Do you love watching your baby grow? We do too! Nothing compares to those little smiles, coos, and milestones, and we want to track them all.
But with so many different styles of baby scales — from mechanical scales to digital to scales that take readings while you bathe or change your baby — it can be hard to know which one you need.
We’ve tried them all, and we’ll explain the differences between them and who might benefit from each type of scale so you can find the best baby scale to meet your baby’s specific needs. We’ll also explain how to use your baby scale safely and give you some basic information about healthy baby weights.
We’ll review our five favorite baby scales, highlighting their pros and cons, to save you time and make your decision-making process much easier.
- Records a quarter of an ounce
- Free helpful companion app
- Easy to wipe down and clean
- Records weight, height, head circumference
- Remembers 15 weighings
- Super accurate weight readings
- Designed to work in water
- Tracks water temperature
- Safest baby bathtub and scale
- Measures within 0.5 ounces
- 10-year limited warranty
- Equipped with security lock
- Curved design cradles babies
- Backlit screen
- Auto turn off
The Best Baby Scale Reviews of 2024
These are our favorite baby scales.
Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad & Scale
Smartest Changing Pad Scale
Did you ever think a changing pad could be smart? We didn’t either. When we think of changing a baby, we’re usually thinking of a lot of body fluids we’d rather not deal with.
However, this smart pad changes the game. It looks like a simple, easy-to-clean changing pad, but it has an advanced digital scale that allows you to record your baby’s weight within a quarter of an ounce.
This is just the beginning! The real power of this baby scale comes when you download the free companion app. It allows you to record the weight on the scale, your baby’s feedings, how much breast milk you pump, when your baby sleeps, and more.
The app will even compile all the data into easy-to-read charts you can study to track your baby’s health and your own milk production.
As a bonus, you can take pictures daily to look back on how much your baby has grown.
The entire changing pad is made of ABS plastic, so you can wipe it down easily, and it weighs approximately seven and a half pounds.
These features are pretty fancy and may seem like a bit much. But if you’re the mom of a sick child or you struggle with producing enough milk, the in-depth statistics will give you some essential information and a little bit of peace.
Pros
- Digital scale can record within a quarter of an ounce, making it an excellent option for moms and babies in stressful situations.
- App allows you to record much more than weight, including sleep and diaper habits.
- Easy to wipe down and clean without damaging the scale.
Cons
- At almost 8 pounds, this changing pad isn’t very portable.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Ozeri All-in-One Baby & Toddler Scale
Measures Weight & Height
Beat your doctor at their own game with this three-in-one measuring scale. Not only does it measure your baby’s weight, but it also tracks their height and comes with a head circumference measuring tape.
All the features on this scale fit with the three pillars of measurement to help you understand exactly how your baby is growing. It has the most accurate reading of all the scales on this list, measuring weight within 0.1 ounces. The tare feature allows you to remove the weight of clothes or diapers.
Our favorite feature is the scale’s ability to remember and store the weight of up to eight children. It also calculates the difference between the last weight measurement and the one you are currently taking. The scale can store up to 15 weight measurements for each infant.
If you are a mom with multiples or are fostering babies, these features are perfect for helping you track how each precious baby in your home is growing. It is also an excellent option for midwives, lactation consultants, or other labor specialists working with a small group of moms.
Pros
- Allows you to record your baby’s weight, height, and head circumference.
- Stores 15 weighings for up to eight babies.
- Super accurate weight readings within 0.1 ounces.
Cons
- There are no comfort features to help your baby feel relaxed while being weighed.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Aquascale Bathtub Digital Scale
Relaxing for Baby’s Bathtime
The Aquascale allows you to weigh your baby during bath time. The digital scale works in water and adjusts to your baby’s movement and love of splashing.
You can see your baby’s accurate weight in pounds, ounces, or kilograms down to a single ounce. The scale even has a memory reading function to store your baby’s previous weight reading.
One thing that’s important when it comes to baby bathtubs is safety. Just because this bathtub has an awesome scale doesn’t make it a good choice for your child. Luckily, the creators of the Aquascale have prioritized making the safest baby bathtub they could.
The tub has anti-slip grips on the bottom to prevent your baby from sliding down into the water. It also converts from an infant tub to a toddler tub. Remove the side guards for your baby’s legs when they are ready for a little more freedom.
Our favorite feature is the built-in thermometer. It displays digitally on the LED screen in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. It automatically tracks and displays the changes in water temperature so you can ensure it is not too hot or cold.
You can also use the scale without water for quick measurement outside of bath time.
If you are a mom to a tiny baby, this tub could be a good option since you can get a lot of use out of the tub for a good two years.
Pros
- Works with or without water in the tub, so you can take a measurement anytime.
- Tracks water temperature for baby’s comfort and safety.
- Easily converts from an infant to a toddler tub.
Cons
- It is a bit bigger and bulky, so it may be hard to move around.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Health-o-Meter Grow With Me Scale
Easily Converts As Baby Grows
As your baby grows, this cute teddy bear scale can convert from a tray scale to a standing scale.
When your child is small, place them directly on the tray once it has been securely locked into the digital scale. When your child reaches the toddler stage, remove the tray and collapse the digital scale base. It collapses into an adorable teddy bear shape, so your toddler will love using it.
The scale provides accurate measurements within 0.5 ounces and displays the weight on the large 1.2-inch LED display. Once you convert it to a standing scale, it can hold up to 60 pounds.
The scale has a “Hold” button for times when your baby has a hard time keeping still. When pressed, the scale will calculate an average weight as your baby moves around.
The curved tray is popular for digital baby scales, and this one meets all the standards. What sets this scale apart from the rest is its innovative design to transform from one type of scale into another easily.
This transformative feature is good for mamas with multiple children who want to get more use out of their scale. We also like how it can help families on a budget get more out of a product a single child may outgrow quickly.
Pros
- Easily transforms from a tray scale to a standing scale.
- Hold feature allows you to get an average weight if your baby moves around.
- Adorable design.
Cons
- Your baby needs to be fairly still to get a truly accurate reading.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Smart Weigh Comfort Baby Scale
Easy to Use Scale
Weighing your baby doesn’t need to be a challenging task. This Smart Weight Comfort scale is easy to use. Place it on a hard, flat surface. Turn on the scale, and place your baby on the tray. The weight will display and flash. If your baby is moving, causing the weight to change, press the hold button to lock in your baby’s weight.
It has a 20-kilogram capacity, so you can use it for a long time. You can also switch to pounds if you’d rather use that measurement.
The scale also uses high-precision sensors to give you the most accurate results from home. We love that the curved platform makes it really easy to place your baby comfortably. It even has a backlit display so you can clearly see the readings no matter how dark the room is.
Parents love this scale as it helps them monitor their child’s growth and ensure they are developing well. If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, this is the one to choose. You can track and record your child’s weight from when they’re a newborn until they’re 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
You’ll also love that you can place a towel or blanket down. Put it down beforehand, and then turn the unit on, and it will read 0.00. Then place your baby on top so they are comfy as you weigh them.
Lastly, the unit turns off automatically, so you can walk away afterward without wasting power.
Pros
- Curved design cradles babies.
- Backlit screen.
- Auto shut-off feature.
- Measures in kilograms or pounds.
Cons
- Doesn’t work for weighted nursing sessions.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Reasons To Record Baby’s Weight
Isn’t it enough to take your baby to the doctor for regular check-ups? Do you really need to weigh your baby at home with a personal baby scale? We recommend it.
There are many benefits to knowing how much your baby weighs at any given time.
Here are three:
- Monitor overall health: You can make sure your baby is hitting their growth markers and is in a good percentile for their age.
- Track food intake: Weighing your little one after feedings can ensure they are getting enough food.
- Record milestones: The precious time with your tiny baby will go by fast. Never forget their milestones by recording their weight in a baby book.
Types of Baby Scales
There are many types of baby scales available. These five are the most common.
Mechanical Baby Scales
When you think of using a medical scale, you probably imagine a mechanical scale.
A mechanical scale uses a slider mechanism with springs to measure weight.
To use a mechanical scale, you slide the weight indicators on the top and the bottom of the balance bar until the mechanism on one end is perfectly centered inside the small metal square. You can then read the measurements.
While mechanical scales are accurate and good for subjects who move around a lot, such as squirming babies, they are large and cumbersome and are generally only used by professionals. So, if you’re working as a midwife or labor specialist, a portable mechanical baby scale may be right for you.
Digital Baby Scales
Digital baby scales reduce the work of mechanical scales. The baby’s weight is evenly distributed on the sensors inside, then processed electronically. A digital reading then appears on a small screen.
Digital scales are the preferred method for mamas who need to measure their little ones quickly. Most baby scales use a digital scale to measure your baby’s weight, but several have another distinguishing feature or function that sets them apart from a typical baby scale.
Aquascales
There is nothing cuter and more precious than bath time. Use your baby’s relaxed state to get an easy reading on their weight with an aquascale. Aquascales use a waterproof digital scale in a small baby bathtub.
One of the challenges of weighing babies is how squirmy they can be. To take accurate measurements on many scales, the subject needs to be still. A warm bedtime bath will help relax your baby long enough for the scale to measure their weight.
Safety First
Multipurpose Scales
Most moms favor baby products that can grow with their children because they get a lot of use out of them. That is one reason we like multi-purpose baby scales.
These scales come in many forms, but these are the two most common:
- Digital scales both mom and baby can use.
- Baby scales with different parts to hold larger toddlers.
We like these scales for moms with lots of children or those operating on a tighter budget.
How to Choose the Best Infant Scale
No matter what type of baby scale you decide to purchase, you want to be on the lookout for the following features:
Battery-operated
You don’t want to be fumbling with cords when weighing your baby, especially if you would like to move your scale around your home. Cords can also be dangerous for your little one if they grab onto them.
Tare Function
A tare is an allowance for extra weight. This means the scale can be calibrated to “ignore” the weight of other objects on the scale, such as a disposable diaper, clothes, or a toy your baby is holding. The tare function will allow you to get a truly accurate reading of your baby’s weight.
No-slip Grips
Many baby scales are designed to be placed on tables or counters. Make sure the baby scale you purchase has some sort of grip to prevent the scale and your baby from moving.
Easy-to-clean
You never know when an accident will happen. From diaper blowouts to spilled milk, you want a sturdy scale that you can easily wipe down. Avoid scales with a lot of nooks and crannies or fabric comfort pads you can’t wash easily.
Large Display
No matter the type of scale you get, you want to ensure you can read the displayed weight quickly and easily. If your baby moves around, or if you need to keep your baby under control, the display can change or time out.
Some little ones grow faster than others. Make sure your scale has a high max weight. I was surprised when my 22-week-old son maxed out the scale in the lactation room.
Editor's Note:
Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BCHow Often Should You Weigh Your Baby?
There is no right or wrong answer to how often you should weigh your baby. It all comes down to your specific circumstances.
For a healthy baby and a mom with relatively few feeding issues, we recommend checking on your baby’s weight once a month (1). Outside of this, weigh-ins are more for personal insight and recording.
However, there are a few circumstances that may require more weigh-ins, which is why at-home baby scales are so important.
You may want to check your baby weekly or even after each feeding in any of these circumstances:
- Your baby lost a lot of weight after birth and has not gained it back.
- You struggle to produce enough milk for your baby.
- Your baby has a hard time feeding or has a very low appetite.
Weighing your baby in these situations will help you determine if they are getting the nutrition they need.
A Word Of Caution
When to Be Concerned About Your Baby’s Weight
The World Health Organization has created a number of growth standards for ensuring your baby grows at a healthy pace (2). These standards are the ones used by most doctors and pediatric professionals. If you have ever heard of a percentile, that is where it comes from.
As the mother of a new baby, it is natural for you to be worried about how they grow. Whenever you have concerns about your child, bring them up with your doctor. Trust your mother’s intuition!
However, if your baby is fussy during feeding or if they consistently fail to put on weight, you may want to visit your doctor sooner rather than later. These symptoms could indicate an underlying health issue.
FAQs
Still wondering if a baby scale is right for you? Here are a couple of frequently asked questions about baby scales.
How Much Do Baby Scales Cost?
Baby scales come in multiple price ranges. Simple scales that only record weight will be cheaper, while scales with multiple functions and features will cost more.
Can I Rent a Baby Scale?
If you do not want to purchase a baby scale, you can often rent one through lactation consultations or midwives in the area. We suggest talking with other moms or your health care professionals to get in touch with one.
How Do I Use a Baby Scale?
Each baby scale is different and will have different operating instructions. For example, a scale you stand on while holding your baby will be completely different from a tray scale you place your baby on.
You will want to place a calm baby onto the scale so it can get an accurate measurement after you turn it on and ensure it is on the correct setting.
How Do I Calibrate a Baby Scale?
Your baby scale should come with calibration instructions. If you cannot find out how to do it, contact the customer service team for the company you purchased the scale from.
Calibration ensures the scale can measure accurately. Most scales use a calibration weight that is placed on the scale when it is in calibration mode.
Should I Weigh Baby Before or After Feeding?
For a general weight, it doesn’t matter. But if you’re tracking how much milk your baby is consuming, weigh before and after feeding to see the difference.
Can You Use Normal Scales to Weigh Your Baby?
Sure, in a pinch! Weigh yourself first, then weigh while holding your baby, and subtract your weight. Math: the unexpected parenting tool.
How Can I Check My Baby’s Weight At Home Without a Scale?
While not as precise, you could gauge weight based on how baby fits in clothes or how heavy they feel. But for specific health or growth concerns, always consult a pediatrician.
How Often Should a Baby Weighing Scale Be Calibrated?
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, but typically, every few months is good. We want accuracy when charting those baby gains!
What Is the Best Baby Scale for Accuracy?
Brands like Hatch Baby and Health o Meter are known for their precision and reliability. Your baby’s growth chart will thank you.
