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The Benefits of Big Newborns

 There are many benefits to having a big baby, to start with there is the obvious fact that they are chunkier and don't feel as fragile as a smaller newborn, parents seem to handle a larger baby with much more confidence, not scared that they will somehow "break them", the sort of handling a baby likes!

Then there is the fact that big babies seem to be more efficient breastfeeders, it is quite common for a big baby to feed quickly and last for longer between feeds. Did you know though that there are actual medical benefits to having a heavier birthweight?

.....More Intelligent
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A recent study ofmore than 3000 children by Thomas Matte at the New York Academy of Medicine found that a 1kg increase in birth weight related to a 4.6 point increase in IQ in males and a 2.8 point increase in females. babies who are bigger at birth generally are more intelligent later in life. It found that the intelligence of a child at seven years of age is directly linked to his or her weight at birth. The researchers predicted that this is probably because heavier babies received more nutrition during important periods of brain development before they were born.

.......Health Benefits

Some studies have suggested that larger babies have less risk of heart disease in later life

.....More Alert Babies

A Dutch study published this year in the Journal of Developmental PsychoBiology found that there was a distinct positive correlation between birthweigt and newborn alertness


.....Better Temperaments

A Norwegian study conducted in 2007 found that the larger the baby at the birth the better their temperament up to around 6mths of age.


Have you had a big baby? what have you found the benefits to be? please email your stories to editor@bigbaby.org.uk - we woud love to feature them on this site!