed) – don’t go at it alone. I’m here to help.

Call me now at 0414 403 208 and let’s figure it out together! (Prefer text? Message me on WhatsApp!)

Get In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • YouTube

Useful Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Call me now: 0414 403 208

Copyright © 2025 Loretta Anderson

Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Top