Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999
Devon Public Health Nursing is working in partnership with Libraries Unlimited and has introduced self-weigh.
Most children will not need to be weighed frequently. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises on the frequency of weight monitoring to ensure monitoring of their growth as follows:
| Age | No more than |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks to 6 months | Once a month |
| 6 -12 months | Once every 2 months |
| Over 12 months | Once every 3 months |
The libraries and other selected locations working within this partnership have been equipped with scales provided by the Devon Public Health Nursing Team. These scales are calibrated every six months – this ensures the scales remain accurate and are safe to weigh your baby on.
If you are not using scales provided and maintained through the Public Health Nursing services at library locations, then we recommend that you check when the scales were last calibrated.
We would recommend that you only use scales that have been calibrated by the manufacturer or equivalent company in line with the scale manufacturer recommendations. Do not use scales that have not been calibrated by the manufacturer or equivalent company over the past twelve months, as these may give incorrect readings.
Each of our self-weigh stations is equipped with guidance on how to use the scales safely, together with when and how to access further support.
Video: How to weigh your baby using the self-weigh stations
Please note this is a parent-led facility and library staff are not involved in weighing babies or children.
Please visit our service finder to find a suitable self-weigh venue for you. Alternatively, you can download the Excel Spreadsheet and use the tabs at the bottom to select the area that is most suitable for you.
When to seek further support
Please seek further advice and support from your local public health nursing hub if your child’s weight:
- Has not increased
- Falls through 1 or more centiles
- Increases through 2 or more centiles
- Is now below 2nd centile
- Is now above 98th centile
You can also seek further advice if your child has a different weight chart or if you have any other concerns.
CENTILE – this refers to the curved lines on the growth charts in the red book. They indicate growth lines, comparing different ranges for the same age. Children are all shapes and sizes. Half of all children should be between the 25th–75th.
- Need help? Contact your local public health nursing hub for advice.
Have your say
Help us improve the local information on this website and give us feedback about any contacts you have had with our service by completing the Devon Public Health Nursing feedback form.
