Improved pediatric weighing device for use with portable hanging scales
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Updated: Oct 16, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. myram@u.arizona.edu
Insights
A new weighing seat improves infant weighing procedures. This comfortable and secure device enhances child acceptance, reduces trauma, and simplifies the process for healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Medical Device Design
Background:
- Portable hanging scales are standard for weighing young children.
- Current methods using weighing trousers are uncomfortable and difficult to use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate a novel 'weighing seat' for pediatric weighing.
- To improve child comfort and cooperation during weighing procedures.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 'weighing seat' designed for natural, comfortable, and secure infant positioning.
- Qualitative assessment of the device's impact on child acceptance and procedural ease.
Main Results:
- The weighing seat provides a more natural and secure position for children.
- It significantly increases children's acceptance of the weighing process.
- The procedure becomes less traumatic for the child and easier for the examiner.
Conclusions:
- The weighing seat offers a superior alternative to traditional weighing trousers.
- This innovation enhances the pediatric weighing experience for both children and clinicians.
Abstract:
Portable hanging scales are a common means of weighing young children. Weighing trousers used to suspend children from a hanging scale are uncomfortable and require insertion of the child's legs through the trousers. The 'weighing seat' holds the child in a more natural, comfortable, and secure position, thus increasing the child's acceptance of the weighing procedure, and making the procedure less traumatic for the child and easier for the examiner.
