When you’re a new parent, everyone seems to have a lot to say about your child’s weight – either the baby is too skinny, or they’re looking a bit chubby. Either way, the observation is usually followed with a comment:
Have you checked their weight recently?
Are you tired of questioning whether your child is right where they should be growth-wise? Then I say it's time for you to get a baby scale.
I'm here to help you pick the best digital baby scale for you and your little one!
How Often Should You Check Your Baby’s Weight?
Except for preemies, according to recorded birth weights, most newborns will weigh between 5.5 and 10 pounds at birth. Don’t worry; you’ll have it written down on paper along with the exact time of delivery.
However – and it’s crucial that you remember this – newborns do tend to lose around 5 to 10 percent of their weight shortly after birth. That shouldn’t worry you – it’s perfectly normal, and should sort itself out during the first few weeks of your baby’s life.
And while your baby will be weighed every time you bring her in for a doctor’s appointment, maybe you’d like to keep an eye on her progress, or have concerns about their growth – and a digital baby scale gives you the opportunity to do that in the comfort of your home.
I know comparing weights on a day to day basis might be tempting, but the truth is you’ll only become obsessed with it, and put yourself in an unnecessarily stressful situation. Here are some rough estimates you should take into account before you drive yourself crazy worrying about your baby’s weight:
Two Weeks To Six Months Of Age – Weighing your baby once a month is an excellent place to start.
Six Months To A Year – When your baby reaches six months of age, you can switch to weighing them once every two months.
Over 12 Months Of Age – After the first birthday, you can take a more casual approach, and weigh your baby every three months.
How To Pick The Best Digital Baby Scale – A Buying Guide For Parents
Here’s everything you need to consider before buying the best baby scale:
1. Maximum Weight Capacity
Before you buy a baby scale, one of the first things you should check is the maximum weight capacity. Keep in mind that most scales found on the market these days will have a maximum capacity of around 45 to 60 pounds.
Base your decision on how long you plan on using the scale – do you plan on weighing your little one during infancy alone, or will you continue to monitor their weight well into their toddlerhood, as well?
2. Accuracy Level
If you plan on recording continuous data and regularly checking your baby’s growth, it’s vital that the results you’re getting are consistent and accurate. That said, the scale’s accuracy level is another essential thing to factor in before making your decision.
Some will show results in 1-ounce increases, while others use 0.10-ounce increments. It’s all in how detailed you want the readings to be.
3. Weighing Tray
Trays may come in different shapes and sizes, and since your baby can’t choose for themselves, you’ll have to be the one to pick the most comfortable weighing tray for them. Of course, your little one might prefer those that resemble a cradle, but flat ones are a good option, too.
Just make sure it’s large enough for your baby to lie down comfortably.
4. Hold Button
You can’t expect your newborn to lie still while you weight them – and you can’t sit around waiting for them to fall asleep, either. With a little help from the hold button, though, you can get an accurate weight reading even if your little one keeps wiggling around on the tray.
5. Zero Function
The diapers, clothes, and blankets – and yes, even the tray – can all add a bit to your baby’s weight, skewing the picture of their actual progress. If you want to keep the results as accurate as possible, you might want to look into the zero function.
This handy feature will subtract all those extra ounces (and sometimes even pounds), leaving you with a precise reading of your little one’s weight.
6. Measurements And Units
Another thing you’ll have to check is if the scale measures in grams, ounces, or pounds, and if it gives you the option of changing these measuring units easily. Here’s the thing:
You may be comfortable with a particular unit, but your doctor might not be. And if you weigh your newborn due to medical reasons, it’s best to keep conversion and rough estimates out of the equation and pick a scale that supports several measuring units, instead.
7. Additional Features You Might Find Useful
Now, let’s take a look at some of the extras.
Removable Tray
As I said previously, you might want to monitor your baby’s weight once they grow into a toddler, too. That’s where the removable tray comes to play – and luckily for you, most scales do have this handy feature.
Smartphone Compatibility
The option of syncing the digital baby scale with an app on your smartphone through Wi-Fi might come in handy if you’re serious about keeping track of your baby’s development. It sure beats writing everything down on paper!
Soothing Music
Yes, some of the best digital baby scales do have the option of playing soothing music – or even „singing“ lullabies – to your little one to help them calm down, too.
Best Digital Baby Scale In 2018: Top 5 Recommendations And Reviews
1. Health O Meter Grow with Me 2-in-1 Baby to Toddler Scale – Grows With Your Child
Let’s start the round-up with a model that has all the essential features I’ve talked about – both the Hold and the Zero Out functions are there, as well as the option to switch between the units (lbs and kgs). The scale measures your baby’s weight in 0.5-ounce increments, which isn’t precise enough for medical environments, but it’s perfect for home use.
You can remove the weighing tray, revealing a teddy bear base so that toddlers will love it, too. The maximum capacity of the scale is 60 pounds, so you can expect it serve you for years to come.
Plus, it comes with a Healthy Growth Baby Book – a handy way to keep track of your baby’s progress.
However, it’s a bit hard to get an accurate reading if your baby is moving. The numbers keep jumping around with one to two ounces of fluctuations between them – and when you’re weighing a baby, that’s a lot!
Also, the LCD will die out or start showing complete nonsense instead of actual numbers long before the scale itself breaks, rendering it useless. I mean, what good is a scale if you can’t see the results?
Pros:
- Has a Hold button
- Measures in 0.5-ounce increments
- Shows weight in lbs or kg
- Has a Zero Out feature
- The tray is removable
- Has a capacity of 60 pounds
- Comes with a growth chartbook
Cons:
- The LCD isn’t durable
- Hard to get an accurate reading
2. Taylor Salter 914-WHLKR Baby Toddler Scale – Perfect For The First Few Years Of Your Child’s Life
This Taylor Salter scale is another model you can use throughout the first few years of your child’s life, thanks to two handy features:
First, the scale’s capacity is 44 pounds, and on average, kids don’t reach that weight until they’re four to five years old. Moreover, the tray is removable, and has a cute base your child will surely love!
The scale measures in 0.5-ounce increments and gives you the option of choosing between lbs and kgs.
And yes, the Hold feature is there for wiggly babies – even if your baby keeps moving around, the display will still show you the weight reading.
The Zero function, on the other hand, will ensure you get an accurate reading every time by subtracting the weight of blankets and diapers.
There’s only one thing I didn’t like – the buttons. They have a cheap feel to them, which was a shock given the fact that the scale doesn’t feel flimsy in general. More importantly, though, they tend to get stuck when you push them, so you have to dig them out yourself. It’s not a big deal, but it’s worth mentioning, nonetheless.
Pros:
- Measures in 0.5-ounce increments
- Weight capacity is 44 pounds
- Two available measuring units – lbs and kg
- Features the Zero function
- Has a Hold function for restless babies
- The tray is removable for weighing toddlers
Cons:
- The buttons feel cheap and tend to get stuck
3. Ozeri All-in-One Baby and Toddler Scale – Keep Track Of Everything
Here’s something a bit different – an all-in-one model for tracking your child’s overall growth and progress.
Not only does it serve as a scale, but it measures your child’s height, as well, which allows you to keep a close eye on their development. Furthermore, it will detect and display net changes between the weigh-ins, so you can see exactly how much your little one grew in a specific period. Amazing, right?
It’s insanely precise, too – measuring everything in 0.1-ounce increments, with the option of choosing between pounds and kilograms (as well as inches or centimeters), is pretty impressive for a digital baby scale.
The scale’s built-in memory allows you to save separate data for up to eight kids – and I know parents of quintuplets, for example, will find that useful.
And while it has a Hold button, if your baby is restless, you might be in for some trouble. The numbers will keep changing as long as your baby is moving, which will make it hard for you to figure out which reading you should take as the “real” one.
Pros:
- Measures both weight and height
- Shows net changes between the weigh-ins
- Measures in 0.1-ounce increments
- Adjustable units
- 55-pound capacity
- Features both Hold and Tare (Zero) buttons
- Separate memory for up to eight babies
- Includes measuring tape for head circumference
Cons:
- Doesn’t seem accurate with the baby moving
4. Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale – A Scale With A Premium Feel
Now, if you prefer a clean, modern look, and you like to surround yourself with lots of tech stuff, this Hatch Baby scale might be the perfect choice for you.
But here’s where things go from good to even better – it’s a two-in-one model, where the changing pad doubles as a scale. You can now change your baby’s clothes and weigh them at the same time. Bonus points for convenience!
The scale syncs with the Hatch Baby app you have installed on your smartphone and gives you some fantastic insight into your baby’s progress – from their weight, to how much milk they’re consuming during every breastfeeding session.
However, it costs up to two to three times more than any other model on this list! If you want the premium feel this scale will bring to every nursery, you should be ready to pay the premium price, though.
Oh, and one more thing – the only way for you to see your baby’s weight is to check it on your phone. Am I the only that feels like they took it a step too far with the whole „clean and modern design“ thing?
Pros:
- A changing pad and a scale
- Shows results in 0.25-ounce increments
- It syncs with the Hatch Baby app
- The foam upper is soft and comfortable
- Tracks how much your baby is consuming at every feeding
- Clean, modern design
Cons:
- It’s expensive
- The scale itself doesn’t show weight readings
5. iSnow-Med Multi-Function Digital Baby Scale – From Infancy To Adulthood
Lastly, here’s a scale that will make weight tracking a family ordeal – instead of just weighing your baby, you can now keep track of your post-pregnancy weight loss, too!
Thanks to the removable tray and an outstanding weight capacity of 220 pounds, this „baby scale" is suitable for adults, as well, so you know it will be able to keep up when your child enters toddlerhood – and beyond!
The backlit display will show you the results with a 0.35-ounce accuracy in one of the following three units – lbs, kg, or oz, depending on which one you find convenient. The scale has the Tare function, too, so it doesn’t take the diapers and clothes into account – your baby’s weight is the only thing that matters.
One thing you should know is that, even though the scale does have a Hold function, it doesn’t seem to work that well – or at all. Instead of giving you an average value, the display freezes, instead, leaving you to guess if that’s your baby’s actual weight or not. And with babies, it’s best to leave the guesswork out of the equation, don’t you think?
Pros:
- Has an accuracy of 0.35 ounces
- Shows results in lb, kg, and oz
- Features both Tare and Hold buttons
- The display is backlit
- Removable tray
- Has a weight capacity of 220 pounds
- Suitable for babies, toddlers, and adults
Cons:
- The Hold function doesn’t work
Final Verdict
At the beginning of this article, I promised you I would help you pick the best digital baby scale for your little one, and I intend to deliver on that promise. Given everything I’ve talked about today, the best baby scales for new parents seems to be the Ozeri All-in-One Baby and Toddler Scale.
Would you agree with me on that one? Leave a comment below, and help other parents reading this find their personal favorite, too!
Source: https://thingsnurseslike.com/best-digital-baby-scale/
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