Normal growth is one of the best indicators of good health and
nutrition. Normal heights and weights, however, are difficult to define. Short
parents tend to have short children. Tall parents tend to have tall children.
For any given height, an ideal weight can be determined from a growth chart.
An infant with failure to thrive is underweight for his height. An obese child
is overweight for his height.
Your health care provider will weigh and measure your child on
each well child visit and plot these numbers on a standard growth chart. Your
child's growth rate over time reveals the most about his or her nutritional
health.
The following facts and figures may answer some of your
questions about normal growth.
Average newborn (full-term):
Weight: 7 pounds, 5 ounces (normal range: 6 to 10 pounds)
Length: 20 inches (50 cm) (normal range: 18 1/2 to 21 1/2
inches)
Head circumference: 13.8 inches (35 cm) (normal range: 33 to
37 cm)
A premature baby is born before 37 weeks gestation and usually
weighs less than 5 and 1/2 pounds (2.5 kilograms).
Average weights at different
ages :
5 months: double birth weight
12 months: triple birth weight
2 years: quadruple birth weight
1 to 6 years: weight in pounds = (age x 5) + 17
7 to 12 years: weight in pounds = (age x 7) + 5
Average heights at different
ages:
4 years: double birth length
13 years: triple birth length
2 to 14 years: height in inches = (age x 2 1/2) + 30
(1 foot = 12 inches; 1 inch = 2.5 centimeters)
Predicting adult heights
The adult height cannot be predicted, except with a growth
chart. If a child has consistently followed one height line or curve (such as
the 30th percentile), he or she probably will end up in the 20th percentile as
an adult. The only formula that can give an approximate adult height is based
upon the mid-parent height. But there is still tremendous variation.
The mid-parent height is the sum of the parents' heights
divided by 2. With that number you can estimate your son or daughter's height
using the formulas below.
Mid-parent height + 2 1/2 inches = Adult height (boys)
Mid-parent height - 2 1/2 inches = Adult height (girls)
