It is the best feeling for every parent to watch their children grow. At the same time, many parents are not aware of the height and weight of the child according to the age. This is a serious topic, as it is related to the physical development of the child. Therefore, every parent should have information related to this topic. This is the reason why in this article of MomJunction, we are telling the height and weight of a child from birth to one year. Also, answers to many serious questions related to this topic have been given in this article. So, do read this article till the end.
It is necessary to measure the weight and height of children in between
Dieticians tell that it is the responsibility of the parents to check the weight and height of the children in between. It should be started from home itself. You can measure the height of children at home. It is a normal process for children to gain age and weight as they grow. If the height of the children does not increase according to their age, then understand that there is a shortage somewhere. For this you should take medical advice.
First of all, let’s get information about the weight and height of the girls.
What should be the weight and height of girls ?
From birth to 24.5 months, the weight and height of girls should be, we are telling this (75 percentile) through the table :
Baby Girl Growth Chart
| Month | Weight ( Kilograms ) | Height ( centimeters ) |
| at the time of birth | 3.5 kg | 51.0 cm |
| up to 0.5 months | 4.1 kg | 53.3 cm |
| up to 1.5 months | 4.9 kg | 56.9 cm |
| up to 2.5 months | 5.6 kg | 59.7 cm |
| up to 3.5 months | 6.3 kg | 62.1 cm |
| up to 4.5 months | 6.9 kg | 64.2 cm |
| up to 5.5 months | 7.5 kg | 66.1 cm |
| up to 6.5 months | 8.0 kg | 67.8 cm |
| up to 7.5 months | 8.5 kg | 69.4 cm |
| up to 8.5 months | 8.9 kg | 71.0 cm |
| up to 9.5 months | 9.3 kg | 72.4 cm |
| up to 10.5 months | 9.7 kg | 73.8 cm |
| up to 11.5 months | 10.0 kg | 75.1 cm |
| up to 12.5 months | 10.3 kg | 76.3 cm |
| up to 13.5 months | 10.6 kg | 77.5 cm |
| up to 14.5 months | 10.9 kg | 78.7 cm |
| up to 15.5 months | 11.2 kg | 79.8 cm |
| up to 16.5 months | 11.4 kg | 80.9 cm |
| up to 17.5 months | 11.6 kg | 81.9 cm |
| up to 18.5 months | 11.9 kg | 82.9 cm |
| up to 19.5 months | 12.1 kg | 83.9 cm |
| up to 20.5 months | 12.3 kg | 84.9 cm |
| up to 21.5 months | 12.5 kg | 85.8 cm |
| up to 22.5 months | 12.7 kg | 86.7 cm |
| up to 23.5 months | 12.8 kg | 87.6 cm |
| up to 24.5 months | 13.0 kg | 88.5 cm |
What should be the weight and height of boys ?
Just as the weight and height of girls have been told above, in the same way the weight and height (75 percentile) of boys should be, we are telling below:
Baby Boy Growth Chart
| Month | Weight ( Kilograms ) | Height ( centimeters ) |
| at the time of birth | 3.8 kg | 51.7 cm |
| up to 0.5 months | 4.3 kg | 54.4 cm |
| up to 1.5 months | 5.3 kg | 58.3 cm |
| up to 2.5 months | 6.1 kg | 61.3 cm |
| up to 3.5 months | 6.9 kg | 63.8 cm |
| up to 4.5 months | 7.6 kg | 65.9 cm |
| up to 5.5 months | 8.2 kg | 67.9 cm |
| up to 6.5 months | 8.8 kg | 69.6 cm |
| up to 7.5 months | 9.3 kg | 71.3 cm |
| up to 8.5 months | 9.8 kg | 72.8 cm |
| up to 9.5 months | 10.2 kg | 74.2 cm |
| up to 10.5 months | 10.6 kg | 75.6 cm |
| 11. Up to 5 months | 10.9 kg | 76.9 cm |
| 12. Up to 5 months | 11.2 kg | 78.1 cm |
| 13.5 up to 5 months | 11.5 kg | 79.3 cm |
| 14. Up to 5 months | 11.8 kg | 80.4 cm |
| 15. Up to 5 months | 12.0 kg | 81.5 cm |
| up to 16.5 months | 12.2 kg | 82.6 cm |
| up to 17.5 months | 12.5 kg | 83.6 cm |
| up to 18.5 months | 12.7 kg | 84.6 cm |
| 19. Up to 5 months | 12.8 kg | 85.5 cm |
| up to 20.5 months | 13.0 kg | 86.5 cm |
| up to 21.5 months | 13.2 kg | 87.4 cm |
| up to 22.5 months | 13.4 kg | 88.3 cm |
| up to 23.5 months | 13.5 kg | 89.1 cm |
| up to 24.5 months | 13.7 kg | 90.0 cm |
Know further, when and how you can measure the weight and height of children.
When and how to measure the weight & height of children ?
It is only after the birth of the baby that their weight and height are measured in the hospital. The baby is then taken to the hospital for vaccinations and checkups every month for 2 years. During this time the weight and height of the baby are measured. Therefore, it is important to have the baby checked every month so that the growth of the baby can be measured. The way to measure weight and height can be as follows:
- Weight : A weighing machine is used in the hospital to measure the weight of the baby. With this, the exact weight of the baby is known through the number.
- Height : To measure the height of the baby in the hospital, they are measured from the soles to the head with the help of measuring tape by lying them upright. The baby may move while measuring, therefore, it is best to have the mother help hold the baby.
- Head Size : Measurement tape is also used to measure the size of the baby’s head, so that the correct size of the head can be found .
Let us now know how to read the growth chart of children.
How to read children ‘s growth chart ?
A healthcare provider can help read a child’s growth chart. Different charts can be used for this. These charts are described below:
Baby Head Size :
The chart can be used to measure the head circumference at the time of birth of girls. In this chart, the time period from the birth of the baby to two years is given, in which the month by month development of the baby can be marked by making arrows. With this, the exact circumference of the head of the baby can be ascertained.
For example, if a one year old baby has a head size of 46 cm and is in the 50th percentile, it would mean that 50 percent of one year old babies have an increased head size and the remaining 50 percent have a smaller head size.
Length of Baby :
You can use the chart to find out the exact height of the girls. In this chart, only after the birth of the baby, the development of each month can be marked and shown. From this, the increase in the height of the girl can be detected. For example, in this chart, we have measured the height of a 1-year-old girl to be 74 cm(For Boys: 1-year-old boy is 76 cm). Here the girl is in the 50 percentile i.e. half of the girls of the girl’s age are older in height and half are shorter.
Baby Weight:
The weight of the girl can also be easily understood with the help of chart. Also the development of their weight on month to month basis can also be well understood. For this, mark the line of the month of the baby in the chart and know what percentage of the growth in the weight of the baby has happened. For example, if a one-year-old girl weighs 8.9 kg and is in the 50th (for boy: 9.3 kg and is in the 50th)percentile, it would mean that half the girls of her age are underweight and half the girls are overweight.
Doctor or dietician’s advice is necessary
The information given in the article is for consultation only. If you want to include the above mentioned things in the diet of children to keep the height and weight normal according to the age of your children, then consult a doctor or dietician. Include these things in the diet only after taking advice.
Q & A Related to Height and Weight of Kids in India
In line with the precious study by Dr. Vaman Khadilkar, Governing council member of Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinology chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, many facts and myths have been decoded related to the children’s growth in India and Growth Hormone treatment in India. Dr. Khadilkar is a consultant pediatric Endocrinologist in Pune and the prime approver of the Growth charts of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). Below are some common questions that whirl in the mind of every Indian parent with a child suffering from an abnormal growth.
Does Parents’ Height Only Decide the Kid’s Height?
Though genetics is an important factor influencing a kid’s height; parents’ height not always decides the kid’s height. In many cases, one or some of the family members have poor physical growth which affects the height of the progeny height.
Alteration in the diet, exercises, treatments and therapies and introduction of growth hormone can improve the growth.
What is a Normal Growth?
The growth and division of the cells in the human body boosts the growth of weight and height normally. Factors like nutrition, environment, physical activities and genetics influence this normal growth.
Can I Diagnose My Child’s Insufficient Height by Myself?
There are many parameters for self-diagnosis of short stature or insufficient physical growth. If your child’s growth is less the 6 cm every year till 4 year-age or less than 5 cm per year for 4-8 years or less than 4 cm every year before hitting the puberty then your child may be suffering from insufficient growth condition and lacking the normal level of growth hormone in the body. Sometimes, the self-diagnosis is not true and an abrupt growth is noticed after a certain age and hence consulting a doctor can be the best option.
What are the Major Elements Affecting My Child’s Height?
Different countries have a different environment, nutrition regime and lifestyles. The physical growth of a child differs in different regions. The major and common factors affecting a child’s growth include –
- Insufficient nutrition
- Hormones
- Genetics
- Precocious puberty
- Long-term diseases related to heart, lungs and kidney
- Maternal infections affecting growth from pregnancy period to adulthood
Are There Any Effective Exercises to Boost My Child’s Growth?
Exercises boost the blood circulation in the body and hence encourage growth. Physical activities always influence the growth hormone but no exercise guarantee a revved-up growth.
What are the Tests and Check-ups Suggested After the Short Stature Diagnosis?
A pediatric endocrinologist always asks for the growth velocity of a child before confirming his growth hormone deficiency or abnormal stature. From 0 to 18 year age, the height of a person changes every year but the growth velocity of the child decides his normal or abnormal growth.
The common tests recommended for short stature diagnosis are –
- Calcium
- Urea
- Creatinine
- GBP
- ESR
- Hb
- Urine ph during fasting
- Phosphorus
- Urine Protein
- Serum bicarbonate, Potassium, Protein
- SGPT Stool Fat
The above-mentioned tests are Biochemical tests and a pediatric endocrinologist may prescribe some of them or few other tests before diagnosing short stature of a child. There are some medical and hormone tests as well prescribed before the diagnosis.
- Chromosome Test
- Hormone blood test
- Testosterone
- IGFBP-3
- LH
- FSH
- Thyroid
- Growth hormone stimulation test
- Estradiol
Apart from these tests, the doctor may ask the medical history of the child, Bone age for bone maturation measurement and the general characteristics related to his physical appearance like arm length, leg, weight, height, head circumference etc. Growth hormone detection and stimulation tests are also needed in many cases.
What are the Uses and Benefits of Growth Hormones?
HGH or Human Growth Hormone is a protein hormone originating from pituitary gland. It is also called Somatotropin. This hormone is responsible for a proportionate physical structure and a balanced metabolism. This hormone is released in the bloodstream to maintain the level of the blood glucose in the body. Normal physical growth is not the boon which everyone can leverage. The external GH is now produced using the nouveau recombinant DNA technology to control the growth in children and adults.
External GH is needed in various conditions like –
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Turner Syndrome
- Deficiency of Growth Hormone
- Chronic Renal Failure
- Ideopathic Short Stature
- Fetal age poor growth
- Babies with low birth weight and insufficient growth even after 2 years
What if My Baby/Child is underweight?
Other than genetics or some health issues, if your child is underweight you must consult a baby’s doctor. Usually, the foods, diet schedule, physical activities, mental state has effects on child’s weight growth.
Does Immunity Have Effect on Growth?
If your child’s immunity is very weak it could be due to lack of nutritional diet, less physical activities or some health condition. To some extent, weak immunity power can affect the growth of a child.
What are the Major Developmental Stages of a Baby?
The first stage of baby’s development is between one to three months. During this stage, your baby learns various things and understands about the convenient postures while sleeping or lying on his tummy.
The second stage is between 4 to 6 months. Baby will explore his own voice and learn the functions of his tiny hands and fingers. He will try to sit and hold objects during this phase.
The third stage can be put between 7 to 9 months when he starts crawling and doesn’t need support for sitting. He also responds to many words during this phase.
The fourth stage can be ranged between 10 to 12 months when is he all set to eat all types of solid foods and he just turned into a toddler.
Please note every baby is unique and follows own milestones. So don’t worry if your child is not showing about mentioned developments in given time frames.
How to Know if a Baby is Experiencing Slow Weight Gain?
An abrupt increase or decrease in the weight of a baby is normal. Slow weight gain in babies can be detected by the following signs:
- Babies who are 6-months-old are lesser than 5 kgs – focus on his diet or see a pediatrician
- The development of the exclusively breastfed baby is different from those who often drink formula milk
- In the first development phase (0 to 3 months), if the weight change per day is more or lesser than 30g to 40g then it’s abnormal
- Baby rejecting foods or vomiting frequently
- Specific food allergy
- Drinks juices and other liquid diet but no solid food
There is a big misconception regarding the healthy and unhealthy physique of the children in India. The Indian parents often want to see their children with a chubby body and consider it a healthy physique which is not the reality. Parents don’t consider the Growth Charts for Indian children in the initial stages and let their children grow chubby. The above chart and facts can give the right dimension and direction to an Indian baby’s growth and development.
