What is the average length of a newborn baby. How does baby length change during the first year. What factors influence a baby’s length at birth and growth rate. When should parents be concerned about their baby’s length.

Understanding Newborn Baby Length: Averages and Ranges

The length of a newborn baby is a crucial indicator of their overall health and development. Typically, newborns measure between 19 and 20 inches (48.2-50.8 centimeters) from the crown of their head to their heel. However, healthcare professionals consider a range of 18.5-20.9 inches (47-53 cm) to be within normal limits.

Is there a difference in length between male and female newborns? Indeed, male babies tend to be slightly longer than female babies on average. This subtle difference persists throughout infancy and childhood, reflecting the genetic and hormonal influences on growth patterns.

Average Newborn Lengths by Gender

• Male newborns: 19.69 inches (50 cm)
• Female newborns: 19.29 inches (49 cm)

Are these measurements absolute indicators of health? Not necessarily. It’s important to remember that these figures represent averages, and healthy babies can fall within a wider range of lengths. Individual factors such as genetics, maternal health during pregnancy, and gestational age all play roles in determining a newborn’s length.

Baby Growth Charts: Tracking Length Month by Month

Monitoring a baby’s growth is a key aspect of pediatric care. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides standardized growth charts based on data from infants in six countries, including the United States, who are raised in optimal growth environments. These charts serve as valuable tools for healthcare providers and parents alike.

How do babies typically grow during their first year? On average, infants increase their length by about 50% in the first 12 months of life. This rapid growth is most pronounced in the early months and gradually slows as the baby approaches their first birthday.

Average Baby Lengths by Month (Male and Female)

Does a baby’s birth length predict their future height? While birth length can provide some indication of future growth patterns, it’s not a definitive predictor of adult height. Many factors influence long-term growth, including genetics, nutrition, and overall health.

Factors Influencing Newborn Length and Growth Rate

A baby’s length at birth and subsequent growth rate are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and maternal factors. Understanding these determinants can help healthcare providers and parents better assess an infant’s growth trajectory.

Genetic Factors

How much do genetics impact a baby’s length? Genetic factors play a significant role in determining a baby’s length at birth and their growth pattern throughout childhood. Children often have similar height percentiles to their biological parents, although exceptions do occur.

Maternal Health and Pregnancy Factors

Can maternal health during pregnancy affect a baby’s length? Absolutely. Several maternal factors can influence fetal growth and, consequently, newborn length:

• Maternal nutrition
• Maternal anemia
• Gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Smoking or alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Proper prenatal care and a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can positively impact fetal growth and newborn length.

Gestational Age

Does gestational age affect newborn length? Indeed, the length of gestation plays a crucial role in determining a baby’s length at birth. Premature infants are often shorter than full-term babies, while post-term infants may be longer than average.

Measuring Baby Length: Techniques and Considerations

Accurately measuring a baby’s length is essential for tracking growth and identifying potential issues. However, it’s not always as straightforward as it might seem.

How do healthcare providers measure infant length? Until the age of two years, most doctors measure babies’ lengths while they are lying down, a measurement known as recumbent length. After age two, when children can stand steadily, height is measured in a standing position.

Are there challenges in measuring infant length? Yes, measuring an infant’s length can be tricky. Factors such as the baby’s movement, the skill of the person taking the measurement, and even the time of day can affect the results. Research has shown that length measurements during routine checkups are prone to errors.

What should parents do if they notice an unexpected change in their baby’s length? If there appears to be an unusual change in length from one visit to the next, it’s advisable to request a repeat measurement. This can help rule out measurement errors and ensure accurate tracking of the baby’s growth.

Understanding Growth Patterns and Percentiles

Growth patterns and percentiles are valuable tools for assessing a baby’s development over time. They provide context for individual measurements and help identify potential growth issues.

What do growth percentiles mean? Growth percentiles compare a baby’s length to that of other babies of the same age and gender. For example, if a baby is in the 50th percentile for length, it means they are longer than 50% of babies their age and shorter than the other 50%.

Is being in a low or high percentile cause for concern? Not necessarily. Healthy babies can fall anywhere on the growth chart. What’s more important is that they maintain a consistent growth pattern over time.

The 5th Percentile: A Threshold for Concern

When might a doctor be concerned about a baby’s length? Doctors often pay special attention to babies who fall below the 5th percentile in length. By 12 months of age, this corresponds to:

• Male infants: Below 28.5 inches
• Female infants: Below 27.5 inches

However, it’s crucial to remember that these thresholds are not definitive indicators of health problems. Many factors, including family history of growth patterns, need to be considered.

When to Seek Medical Advice About Baby’s Length

While variations in baby length are normal, there are situations where medical advice should be sought. Understanding these scenarios can help parents make informed decisions about their baby’s health.

When should parents consult a doctor about their baby’s length? Consider seeking medical advice if:

• Your baby’s length consistently falls below the 5th percentile or above the 95th percentile
• There’s a sudden change in your baby’s growth pattern
• Your baby’s length doesn’t seem proportionate to their weight
• You notice other signs of developmental delays or health issues alongside atypical length

Remember, a single measurement or percentile ranking doesn’t provide a complete picture of a baby’s health. Doctors consider multiple factors, including family history, overall health, and developmental milestones when assessing a baby’s growth.

The Relationship Between Baby Length and Adult Height

Many parents wonder if their baby’s length can predict their future adult height. While there is some correlation, the relationship is not as straightforward as one might think.

Can a baby’s length predict their adult height? While a baby’s length can provide some indication of future growth patterns, it’s not a definitive predictor of adult height. Many factors influence long-term growth, including genetics, nutrition, and overall health.

Do babies who are longer at birth always become taller adults? Not necessarily. A baby who will be a tall adult may actually have a shorter length at birth and in the first year or two of life. Conversely, a baby who is longer at birth may not necessarily become a tall adult.

Factors Influencing Adult Height

What determines a person’s ultimate adult height? Several factors play a role in determining adult height:

• Genetics: This is the most significant factor, accounting for about 80% of height variation
• Nutrition: Proper nutrition during childhood and adolescence is crucial for reaching one’s full height potential
• Health: Chronic illnesses or hormonal imbalances can affect growth
• Environmental factors: Exposure to certain toxins or extreme stress during childhood can impact growth

It’s important to note that growth patterns can vary widely among individuals. Some children may experience growth spurts later in childhood or during adolescence, while others may grow more steadily over time.

The Importance of Holistic Growth Assessment

While tracking a baby’s length is important, it’s crucial to remember that length alone doesn’t provide a complete picture of a baby’s health and development. A holistic approach to growth assessment is essential for understanding a baby’s overall well-being.

What other factors do doctors consider when assessing a baby’s growth? In addition to length, healthcare providers consider:

• Weight: A baby’s weight-for-length ratio is often more informative than length alone
• Head circumference: This measurement helps track brain growth
• Developmental milestones: Assessing a baby’s motor skills, social interactions, and cognitive development
• Overall health: Any medical conditions or recurring illnesses that might affect growth
• Feeding patterns: How much and how well a baby is eating

Why is a holistic approach important? By considering multiple factors, healthcare providers can better identify potential issues and provide appropriate care. For example, a baby who is shorter than average but meeting all developmental milestones and growing consistently may not need intervention, while a baby of average length who is not gaining weight appropriately may require further evaluation.

The Role of Parents in Monitoring Growth

How can parents contribute to monitoring their baby’s growth? Parents play a crucial role in tracking their baby’s development:

1. Attend regular check-ups: These visits allow for consistent monitoring of growth patterns
2. Keep a growth diary: Note significant changes or milestones between doctor visits
3. Observe feeding patterns: Pay attention to how much and how often your baby eats
4. Monitor developmental milestones: Be aware of when your baby reaches various physical and cognitive milestones
5. Communicate concerns: Don’t hesitate to discuss any worries with your healthcare provider

By actively participating in their baby’s growth monitoring, parents can help ensure that any potential issues are identified and addressed promptly.

What is the average baby length? Growth chart by month

The average length for a newborn is 19–20 inches (in) (48.2–50.8 centimeters [cm]) from the top of the head to the heel of the foot, but this can vary. Doctors also consider a range of 18.5–20.9 in (47–53 cm) to be typical.

Male babies are also slightly longer than female babies, on average.

Most newborn babies follow a predictable level of growth during their first year. People can track the length of their baby using average growth charts.

This article looks at the average baby length, month-by-month, for the first year of life. We also discuss what it means when a baby is shorter or longer than average and when to speak with a doctor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes standard infant growth charts according to the expected growth of children in six countries, including the United States, in optimal growth environments. This includes those who engage in breastfeeding.

It is important to note that most people use the terms “length” and “height” interchangeably. However, until the age of 2 years, most doctors will measure babies’ lengths lying down. In measurement terms, experts call this recumbent length. This is different from height, which doctors will measure after the age of 2 years when a child is able to stand.

In the first year of their lives, babies typically grow in length by 50%. According to the WHO’s growth charts, the average lengths for male babies and female babies by month are as follows:

Age	Male baby	Female baby
Birth	19.69 in (50 cm)	19.29 in (49 cm)
1 month	21.65 in (55 cm)	21.26 in (54 cm)
2 months	23.03 in (58.5 cm)	22.44 in (57 cm)
3 months	24.21 in (61.5 cm)	23.62 in (60 cm)
4 months	25.20 in (64 cm)	24.41 in (62 cm)
5 months	25.98 in (66 cm)	25. 20 in (64 cm)
6 months	26.77 in (68 cm)	25.48 in (66 cm)
7 months	27.17 in (69 cm)	26.38 in (67 cm)
8 months	27.95 in (71 cm)	27.17 in (69 cm)
9 months	28.35 in (72 cm)	27.56 in (70 cm)
10 months	28.74 in (73 cm)	28.15 in (71.5 cm)
11 months	29.33 in (74.5 cm)	28.74 in (73 cm)
12 months	29.92 in (76 cm)	29.13 in (74 cm)

It is important to note that the above numbers represent averages. Children can be healthy at a wide range of heights. No matter how long a baby is at birth, they are likely to grow at similar rates to other babies.

This means that if a baby is born longer than average, they are likely to stay this way during their first or second year of growth.

A baby’s growth in length during the first year almost always depends on their length at birth, unless they have significant issues, such as feeding difficulties or medical problems, that may cause insufficient length or weight gain.

For this reason, length alone does not reveal whether a baby is healthy. Weight is also an important consideration, especially since many newborns lose some weight after birth. Doctors will also look at factors, including gestational age and how much and how well a baby is eating.

Most healthy babies follow a similar growth pattern during the first year of life. After that, growth rates vary, and a baby’s length is not usually a good predictor of their height as an adult.

A parent or caregiver who takes their baby in for measuring should also know that an infant’s measured length can vary according to who is doing the measuring and how much the baby is moving around at the time. Research shows that length measurements during infant well checkups have the most measurement errors.

Therefore, if it seems there is an unexpected change in a baby’s length from one visit to the next, it can be due to differences in measuring. A person may wish to request another measurement during the visit or at the next one to rule out a legitimate issue.

Babies who are much smaller or larger than average in weight and length are more likely to experience health complications.

However, there is a wide variation in healthy birth weights, so parents and caregivers may not need to have concerns. A doctor will assess how closely they need to monitor a baby’s growth over time. Growth rates for length are fairly predictable among babies in the first year of life. Doctors are more interested in a baby’s overall growth pattern than their length.

A child who falls below the 5th percentile may have an atypical growth pattern. By the age of 12 months, having a length of 28.5 in as a male infant or 27.5 in for a female infant puts them below the fifth percentile.

However, this may not be apparent immediately. A baby who will be a tall adult may have a shorter length at birth and in the first year or two of life.

Numerous other factors may affect a child’s height, including:

• Genetics: Children are likely to be a similar height to their biological parents.
• The pregnancy: Research shows that factors, such as maternal anemia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or obesity, may impact a baby’s growth after birth.
• Nutrition: Following a nutritious diet supports healthy growth.
• Hormones: Some children with hormonal imbalances grow slowly or more quickly than their peers.
• Health: A baby whose growth slows down that they fall into a much lower length group or whose length is persistently at a lower level may have a health issue. Some children with certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, may be smaller than others.
• Medications: Some medications, such as steroids, including prednisone, may stunt growth.

People often do not see the effect of these issues on height in the first year of life.

During the first year of life, children should see their pediatrician at least seven times to monitor growth and overall health.

However, doctors’ recommendations may vary slightly. In general, a pediatrician will want to examine the baby at the following times in the first year:

• 3–5 days old
• 1 month old
• 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 9 months old
• 12 months

A healthcare professional may recommend more frequent visits for a baby who loses a lot of weight after birth or has an unusual growth pattern.

In the early weeks of life, it can be difficult for parents or caregivers to know how much to feed a newborn. If the baby loses weight after birth, there could be feelings of pressure to help them regain the weight as quickly as possible, especially if the infant was born prematurely or has other health risk factors.

However, the amount of food newborns eat affects their weight much more than their length in the early stages of life. Insufficient weight gain needs to be present for a long time in infants before it affects their length.

Insufficient growth in length by itself in the first year is very uncommon and would more likely be due to a genetic syndrome or other uncommon condition.

How much should breastfed babies eat?

Most breastfed newborns eat every 1–3 hours. Over time, the time between feedings may expand to 2–4 hours. People can feed the baby on demand by following the baby’s feeding cues.

Since a nursing person cannot measure how much milk they are giving the baby, they can gauge whether the baby is getting enough milk by looking at the frequency of nursing and diaper changes. These indicators include the following:

• The baby is nursing at least 8–12 times in 24 hours
• By day 2, the baby should have at least two wet diapers in 24 hours. By day days 3 and 4, at least three or more wet diapers, and by day 5, at least six or more wet diapers.
• By day 4, at least 3–5 bowel movements a day.
• The baby is gaining weight.

How much should formula-fed babies eat?

Formula-fed babies may eat less frequently than breastfed babies. After the first few days, people typically feed formula-fed babies with 1–2 ounces (oz) of milk per feeding, which may increase to 2–4 oz by the end of the first month.

Like breastfed newborns, formula-fed infants should eventually eat 8–12 times in 24 hours, including at night. This will continue until they are approximately 6 months old when the child is ready to begin eating solid foods.

Like adults, babies are unique — there is no right or ideal length. As long as the infant is growing normally and does not suddenly fall well below their previous growth percentile, they are usually fine.

Before the age of 2 years, doctors usually measure a baby’s length lying down. After the age of 2 years, when a child is able to stand, a doctor can begin to measure their standing height.

Caregivers should know that at this stage, doctors may switch from the WHO growth charts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) growth reference charts.

Since standing height measures slightly less than recumbent length, a child’s classification may change slightly at this point. The pediatrician can help parents and caregivers answer questions about length, growth, nutrition, and more.

What is the average baby length? Growth chart by month

The average length for a newborn is 19–20 inches (in) (48.2–50.8 centimeters [cm]) from the top of the head to the heel of the foot, but this can vary. Doctors also consider a range of 18.5–20.9 in (47–53 cm) to be typical.

Male babies are also slightly longer than female babies, on average.

Most newborn babies follow a predictable level of growth during their first year. People can track the length of their baby using average growth charts.

This article looks at the average baby length, month-by-month, for the first year of life. We also discuss what it means when a baby is shorter or longer than average and when to speak with a doctor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes standard infant growth charts according to the expected growth of children in six countries, including the United States, in optimal growth environments. This includes those who engage in breastfeeding.

It is important to note that most people use the terms “length” and “height” interchangeably. However, until the age of 2 years, most doctors will measure babies’ lengths lying down. In measurement terms, experts call this recumbent length. This is different from height, which doctors will measure after the age of 2 years when a child is able to stand.

In the first year of their lives, babies typically grow in length by 50%. According to the WHO’s growth charts, the average lengths for male babies and female babies by month are as follows:

Age	Male baby	Female baby
Birth	19.69 in (50 cm)	19.29 in (49 cm)
1 month	21.65 in (55 cm)	21.26 in (54 cm)
2 months	23.03 in (58.5 cm)	22.44 in (57 cm)
3 months	24.21 in (61. 5 cm)	23.62 in (60 cm)
4 months	25.20 in (64 cm)	24.41 in (62 cm)
5 months	25.98 in (66 cm)	25.20 in (64 cm)
6 months	26.77 in (68 cm)	25.48 in (66 cm)
7 months	27.17 in (69 cm)	26.38 in (67 cm)
8 months	27.95 in (71 cm)	27.17 in (69 cm)
9 months	28.35 in (72 cm)	27.56 in (70 cm)
10 months	28.74 in (73 cm)	28.15 in (71.5 cm)
11 months	29.33 in (74.5 cm)	28.74 in (73 cm)
12 months	29.92 in (76 cm)	29.13 in (74 cm)

It is important to note that the above numbers represent averages. Children can be healthy at a wide range of heights. No matter how long a baby is at birth, they are likely to grow at similar rates to other babies.

This means that if a baby is born longer than average, they are likely to stay this way during their first or second year of growth.

A baby’s growth in length during the first year almost always depends on their length at birth, unless they have significant issues, such as feeding difficulties or medical problems, that may cause insufficient length or weight gain.

For this reason, length alone does not reveal whether a baby is healthy. Weight is also an important consideration, especially since many newborns lose some weight after birth. Doctors will also look at factors, including gestational age and how much and how well a baby is eating.

Most healthy babies follow a similar growth pattern during the first year of life. After that, growth rates vary, and a baby’s length is not usually a good predictor of their height as an adult.

A parent or caregiver who takes their baby in for measuring should also know that an infant’s measured length can vary according to who is doing the measuring and how much the baby is moving around at the time. Research shows that length measurements during infant well checkups have the most measurement errors.

Therefore, if it seems there is an unexpected change in a baby’s length from one visit to the next, it can be due to differences in measuring. A person may wish to request another measurement during the visit or at the next one to rule out a legitimate issue.

Babies who are much smaller or larger than average in weight and length are more likely to experience health complications.

However, there is a wide variation in healthy birth weights, so parents and caregivers may not need to have concerns. A doctor will assess how closely they need to monitor a baby’s growth over time. Growth rates for length are fairly predictable among babies in the first year of life. Doctors are more interested in a baby’s overall growth pattern than their length.

A child who falls below the 5th percentile may have an atypical growth pattern. By the age of 12 months, having a length of 28.5 in as a male infant or 27.5 in for a female infant puts them below the fifth percentile.

However, this may not be apparent immediately. A baby who will be a tall adult may have a shorter length at birth and in the first year or two of life.

Numerous other factors may affect a child’s height, including:

• Genetics: Children are likely to be a similar height to their biological parents.
• The pregnancy: Research shows that factors, such as maternal anemia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or obesity, may impact a baby’s growth after birth.
• Nutrition: Following a nutritious diet supports healthy growth.
• Hormones: Some children with hormonal imbalances grow slowly or more quickly than their peers.
• Health: A baby whose growth slows down that they fall into a much lower length group or whose length is persistently at a lower level may have a health issue. Some children with certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, may be smaller than others.
• Medications: Some medications, such as steroids, including prednisone, may stunt growth.

People often do not see the effect of these issues on height in the first year of life.

During the first year of life, children should see their pediatrician at least seven times to monitor growth and overall health.

However, doctors’ recommendations may vary slightly. In general, a pediatrician will want to examine the baby at the following times in the first year:

• 3–5 days old
• 1 month old
• 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 9 months old
• 12 months

A healthcare professional may recommend more frequent visits for a baby who loses a lot of weight after birth or has an unusual growth pattern.

In the early weeks of life, it can be difficult for parents or caregivers to know how much to feed a newborn. If the baby loses weight after birth, there could be feelings of pressure to help them regain the weight as quickly as possible, especially if the infant was born prematurely or has other health risk factors.

However, the amount of food newborns eat affects their weight much more than their length in the early stages of life. Insufficient weight gain needs to be present for a long time in infants before it affects their length.

Insufficient growth in length by itself in the first year is very uncommon and would more likely be due to a genetic syndrome or other uncommon condition.

How much should breastfed babies eat?

Most breastfed newborns eat every 1–3 hours. Over time, the time between feedings may expand to 2–4 hours. People can feed the baby on demand by following the baby’s feeding cues.

Since a nursing person cannot measure how much milk they are giving the baby, they can gauge whether the baby is getting enough milk by looking at the frequency of nursing and diaper changes. These indicators include the following:

• The baby is nursing at least 8–12 times in 24 hours
• By day 2, the baby should have at least two wet diapers in 24 hours. By day days 3 and 4, at least three or more wet diapers, and by day 5, at least six or more wet diapers.
• By day 4, at least 3–5 bowel movements a day.
• The baby is gaining weight.

How much should formula-fed babies eat?

Formula-fed babies may eat less frequently than breastfed babies. After the first few days, people typically feed formula-fed babies with 1–2 ounces (oz) of milk per feeding, which may increase to 2–4 oz by the end of the first month.

Like breastfed newborns, formula-fed infants should eventually eat 8–12 times in 24 hours, including at night. This will continue until they are approximately 6 months old when the child is ready to begin eating solid foods.

Like adults, babies are unique — there is no right or ideal length. As long as the infant is growing normally and does not suddenly fall well below their previous growth percentile, they are usually fine.

Before the age of 2 years, doctors usually measure a baby’s length lying down. After the age of 2 years, when a child is able to stand, a doctor can begin to measure their standing height.

Caregivers should know that at this stage, doctors may switch from the WHO growth charts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) growth reference charts.

Since standing height measures slightly less than recumbent length, a child’s classification may change slightly at this point. The pediatrician can help parents and caregivers answer questions about length, growth, nutrition, and more.

What are the age norms for growth in boys and girls according to WHO data – Dobrobut Clinic

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Dobrobut Medical Library

Publication date: 2020-06-18

Growth rates in children – data from the World Health Organization

The physical development of a child is one of the main indicators that make it possible to determine its potential strength, early detection of various diseases that can subsequently disrupt the normal course of his life. This category includes several morphological characters, including growth. Doctors use tables of growth and weight standards for children to better assess this indicator.

Why a doctor measures and weighs a child

Anthropometric data indirectly show the influence of various internal and external factors on the development of a child, the state of his health. Thus, insufficient body weight gain indicates:

• inadequate nutrition in terms of quantity and quality,
• presence of rickets,
• anemia,
• immunodeficiency states,
• various endocrine diseases.

In case of stunting, a frequent diagnostic finding is a reduced production of somatotropic hormone, a substance that regulates the growth and development of the musculoskeletal system.

For such control, the World Health Organization in 2006 updated special tables indicating the age norms of growth, weight of boys and girls. They use not only clear numbers, but also the limits of the norm. This is due to the fact that many children are bottle-fed. Such babies gain weight and grow much faster than “naturalists” and it would be wrong to indicate the same numbers for these two groups.

Children grow unevenly. On average, the body length of a newborn born on time and without developmental pathologies is 48-51.8 cm for boys and 47.3-51 cm for girls. Subsequently, during the first year of life, children grow quite quickly, gaining an average of 25 cm. Later, the growth rate steadily falls. After a few years, a period of uniform growth begins, when the child adds 5-7 cm per year.

There are 1-2 jumps, during which the rate of increase in body length for 1-2 years increases dramatically. Experts attribute this to the onset of puberty. This is a normal process, if it is not accompanied by any signs of trouble in the body, a visit to the doctor is not required.

In terms of weight, the child also gains especially strongly in the first year. Starting from the second year of life, weight gain is slower, stabilizing by the age of 17-18. Everything that happens with body weight and height at an older age is associated with the characteristics of human life.

All readings outside of the limits below are considered a deviation. Each such case, the pediatrician must carefully study, identify the reasons for the deviation and take all measures to return the child’s health to normal.

What to do if a child is not growing well

It sometimes happens that despite proper and nutritious nutrition, good care and a healthy lifestyle, a child does not gain enough height or weight. First of all, parents should get rid of the subjective assessment. The site https://www.dobrobut.com/ recommends not to be nervous in advance, but to contact a pediatrician. He will compare the indicators obtained during the measurement with tables of norms for weight gain and height and assess the situation.

If it turns out that the child is really lagging behind in physical development, the pediatrician will have to study the history, find out everything about the daily routine and diet (you may need to consult a nutritionist), look at the child and prescribe certain diagnostic manipulations.

Late puberty is the most common cause of growth retardation. The child should be observed by a doctor until the hormonal processes start in full force. Endocrine growth retardation is also possible, then the endocrinologist will identify the lack of certain hormones and prescribe the appropriate treatment. In case of inadequate nutrition for age and level of physical activity, parents will receive recommendations on how to change the child’s diet. Finally, perhaps just a boy or girl is not destined to become tall due to hereditary characteristics (the parents themselves are short).

There are almost always reasons for stunting, and almost all of them can be eliminated. It is enough just to turn to a knowledgeable specialist in time.

Growth Standards for Boys

The following are detailed data in cm

Growth Standards for Girls

The data below shows the limits of normal growth for girls. The numbers are in centimeters

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Grow, grow, baby – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Important dimensions

Indeed, height, body weight, as well as the circumference of the head and chest are the main indicators by which the physical development of a newborn child is assessed. Small or, conversely, large weight, the ratio of the circumference of the head and chest, the height of the baby are not just dry numbers, they can be used to suggest or exclude some diseases of the newborn. That is why, as soon as the baby is born, it is immediately measured, weighed and entered into the medical record. Then, in the first year of life, the height, weight, circumference of the chest and head of the child should be measured once a month, since the baby is growing very rapidly at this time.

Term newborns are usually 46–56 cm tall. Boys are generally longer than girls, but if the parents are tall, a newborn girl may be significantly taller than the average newborn boy.

What happens to the growth of children in the first year of life? During this period, the child grows most intensively – by as much as 20–25 cm! In the future, such a significant increase in growth will no longer be.

After the first year, the growth rate decreases slightly: in the second year of life, the child grows by 8-12 cm, in the third – by 10 cm. After three years, it is considered normal if the child grows at least 4 cm per year.

It is known that the height of children increases unevenly, jumps. For example, there are seasonal and daily dynamics. Many parents notice that during the summer the child stretches more than at other times of the year. The first growth spurt usually occurs at the age of 4-5 years. The next usually falls on adolescence – the beginning of puberty. At this time, children grow very quickly – up to 8-10 cm per year and even more. Moreover, this happens in boys and girls, at different ages – girls “start” 1–2 years earlier, but then boys catch up with them and overtake them.

Interesting fact: those parts of the body that are farthest from the head grow faster (that is, the baby’s foot grows faster than the lower leg, and the lower leg, in turn, faster than the thigh), this is due to the age-related change in body proportions child.

What influences growth

How a child will gain weight and grow in length depends on hereditary data, on his nutrition and on the quality of life in general. If mom and dad are tall, then the height of their son or daughter will most likely also be the same. Moreover, boys usually grow up in the same way as their dad (or a relative in the male line – uncle, grandfather), and girls follow the scenario of the “female line” (mother, grandmother, aunt). So if the father of a child up to a certain age was the last or penultimate in physical education in the ranks of his peers, and as a teenager he grew sharply in one summer, then it is likely that his son will also have the same growth rates.

There are formulas that can calculate your child’s genetic height. However, , depending on some other factors, the height of the child may be more or less, differ from the calculated one up to 10 cm!

Girls = (father’s height in centimeters + mother’s height in centimeters)/2 – 6.5 cm. 5 see

And, of course, the quality of a child’s life is of great importance: if he grows up in good living conditions, often goes out into the fresh air (sunbaths are especially important), if they take care of him a lot, pay attention to health, then growth and an increase in weight will correspond to the norm for his age.

It has also been established that children grow up in their sleep. Growth hormone is released into the blood at night when the baby is fast asleep. Most of the hormone is produced between 22 and 24 hours, and only during deep sleep. So in order for the child to grow well, he must sleep at this particular time, and not just sleep – his sleep must already be deep. In addition, sleep should still be long enough: up to 12-14 years old, a child needs to sleep at least 10 hours, teenagers – at least 8.

The child’s growth must be closely monitored. There is such a condition as growth hormone deficiency (somatotropic insufficiency) – often this is a congenital disease. A child’s pituitary gland produces very little growth hormone (GH) from birth. A child is born with normal height and weight, and then begins to grow poorly: at 2 years old, instead of the average 80–85 cm, he has a height of 78–80 cm. By the age of five, this lag is more and more noticeable, and every year the child is more and more lags behind peers. If such a child is not treated, then as an adult he will have a small stature: men are less than 140 cm, women are less than 130 cm. he is growing well.

Record your baby’s growth about once a year at the same time. If a child grows 4 cm per year after 4 years, this is normal, but if less, then this is a cause for concern.

When getting the results of measuring your baby, you need to remember that all children are different, and it is not necessary for every baby to reach the average height by a certain age. It is necessary to take into account growth at birth, as well as the rate of increase of these indicators: for example, a newborn with a height of 48 cm can differ significantly in anthropometric indicators from a child born with a height of 55 cm and a weight of 4000 g. And this is completely normal – it’s good when there are diversity!

The norm for a newborn is :

height: from 46 to 56 cm

Increase in growth by months monthly (total 9–10. 5 cm)

3-6 months: 2.5 cm monthly (about 7.5 cm total)

6-9 months: 1.5-2 cm monthly (4.5-6 cm total)

9 -12 mo: 1 cm per month (total 3 cm)

Average height in 1 year:

height 75 cm

70% of growth hormone is produced between 22 and 24 hours, and only during deep sleep . It turns out that at this time a child of any age should not just sleep, but see the tenth dream – and deep. Therefore, in order to grow well, up to 12-14 years old you need to sleep at least 10 hours, teenagers – at least 8

Height may be affected by health problems. For example, chronic diseases of the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, hormonal disorders. Regular intake of drugs containing glucocorticosteroid hormones (for example, to relieve asthma attacks) also slows down growth.

How to influence the growth of a child

• In order for a child to grow, the body needs amino acids, which can only be obtained from complete protein. 60% of the protein food should be dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, meat – in general, animal products. They should not be very fatty, as fat inhibits the production of growth hormone.
• Carbohydrates provide energy for growth, but they must be obtained from cereals and grain dishes. Sweets, which do not contain fiber, slow down the production of growth hormone. Uncrushed cereals (buckwheat, millet, pearl barley, etc.), on the contrary, increase the synthesis of growth hormone.
• Vitamins and minerals are also important for growth. Especially vitamin D, the lack of which develops rickets.
• Don’t forget calcium and iodine. Calcium increases the volume and strength of bones, iodine is part of the thyroid hormones, which also affect growth.
• The general routine of the day is also important: the child should not be overloaded both physically and psychologically. He should walk a lot and sleep well.

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