Measurement of accurate birth weights is essential for proper fluid management, drug dosing, growth assessment and categorisation of preterm infants. Weights measured on admission to neonatal units may include various items of attached equipment. These items have definite weights (table 1) which, if not taken into consideration, can result in a baby's recorded ‘birth weight’ being a significant overstimate of its actual birth weight. As an example, a baby of actual birth weight 982 g had an initially recorded weight on admission of 1060 g …