What factors influence a newborn’s size at birth. How does premature birth affect a baby’s weight. When should parents be concerned about their newborn’s growth.

Average Newborn Size: What to Expect

Newborns typically arrive in a range of healthy sizes. Most infants born between 37 and 40 weeks of gestation weigh between 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) and 4,000 grams (8 pounds, 13 ounces). While babies outside this range are often perfectly healthy, they may receive additional monitoring from medical professionals to ensure their well-being.

Factors Influencing Newborn Size

Several factors can impact a baby’s size at birth:

• Gestational age
• Parental size
• Multiple births
• Birth order
• Gender
• Maternal health during pregnancy
• Nutrition during pregnancy
• Baby’s health

For instance, babies born closer to or after their due date tend to be larger than those born earlier. Parents’ physical characteristics can also play a role, with taller parents often having larger newborns.

Premature Babies: Size and Special Considerations

Premature babies, born before 37 weeks of gestation, are generally smaller and weigh less than full-term newborns. Their weight largely depends on how early they were born, as they missed crucial growing time in the womb.

Low Birth Weight Classifications

Preterm babies are often classified based on their birth weight:

• Low birth weight: less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces)
• Very low birth weight: less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces)

These babies typically require specialized medical attention and may spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) under the care of a neonatologist.

The Myth of “Bigger is Better”

While chubby babies were once considered the epitome of health, extremely large newborns may face their own set of medical challenges. Babies born significantly larger than average, especially to mothers with diabetes, might experience difficulties regulating blood sugar levels in their first few days of life.

Managing Blood Sugar in Large Newborns

To maintain stable blood sugar levels, these babies may require:

• Extra feedings
• Intravenous glucose administration

Normal Weight Loss in Newborns

It’s natural for newborns to lose some weight in their first few days of life. This weight loss is primarily due to the shedding of extra fluid they’re born with. A healthy newborn is expected to lose 7% to 10% of their birth weight but should regain it within the first two weeks after birth.

Typical Growth Patterns in the First Month

During their first month, most newborns experience the following growth patterns:

• Weight gain: approximately 30 grams (1 ounce) per day
• Height increase: about 2.54 to 3.81 centimeters (1 to 1½ inches)
• Rapid growth periods: at 7-10 days old, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks

When to Be Concerned About Newborn Growth

Parents may worry about their baby’s weight gain, especially in the early days. Concerns often arise about whether the baby has lost too much weight initially or isn’t consuming enough breast milk or formula.

Key Factors to Monitor

If you’re concerned about your baby’s growth, your doctor may inquire about:

• Feeding frequency
• Diaper output
• Sleep patterns
• General behavior

Breastfed babies typically feed about 8 or more times in a 24-hour period, while formula-fed babies may eat every 3 to 4 hours. If you’re experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding, a lactation consultant can provide valuable assistance to improve technique and comfort.

Tracking Your Newborn’s Growth

From the moment your baby is born, medical professionals will carefully monitor their growth. Regular check-ups will track your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference, as these measurements are crucial indicators of overall health.

Growth Charts: Understanding Your Baby’s Progress

Doctors use growth charts to compare your baby’s measurements to those of other children of the same age and gender. These charts help identify any potential growth concerns early on.

Growth percentiles are used to describe how your baby’s measurements compare to others:

• 50th percentile: average size
• Below 50th percentile: smaller than average
• Above 50th percentile: larger than average

It’s important to remember that percentiles are simply a comparison tool, and babies can be healthy at various percentiles.

Nutrition and Its Impact on Newborn Growth

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in a baby’s growth, both before and after birth. A balanced diet during pregnancy can significantly influence a newborn’s birth weight and subsequent growth patterns.

Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding

Both breastfeeding and formula feeding can provide adequate nutrition for newborns. However, each method has its own considerations:

• Breastfeeding: Offers tailored nutrition and immune benefits
• Formula feeding: Provides consistent nutrition and allows for easier tracking of intake

Regardless of the feeding method chosen, ensuring your baby receives proper nutrition is crucial for healthy growth and development.

Long-term Growth Patterns in Infants

While the first few weeks of life see rapid growth, infants continue to grow at a steady pace throughout their first year. Understanding these patterns can help parents and healthcare providers ensure that babies are developing appropriately.

Typical Growth Milestones in the First Year

Here are some general growth milestones to expect in the first year:

• By 4 months: Double birth weight
• By 6 months: Triple birth weight
• By 12 months: Triple birth weight and grow 10 inches in length

Keep in mind that these are averages, and individual babies may grow at different rates. Consistent growth along their own curve is more important than hitting specific numbers.

The Role of Genetics in Newborn Size and Growth

Genetic factors play a significant role in determining a baby’s size at birth and their subsequent growth patterns. While environmental factors like nutrition and health during pregnancy are crucial, a baby’s genetic makeup provides the blueprint for their growth potential.

How Genetics Influence Growth

Genetic factors can affect various aspects of a baby’s growth, including:

• Overall body size
• Body composition
• Rate of growth
• Timing of growth spurts

For example, if both parents are tall, their baby is more likely to be longer at birth and may continue to grow at a faster rate compared to peers with shorter parents.

Environmental Factors Affecting Newborn Growth

While genetics provide the foundation, various environmental factors can significantly impact a newborn’s growth. Understanding these factors can help parents and healthcare providers optimize conditions for healthy development.

Key Environmental Influences

Some important environmental factors that can affect newborn growth include:

• Maternal nutrition during pregnancy
• Exposure to toxins or harmful substances
• Maternal stress levels
• Socioeconomic factors
• Access to healthcare

For instance, maternal malnutrition or exposure to certain medications during pregnancy can lead to lower birth weights and potentially impact long-term growth patterns.

The Importance of Regular Check-ups

Regular pediatric check-ups are essential for monitoring your baby’s growth and development. These visits allow healthcare providers to track your baby’s progress, identify any potential issues early, and provide guidance on nutrition and care.

What to Expect During Check-ups

During these appointments, your pediatrician will typically:

• Measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference
• Plot these measurements on growth charts
• Assess developmental milestones
• Discuss feeding patterns and nutrition
• Address any concerns you may have

These regular check-ups provide valuable opportunities to ensure your baby is growing and developing as expected.

Supporting Healthy Newborn Growth at Home

While medical supervision is crucial, there are many ways parents can support their newborn’s healthy growth at home. Creating a nurturing environment and following best practices for infant care can contribute significantly to your baby’s development.

Tips for Promoting Healthy Growth

Consider the following strategies to support your newborn’s growth:

• Ensure proper nutrition through breastfeeding or formula feeding
• Practice responsive feeding, following your baby’s hunger and fullness cues
• Provide a safe and comfortable sleep environment
• Engage in skin-to-skin contact and bonding activities
• Stimulate your baby’s senses through age-appropriate play and interaction
• Maintain a consistent routine for feeding, sleeping, and playtime

Remember that every baby is unique, and growth patterns can vary. Consistently following your pediatrician’s advice and trusting your instincts as a parent are key to supporting your newborn’s healthy development.

Your Newborn’s Growth (for Parents)

From your baby’s first day, doctors will keep track of weight, length, and head size. Growth is a good indicator of general health. Babies who are growing well are generally healthy, while poor growth can be a sign of a problem.

How Big Are Newborns?

Newborns come in a range of healthy sizes. Most babies born between 37 and 40 weeks weigh somewhere between 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) and 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams).

Newborns who are lighter or heavier than the average baby are usually fine. But they might get extra attention from the doctors and nurses after delivery to make sure there are no problems.

Different things can affect a baby’s size at birth. The length of the pregnancy is important. Babies born around their due date or later tend to be larger than those born earlier.

Other factors include:

• Size of parents. Big and tall parents may have larger-than-average newborns; short and petite parents may have smaller-than-average newborns.
• Multiple births. If you have twins, triplets, or more, you can count on your babies being a bit small. Multiples have to share their growing space in the uterus, and they’re often born early, which leads to small size at birth.
• Birth order. First babies are sometimes smaller than brothers or sisters born later.
• Gender. Girls tend to be smaller, boys larger, but the differences are slight at birth.
• Mom’s health during pregnancy. Things that can lead to a lower birth weight include a mother with high blood pressure or heart problems; or one who used cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs during the pregnancy. If the mother has diabetes or is obese, the baby may have a higher birth weight.
• Nutrition during pregnancy. Good nutrition is vital for a baby’s growth — before and after birth. A poor diet during pregnancy can affect how much a newborn weighs and how the infant grows. Gaining a lot of weight can make a baby more likely to be born bigger than average.
• Baby’s health. Medical problems, including some birth defects and some infections during the pregnancy, can affect a child’s birth weight and later growth.

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What About Preemies?

Premature babies generally are smaller and weigh less than other newborns. A preemie’s weight will largely depend on how early he or she was born. The time an infant missed being in the womb was growing time, so the baby has to do that growing after birth.

Many pre-term babies are classified as having “low birth weight” or “very low birth weight.” In medical terms:

• Low birth weight means a baby weighs less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) at birth. That’s the case for about 1 in every 12 babies in the United States, so it’s quite common.
• Very low birth weight means a baby weighs less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams).

Most babies with low birth weight or very low birth weight were born prematurely.

Premature babies get special medical attention right away after they’re born. A specialist called a neonatologist may help care for them. Many preemies spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) while they get medical care.

Is Bigger Better?

A baby with chubby cheeks and dimpled thighs once was many people’s picture of a healthy newborn. But a baby born much larger than average may have special medical problems that need attention.

Some very large babies — especially those born to mothers with diabetes, including gestational diabetes — may have problems for a few days keeping blood sugar levels up. They might need extra feedings or even IV (given into a vein) 
glucoseto keep those levels from falling too low.

Will My Baby Lose Weight?

Yes, at first. Babies are born with some extra fluid, so it’s normal for them to drop a few ounces when they lose that fluid in the first few days of life. A healthy newborn is expected to lose 7% to 10% of the birth weight, but should regain that weight within the first 2 weeks or so after birth.

During their first month, most newborns gain weight at a rate of about 1 ounce (30 grams) per day. They generally grow in height about 1 to 1½ inches (2.54 to 3.81 centimeters) during the first month. Many newborns go through a period of rapid growth when they are 7 to 10 days old and again at 3 and 6 weeks.

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Should I Be Concerned?

Newborns are so small, and it can be hard to know if your baby is gaining weight the way he or she should. You may worry that your baby has lost too much weight in the first few days or isn’t taking enough breast milk or formula. If so, talk to your doctor, who may ask you about:

• How many feedings a day your baby gets. A breastfed baby may feed about 8 or more times in a 24-hour period; formula-fed babies usually eat less often, perhaps every 3 to 4 hours. A lactation (breastfeeding) counselor can make suggestions to increase comfort and improve technique, if a mom needs extra help.
• How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow after 3 or 4 sucks, and should seem satisfied when done. At this age, formula-fed babies may drink up to 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 milliliters) at a time.
• How often your baby pees. A breastfed baby may have only 1 or 2 wet diapers a day until the mother’s milk comes in. Expect about 6 wet diapers by 3 to 5 days of age for all babies. After that, babies should have at least 6 to 8 wet diapers a day.
• How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and what they’re like. Newborns may have only one poopy diaper a day at first. Poop is dark and tarry the first few days, then becomes soft or loose and greenish-yellow by about 3 to 4 days. Newborns usually have several poopy diapers a day if breastfed and fewer if formula-fed.

What Else Should I Know?

Being small or large at birth doesn’t mean a baby will be small or large later in childhood or as an adult. Plenty of tall teens began life as small babies, and the biggest baby in the family can grow up to be a petite adult.

By the time they’re adults, kids tend to resemble their parents in size. Genetics, as well as good nutrition and your attention, will play a large part in how your baby grows in the years to come.

Whether your baby starts out large, small, or average, in the next few months you can expect your little one to keep growing fast.

Reviewed by: Madhu Desiraju, MD

Date reviewed: October 2018

Average baby weight: Chart and development

Weight is one indicator of a baby’s physical development. Children develop at different paces, but growth charts can provide a guide to how much a baby should weigh, on average.

First, it is worth noting that average weight is not “normal” weight. Just like adults, babies come in all shapes and sizes. If a baby’s weight is in a lower percentile, this does not necessarily signal a problem with their growth or physical development. With this in mind, using a weight chart can help a person generally track their baby’s growth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using the World Health Organization (WHO) weight chart for babies up to 2 years of age.

This article describes the average weight of a baby month by month from birth. It also explores what can affect a baby’s weight.

According to the WHO, the average birth weight of a full-term male baby is 7 pounds (lb) 6 ounces (oz), or 3.3 kilograms (kg). The average birth weight of a full-term female is 7 lb 2 oz, or 3.2 kg.

The average weight of a baby born at 37–40 weeks ranges from 5 lb 8 oz to 8 lb 13 oz. This is 2.5 to 4 kg.

At delivery, experts consider a low birth weight to be less than 5 lb 8 oz, or 2.5 kg.

It is common for babies to lose around 10% of their weight shortly after birth. This decrease is mostly due to fluid loss and usually nothing to worry about. Most babies gain back this weight within 1 week.

Weight charts can help a person tell what percentile their baby’s weight falls into. For example, if their weight is in the 60th percentile, it means that 40% of babies of the same age and sex weigh more, and 60% of these babies weigh less.

This does not necessarily mean that any baby weighs too much or too little. It can simply indicate where a baby’s weight falls on a spectrum.

The chart below shows baby weights in the 50th percentile. This is the average weight. Male babies tend to weigh a little more than female babies, so the chart is divided by sex.

Baby age	Female 50th percentile weight	Male 50th percentile weight
Birth	7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg)	7 lb 6 oz (3.3 kg)
1 month	9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg)	9 lb 14 oz (4.5 kg)
2 months	11 lb 5 oz (5.1 kg)	12 lb 4 oz (5.6 kg)
3 months	12 lb 14 oz (5.8 kg)	14 lb 1 oz (6. 4 kg)
4 months	14 lb 3 oz (6.4 kg)	15 lb 7 oz (7.0 kg)
5 months	15 lb 3 oz (6.9 kg)	16 lb 9 oz (7.5 kg)
6 months	16 lb 1 oz (7.3 kg)	17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg)
7 months	16 lb 14 oz (7.6 kg)	18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg)
8 months	17 lb 8 oz (7.9 kg)	18 lb 15 oz (8.6 kg)
9 months	18 lb 2 oz (8.2 kg)	19 lb 10 oz (8.9 kg)
10 months	18 lb 11 oz (8.5 kg)	20 lb 3 oz (9.2 kg)
11 months	19 lb 4 oz (8.7 kg)	20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg)
12 months	19 lb 12 oz (8.9 kg)	21 lb 4 oz (9.6 kg)

Babies grow and gain weight the fastest within the first 6 months of life. Although this can vary, babies tend to gain around 4–7 oz, or 113–200 grams (g), per week in the first 4–6 months.

Weight gain then slows slightly, with an average gain of around 3–5 oz (about 85–140 g) per week when the baby is 6–18 months. On average, babies triple their birth weight by their first birthday.

Growth patterns do not follow a clear schedule, however.

Some babies gain weight steadily and stay in the same percentile, or close to it, for several months. Others gain weight rapidly, signalling a growth spurt, which can happen at any time. This may move a baby into a new weight percentile.

It is important not to focus on weight as the only indicator of physical development. Other measurements of this development include the baby’s length and head circumference.

Considering all three measurements gives doctors an idea about how the baby is growing, compared with other babies of the same age and sex.

Meanwhile, it is also important to keep other developmental milestones in mind. Various checklists of milestones by age are available, including one from Pathways.org, which is endorsed by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

For anyone looking for more information about what influences the weight of a baby, several factors can be involved, including:

Sex

Male newborns tend to be bigger than female newborns, and they typically gain weight a little faster during infancy.

Nutrition

Weight gain and growth rates can also depend on whether the baby consumes breast milk or formula.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that breastfed babies gain weight and grow faster than formula-fed babies during the first 6 months.

However, that rate can shift during the next 6 months. Breastfed babies may gain weight and grow more slowly than formula-fed babies when they are aged 6 months to 1 year.

Medical conditions

Underlying health issues can cause a baby to gain weight more slowly. For example, babies with congenital heart irregularities may gain weight at a slower rate than babies without this condition.

Health issues that affect nutrient absorption or digestion, such as celiac disease, may also lead to slow weight gain.

Prematurity

Babies born prematurely may grow and gain weight more slowly during their first year than babies born at full term.

However, many babies born prematurely gain weight rapidly and “catch up” by about their first birthday.

The average birth weight for full-term male babies is 7 lb 6 oz, or 3.3 kg. For female babies born full-term, the average birth weight is 7 lb 2 oz, or 3.2 kg.

Baby weight charts can help a healthcare team track a baby’s physical development by comparing the baby’s weight with the weights of others of the same age and sex.

Still, a doctor usually looks for steady growth, rather than a target percentile, when assessing a baby’s physical development. And even if a baby’s weight is in a lower percentile, they will not necessarily be a small adult — just as longer babies do not necessarily become tall adults.

Knowing about average weights by month can help people gauge their babies’ physical development, but doctors also look for other important indicators, such as length and head circumference.

Healthcare professionals also take into account whether a baby is generally hitting other milestones on time. And by taking a detailed medical history, they can rule out any medical conditions or nutritional considerations that may be preventing a baby from gaining weight appropriately.

Weight gain in newborns by months: norms and deviations

Height and weight are the main parameters by which the pediatrician evaluates the physical development of the child. The normal weight of a full-term newborn can be from 2600 to 4500 kg. Weight gain rates for breastfed and formula-fed babies differ. Statistically, formula-fed babies gain weight faster than their breastfed peers. The standards for boys and girls set by WHO also differ.

Table of weight gain in newborns by months

Child’s age, months	Boy, weight, g.	Boy, height, see	Girl, weight, g.	Girl, height, see
Newborn	3600	50	3400	49. 5
1 month	4 450	54.5	4 150	53.5
2 month	5 250	58	4 900	56.8
3 month	6050	61	5 500	59.3
4 month	6 700	63	6 150	61.5
5 month	7 300	65	6 650	63.4
6 month	7 900	67	7 200	65.3
7 month	8 400	68.7	7 700	66.9
8 month	8 850	70.3	8 100	68.4
9 month	9 250	71.7	8 500	70
10 month	9 650	73	8 850	71. 3
11 month	10,000	74.3	9 200	72.6
12 month	10 300	75.5	9 500	73.8

Minor discrepancies should not worry parents, however, significant deviations from the norm of height and weight signal the presence of problems in the body. The reasons for the deviation from the norm of weight and height are:

• energy imbalance: the child receives more or less calories than he needs;
• diseases associated with hormonal levels.

When artificial feeding, it is important to follow the instructions for preparing the formula and the feeding regimen. Some mothers try to feed their baby more satisfying formula, not suspecting that they are making a mistake. Yes, the child gains more weight, but his physical development slows down – the baby begins to walk later, his immunity weakens and allergic reactions appear. Insufficient weight gain is also unfavorable – a lack of body weight can become a symptom of pathologies. To avoid problems associated with physical development disorders, pediatricians advise parents to create comfortable conditions so that the child can independently hear the signals of hunger and satiety. Parents need to monitor the balance of the diet and follow the feeding regime, controlling the dynamics of growth and weight. The most practical solution for monitoring these indicators is the use of AGU smart scales for children (with a height meter), which automatically, using a convenient application, calculates whether all indicators are normal.

Norms of height and weight of children and adolescents

The physical development of a child as a combination of various indicators (length, weight, shape, strength, etc.) characterizing his growth and development is due to a complex of hereditary and social factors. To study the physical development of children and adolescents, a unified method for measuring the human body and its parts has been developed. All anthropometric indicators can be divided into two groups: basic (body length, body weight, chest and head circumference) and additional (other anthropometric indicators, for example, leg length, head height, etc.). Analysis of the main anthropometric indicators at the time of the examination makes it possible to assess the physical condition of the child, in dynamics – the pace of physical development. At the same time, the features of the physique, the state of the musculoskeletal system, the degree of puberty, etc. are taken into account. Physical development is analyzed by comparing individual or group indicators with average data (standards) characteristic of the corresponding age and gender of the child.

The value of indicators of a child’s physical development can be explained by a number of arguments. For many chronic diseases of childhood, there are no specific symptoms related to the early stage of the development of the disease, therefore, a violation of physical development is one of the first signs of trouble and serves as an indication for an in-depth examination of the child. Violations of the physical development of children and adolescents may be the result of malnutrition, lack of necessary care, improper or harsh treatment of the child, etc. Violations of physical development can cause constitutional features, congenital or hereditary pathology of the developmental apparatus. Such children have imperfect mechanisms of adaptation and anti-infective protection, for example, a lack of body weight in a child may be accompanied by a higher frequency of minor developmental anomalies. Any deviations of anthropometric parameters from the norm at the birth of a child can become one of the reasons for the decrease in immunological resistance, increasing the likelihood of a disease in the first year of life by half, and the probability of death by 4 times. All factors characterizing the growth and development of the child’s body can be divided into genetic and environmental factors. The influence of heredity affects the growth of the child after 2 years of life.

Hereditary factors mainly determine the rate and possible limit of a child’s growth under optimal environmental conditions.

The influence of environmental factors on the growth rate of the child’s body can be traced very clearly. Among these factors, nutrition and vitamin sufficiency, motor mode and emotional stress, acute and chronic diseases, the influence of climatic and geographical conditions, etc. are distinguished. At the same time, environmental factors can slow down or accelerate growth processes, but in general the growth trend is quite stable, it obeys the conservation law growth. A variety of adverse influences that disrupt the individual growth rate of a child can subsequently be neutralized by the phenomenon of “catch-up or compensatory growth.” What happens to the physical development of your baby from the moment of birth to its full maturity? We observe the growth and development of a child in the first year of life: How can we understand if he is healthy, is everything okay with him? Remember: the health of a child is judged primarily by its weight, height and head circumference. On average, a newborn’s body weight is 3. 0-3.5 kg, body length 50 cm, head circumference 35 cm. But do not expect your baby to necessarily meet this standard. Children are considered normal if their indicators are within the following limits: body weight 2.5-4.5 kg, length 45-55 cm, head circumference 33-37 cm. Immediately after birth, babies lose some weight, and then regain it and start adding. Further weight gain as well as height and head circumference are important indicators of your child’s condition. By the end of the 1st year of life, body length increases by 47% in relation to body length at birth.

Weight gain of a child in the first year of life: by 4-5 months, body weight doubles, by the 1st year it increases 3 times. The head circumference of a child in the first 6 months of life increases by approximately 1 cm per month, but if the father of the child is large and the mother is small, the growth rate of the head circumference may be above the norm, and in the opposite ratio – below the norm. The circumference of the chest of newborns is less than the circumference of the head, these dimensions are equalized only by the age of one. In the first month of life, the child must be weighed daily. Thus, you monitor the development of lactation and fix the daily weight gain. Body weight is the most sensitive indicator of a child’s health: whether he fell ill, whether his appetite worsened, whether his sleep was disturbed, whether you made any errors in care – all this will immediately be reflected in grams. A sign of nutritional adequacy is normotrophy – the correspondence of body weight due to a given body length of a child. If the weight of the baby has decreased by more than 10%, this is already a sign of malnutrition (malnutrition). Equally alarming is excess weight – parotrophy (excessive nutrition). But the increase in the growth of the child is a more stable indicator, and its violations often indicate the presence of the disease.

Assess the rate of development of your child in the first year of life, prescribe additional examinations in case of violations of the rate of weight gain, body length, head and chest circumference, correct nutrition, if necessary, a pediatrician will be able to, therefore the cooperation of parents is so important with a doctor from the very first year of a baby’s life.

It must be remembered that during the first month the pediatrician examines the child weekly, then, if the development of the baby corresponds to normal indicators, monthly. Assessment of the physical development of a child from one to 10 years. After your baby is one year old, he begins to grow by leaps and bounds. In the second year of life, he adds about 2.5-4.0 kg, and growth increases by 10-15 cm. At the age of 3 to 5 years, the baby adds 2 kg and 3 kg per year.

The head circumference of a child from 51 cm at the age of 5 increases to 53-54 cm at the age of 12. At 5-8 years old, the first traction occurs. But not all children grow in the same way – depending on a variety of factors, such as genetic ones. Children of undersized parents are usually smaller than their peers, but their puberty processes still occur on time. Faster growth than that of peers, with normal body proportions, is characteristic of children of tall parents. In some babies, the growth rate slows down from the second year of life, but after 2-3 years it accelerates again to normal. They have both growth and the onset of puberty delayed by a period during which growth was retarded, but final growth is in line with genetic potential. You must understand: the growth rate of the child should not correspond to any exact parameters, the criteria for “normality” are not at all rigid, but nevertheless, deviations in the growth rate of the child can also be pathological: for example, grossly out of proportion to age or accompanied by a violation of proportions body. Such cases require expert advice. It is also necessary to control body weight. As mentioned above, the lack and excess of body weight requires close monitoring of pediatricians, endocrinologists. In children with reduced body weight, there is a decrease in the immunological reactivity of the body, which leads to frequent colds. And excess everything is a risk factor for acquiring obesity in the future and all the serious diseases associated with it: atherosclerosis, heart disease, colon cancer, etc.

• Increase in the recommended amount of food;
• Quenching a child’s thirst with milk, sugary drinks or formula;
• Excessive (more than 50-100 ml per day) consumption of sweet fruit juices and nectars;
• Use of excess high-calorie foods – fat, sweets, baked cottage cheese;
• Calming the child with food;
• Familial overeating, which distorts the child’s development of a real sense of the need for food;
• Force-feeding, inculcating the habit of eating everything on the plate.

Your pediatrician and endocrinologist will be able to establish the correct diet, give recommendations on the daily diet. Please remember that in the second year of life, the pediatrician examines the child once a quarter, from the third year of life once every six months, in the fourth year and then once a year. Your child is between 10 and 15 years old. A uniform increase in the growth of preschoolers is replaced by its sharp acceleration in adolescence. At 10-13 years old (for girls) and at 12-15 years old (for boys) there is a second traction and at the same time an increase in body weight. The maximum growth rate in girls usually occurs at 12 years of age. The increase in height at this age is approximately 8 cm per year. The maximum increase in body weight in girls usually occurs later at 13 years of age. In boys, the maximum growth rate usually occurs at 14-15 years of age and is approximately 10 cm per year. The maximum increase in the body of a boy usually occurs with a maximum increase in height. The probable final height depends on the height of the parents. It can be calculated using the following formula: Boy’s height = 1/2 x (father’s height + mother’s height) + 6.5 cm Girl’s height = 1/2 x (father’s height + mother’s height) – 6.5 cm. Possible error must be taken into account – the final height can be 8.5 cm more or less.

Boys themselves and their parents are often concerned about the delay in growth acceleration, while girls, on the contrary, are worried about excessively rapid growth. However, you need to worry only if the child’s growth parameters differ significantly from the parameters indicated in special tables and graphs. In such a situation, it is necessary to contact an endocrinologist.

Remember – there are methods that can influence these processes. One of the most important features of the physical development of children and adolescents is the unevenness of changes in the growth rate. In children, the distal segments of the body grow at a faster rate and in a shorter time than the upper and proximal segments.