# Why is a baby's weight important to others? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141 "2003-01-12T15:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/21 "2003-01-14T00:44:26Z")
Yeah, grandkids. I have five. Too bad you have to go through your own children to get 'em, though. 😉 But, you get to spoil them. And there are _NO RULES_. You can even give them the wrong food so they get too fat. Plus, when they get way too spoiled and impossible to deal with, you get to give them back to mom and dad. And the kids love you for it! Hahahaha,heeheehee. Snicker. 'Scuse me, I gotta go blow my nose. My _own_ nose. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/22 "2003-01-14T00:54:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Yeah, grandkids. I have five. Too bad you have to go through your own children to get 'em, though. 😉 > But, you get to spoil them. And there are _NO RULES_. You can even give them the wrong food so they get too fat. Plus, when they get way too spoiled and impossible to deal with, you get to give them back to mom and dad. And the kids love you for it! > Hahahaha,heeheehee. Snicker. > 'Scuse me, I gotta go blow my nose. My _own_ nose. \*\* You forgot not having to change poopy diapers and not having to wake up at 3 am to feed the baby. I wanna be a grandparent! Robin ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/23 "2003-01-14T01:13:54Z")
No, I didn’t forget. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/24 "2003-01-14T01:31:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ski \* > \*\*Thanks for all the responses. But to clarify, my question is based on why the weight is almost always given out WITHOUT asking, at least in my experience. So it’s not me making idle conversation, or me trying to compare a baby to others. Instead, it always seems to be part of the birth announcement (verbal or otherwise) - “Billy Bob Jr. was born Thursday morning at 10:30 at weight 7 pounds 10 ounces.” Completely unsolicited. > \*\* I think they do that, because if they don’t people’s first question will _always_ be “how much does baby weigh?” It’s a vicious circle 😛 Telling people on the birth annoucement probably reduces the number of times they have to answer the question by 5-10% ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/25 "2003-01-14T15:31:14Z")
People may be interested for another reason - if you want to give a gift of clothing for a newborn, you need a reference for size. But mostly, it’s one of the few things one can ask about a baby and get a real answer. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141/26 "2003-01-14T17:39:37Z")
My dad weighed 14 lbs. at birth and was premature…back in 1929! Back to the subject. People just do it because it’s always been done (weight being so important back in olden times). Can you imagine introducing new employees to the office that way? “I’d like you all to meet Marion. 5’7” and 215 lbs. Whoo Boy! And this is Bob. 5’3" and 137 lbs. His little hands are perfect!" [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-babys-weight-important-to-others/148141.md?page=1)