What is the expected weight gain for a 4-month-old infant?

For a 4-month-old infant, the expected weight gain is typically in the range of 1 to 2 pounds per month. During the first few months of life, infants experience rapid growth. Specifically, they typically double their birth weight by around four to six months of age. This means they should gain approximately 1 to 2 pounds each month during this initial growth phase, which reflects normal development patterns for infants.

The other ranges indicated in the options would not align with the typical growth patterns observed in infants. Gaining 2 to 3 pounds per month would be considered excessive and potentially indicate a growth issue or overfeeding. Similarly, much higher increments like 4 to 5 pounds per month would also be deemed abnormal. On the other hand, a weight gain of 0.5 to 1 pound per month would be below the expected range during this early developmental period when growth is most pronounced. Therefore, 1 to 2 pounds provides a more accurate reflection of healthy weight gain for a 4-month-old infant.