Child Stages: Height and Weight - Child Development

Height and Weight

Newborn to 1 month
Early on, babies gain a tremendous amount of weight — on average, half an ounce to 1 ounce a day, and 2 pounds per month!

As their bodies grow, so do their heads. The fact that the bones of the skull aren't yet fused together allows a baby's head circumference to increase by as much as an half an inch per month. If a baby's weight or head size does not seem to be increasing as expected, then he needs to be evaluated by his doctor.

3 to 6 months
The rule of thumb is that a baby doubles her birth weight by 4 months (and quadruples her birth weight by age 2).

Because they are growing, babies need more calories and nutrients per pound of body weight than adults. In general, there is no need to worry about a 3- to 6-month-old getting "fat" — and there's no indication that a chubby baby will become an overweight adult.

Your child's doctor will help follow your baby's growth to make sure that she is gaining weight appropriately, and your doctor will be able to address any questions or concerns you might have about feeding your 3- to 6-month-old.

6 to 9 months
Your child's doctor will continue to record your baby's height, weight, and head circumference on his growth chart at each well-baby check-up to make sure that he is following an expected pattern of growth.

Although individual variation is the rule, marked delays can signal a problem. Speak to your pediatrician if your baby is not gaining weight.

9 to 12 months
Your baby's doctor will continue to monitor your child's height, weight, and head circumference to make sure that she is following an expected pattern of growth. Be aware that somewhere between 9 and 12 months, it is normal for the rate of your child's growth to slow down.

12 to 18 months
By the time they reach 1 year of age, most children have tripled their birth weight and grown about 10 inches.

Your child's doctor will continue to follow her height and weight on a growth chart at each well-child check-up to make sure that she is following an expected pattern of growth. Be aware that a child's rate of growth tends to slow down in the second year of life.

2 years
While your child's growth rate will almost certainly be slower than it was in the first year or two, you're likely to notice more than a few physical changes — from the loss of remaining baby fat to longer limbs and a leaner, taller appearance.

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