Baby Scales
Kerri Stalton

Monitoring the weight of your baby after he leaves the hospital is important, and not just from the point of view of his health. It also gives you much-needed peace of mind. Babies usually lose a bit of weight immediately after they are born. Some babies tend to lose weight just after they reach home. This is because babies need time to adjust to their new atmosphere. Since weight fluctuations are one of the main indicators of the health of your baby, it is important to monitor your baby's weight between visits to the pediatrician.
The market basically holds three types of baby scales:
Mechanical,
Mechanical that shows a digital readout and
The all-digital type.
As one can guess, the sophisticated versions cost more. But, increased accuracy and ease of use are added benefits of the more costly models. While buying a scale, more important than the cost is the overall health of your baby. If your baby is healthy and active, you can monitor his weight in a mechanical scale that has 2oz. increments. But a delicate baby with health problems needs the accuracy of a digital model that weighs in ½ oz. increments or grams. In this case, don't be fooled into believing that a mechanical scale with a digital read-out will be more accurate. A mechanical scale is just that - mechanical; only the display looks more hi-fi. The all-digital model has a strain gauge mechanism inside, instead of springs. So, they are more accurate. Therefore, carefully consider your baby's health and consult with your physician before you buy the appropriate scale for your baby.
When buying a scale,
Find out if it will be stable when sitting on a flat surface.
Since you will need to put the baby in it, check for any pinch points or protruding areas that may hurt your baby.
Is the scale easy to clean? You will need to take out some of the parts to clean it. How easy is that?
How long can you use the scale? Most scales pass muster until your baby reaches 16-18 months.
Can your scale be converted to accommodate a toddler?

Additional features:
The more expensive types have a tare device that allows you to place a blanket on the scale. The scales will automatically deduct the weight of the blanket and give your baby's weight reading.
Another useful feature is the memory bank facility, which holds the last recorded weight of the baby. This is very useful when you want to evaluate your baby's progress.
Hold buttons enable you to capture the weight of the baby at the precise moment that he lays still. Thus errors are minimized.
Obviously, more features mean more electronic operations and therefore more detailed and complicated instructions. If you are not inclined to read through these, just go for the basic model. Finally, check the warranty of the product before you make a buy. There should at least be a warranty period of one year.
Are baby scales absolutely essential?
As mentioned earlier, if your baby has health problems and you have to note his weight regularly, a baby scale is a must. For normal healthy babies, baby scales are not a necessity.