Is a 5-month-old baby weighing 6kg considered malnourished?

06-05-2025

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The weight and height index for each age of children is a concern for all parents, these indices reflect the health and nutritional status of children. Many parents wonder how much a 5-month-old baby weighs to be considered malnourished?

1. Characteristics of a 5-month-old baby

A 5-month-old baby starts staring at their parents when eating and follows the action of bringing a spoon or fork to their mouth to chew. However, at this age, parents should not give their baby solid food because breast milk is still the essential source of nutrition for the baby, which ensures all the nutritional needs of the child.
5-month-old babies usually know how to turn over very easily, so parents often find it difficult to keep the baby lying on their back for the entire time the baby sleeps. However, it should be noted that parents should still put the baby to sleep on their back and swaddle the baby when sleeping until they can roll over proficiently (at this time, the blanket can cover the baby's face and lead them to suffocate when rolling over).
5-month-old babies usually sleep 2-3 naps during the day, the maximum awake time is from 2 to 2.5 hours; each nap usually lasts a maximum of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
5-month-old babies are very happy and comfortable, they can also lift their own heads. But there are also times when babies are very cranky when they are not feeling well, not happy, or don't know what they want. This is the time when the baby's personality is quite clearly defined.
5-month-old babies start making a lot of high-pitched screams, babbling, whispering or laughing frequently. Many 5-month-old babies are happiest in the morning, after being fully nourished and sleeping for a long time, so parents should take advantage of this time to talk and play with their children, they will always smile at their parents and enjoy watching their parents smile back.
When hearing their parents' voices, babies can turn and look into their parents' eyes and recognize familiar faces. When babies try to reach for objects out of reach, parents should not let them grab it too easily, challenges that make babies have to try to reach will make them move more, teaching them how to control their body to move as they want.

5-month-old babies can lift their own head

2. At what weight is a 5-month-old baby considered malnourished?

What is the standard weight for a 5-month-old baby? Is weighing 6,5kg good for a 5-month-old boy? Is a 5-month-old baby weighing 5-6 kg considered malnourished? In fact, there are various concerns for parents relating to their baby's weight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) height-weight standards published in 2007, the standard weight for a child is determined by gender and age. The standard weight for a 5-month-old boy is 7.5kg and for a 5-month-old girl is 6.9kg. A 5-month-old boy is considered underweight when weighing less than 6.1kg and while this number is 5.5kg for girls.
A 5-month-old boy weighing 6.5kg is below the standard weight for this age group for boys but not low enough to be considered malnourished, so a 5-month-old boy weighing 6.5kg is classified as a group of children at risk of malnutrition (weight of a 5-month-old boy below 6.7kg and a girl below 6.1kg is considered at risk of malnutrition).
In the case of a 5-month-old baby weighing 6kg, if it is a boy, the baby is classified as an malnourished group (because the weight is below 6.1kg), if it is a girl, the baby is currently in the group of children at risk of malnutrition (weight below 6.1kg) but not yet to the level of malnutrition in girls (weight below 5.5kg).
A 5-month-old baby weighing 5kg, whether a boy or a girl, is considered an malnourished baby. Parents should pay close attention to this to find out the cause of malnutrition in children and the most appropriate way to improve.
Another factor to note according to the World Health Organization is the child's height, a 5-month-old boy needs to have a height ranging from 61.9 - 65.9cm, for girls is 59.6 - 68.5cm.

A 5-month-old baby weighing 5kg is classified as an malnourished baby, regardless of their gender

3. Things parents need to pay attention to when caring for a 5-month-old baby

Because this is the vaccination period, if your baby missed any vaccinations in the fourth month, you should schedule a vaccination for your baby right away.
Parents do not need to be overly concerned about cleanliness in the house, as many studies have shown that a little dirt will stimulate the immune system to develop. However, this does not mean that the living environment does not meet hygiene requirements.
Parents need to be aware of toys that are advertised as "best", "most educational" for children because at this age, children only need parents, siblings or relatives around to make them happy. If possible, choose a few brightly colored toys that are safe for your baby. Pay attention to the items around where the baby sleeps to avoid covering the face and causing the baby to suffocate.
Some signs of a baby that need to be taken to the doctor:

A 5-month-old baby does not babble, is often silent: a sign of delayed language development;
The child only uses one hand;
The child does not respond to sound, does not turn their head towards the sound: hearing problems;
Poor grip;
The child does not recognize parents: slow cognitive development.

Parents should talk and play with their children to help them develop speaking and communication skills or take their children out to meet and interact with new people to develop awareness and social skills.
Practice having your baby lie on their stomach for 10-15 minutes each day under the observation of parents to strengthen arm, back, and neck muscles. Practice reaching for your baby by placing toys out of reach to help your baby improve hand-eye coordination.
Start reading books with vivid illustrations and colors to help your baby develop vision and communication skills. Make your baby listen to music to stimulate them to laugh, clap, and babble along to the lyrics.
In addition, to help children grow in height and weight according to the standard and above the standard, parents should supplement their children with products containing lysine, essential micronutrients such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to meet the full nutritional needs of the child. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, help children eat well, and develop comprehensively.
Frequently visit the Vinmec website and update useful information to take care of your baby and the whole family.

LaminKid I Health Supplement:
This product is formulated to supplement vitamins and minerals for the body. It supports digestion, enhances food absorption, and helps children eat well. It also supports the enhancement of the child's immunity, helping to reduce the risk of diseases caused by weak immunity such as upper respiratory tract infections and the common cold.
Target users:
Children with poor appetite, poor absorption, thinness, malnutrition, and slow development.
Children with weak immunity, who are sick or have just recovered from illness, and children who often suffer from upper respiratory tract infections and the common cold.
Responsible for product quality:
Elepharma Joint Stock Company
No. 9, Truong Cong Giai Street, Team 17, Dich Vong Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City, Vietnam