Height and weight of newborn children: norms by age. Norms of height and weight for girls of different ages Norms of height and weight for children under 2 years of age

The first thing that happy relatives are told after the birth of a newborn is the basic parameters of his body, that is, height and weight. Together with the head and chest circumference, they are immediately recorded in the baby’s medical record, and from this very moment the young mother will have to visit the local pediatrician monthly, who will look at the most important indicators of the baby’s development, tracking their dynamics.

Why is the child’s height and weight so important for both parents and doctors?

Why monitor your baby's height and weight?

Body weight, height, as well as head and chest circumference are parameters by which doctors can assess the physical development and, accordingly, the health status of a newborn. The average statistical norms for newly born babies are the following figures:

• height: 46-56 cm;
• weight: 2500-4000 g;
• chest circumference: 32-34 cm;
• head circumference: 34-36 cm.

In the first few days after birth, the baby loses approximately 10% of its original weight. But by the day of discharge from the maternity hospital, the weight of healthy children usually returns to normal, and the corresponding figure is necessarily recorded in the medical record - the local doctor will build on it when calculating the proper weight and height of the child.

If the child is gaining weight well, the doctor will carry out control weighing once a month, and if there are any problems - once every two weeks.

What determines weight gain in a child?

Any deviations from the above norms, of course, very frighten young parents, but such a situation is not always a reason for panic.

The fact is that the baby’s basic parameters and weight gain depend on a number of different factors that also need to be taken into account.

• Heredity. The body weight of a newborn is largely determined by genetics: for example, miniature, thin parents rarely have children with a large weight.
• Health status. Our grandmothers consider an excellent appetite a sign of good health, and in the case of babies, we can quite agree with this. Even if a child has a common runny nose, he will still be capricious and refuse to eat.
• Maternal health status. If a woman suffers from any illness while pregnant, this may affect the baby’s body weight. The same applies to the lactation period - for example, nervous stress directly affects the quantity and quality of milk.
• Gender. Boys are often taller and heavier than girls.
• Women's nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. There is a direct connection between a mother’s nutrition and her baby’s body weight: if she ate high-calorie foods in large quantities, the child may be born overweight. If a woman does not eat well while breastfeeding, her milk will be watery and less nutritious, which can affect the baby's weight. Read about a woman's nutrition during breastfeeding
• Type of feeding. Breastfed babies often gain weight a little slower than formula-fed babies. But children who are fed on demand, according to observations, have more stable weight gains than those who receive food on a schedule.
• Appetite. Each baby, like any person in the world, has its own characteristics, in particular - good or bad appetite.

Modern pediatricians say that the norms for the weight and height of children are approximate, so minor deviations in one direction or the other can be considered acceptable if the baby is in normal health.

Height and weight of a child up to one year old

There is a special table of height and weight for children under one year old, which was developed by WHO specialists - it is from this that one can talk about excessive or insufficient weight gain in a child.

In addition, the proper weight of the child can be calculated using the formulas:

For children up to six months

body weight = birth weight + 800·N, where N is the number of months.

For children aged 6-12 months:

But starting from 6 months, when weight gain decreases slightly, the formula becomes more complex and looks like this:

body weight = birth weight + 800·6 + 400·(N-6), where N is the number of months (from 6 to 12).

That is, changes in the baby’s body weight should fit within the following framework:

• in the first days of life, the baby’s weight may decrease by 5-10%;
• during the first month of life, a baby gains on average about 20g per day;
• in the second month the child gains approximately 25-30g;
• by the age of 5-6 months, the baby’s initial weight should double;
• upon reaching one year of age, the baby’s weight should increase approximately 3 times;
• from the age of two until puberty, the child’s body weight increases by approximately 2 kg per year.

As for the baby’s growth, this indicator is more stable than weight, so no special formulas are required in this case - the baby’s height increases by an average of 3-4 cm every month.

Child's head and chest circumference

Another indicator that the local pediatrician will definitely measure at each visit is head circumference.

In newborn babies, the head circumference is about 34 cm and 2-5 cm larger than the chest circumference, which is why babies usually look very touching: a large head and a small, fragile body. Subsequently, the volume of the chest begins to increase a little faster and gradually outstrips the head; if this does not happen, the doctor may suspect the presence of certain pathologies.

It should be noted that it is not the numbers themselves that matter, but the dynamics of their change.

In order to assess the development of a child, modern experts use so-called centile tables, based on the average statistical indicators of a certain number of children (for example, 100, 1000, etc.). Indicators in the range of 25-75 centiles are considered normal - if the numbers fall in the range of 3-10 centiles, then the baby may need additional research.

Why does my child gain weight poorly?

Of course, the height and weight of a child under one year old by month are important indicators of his development, but in addition to numbers, parents should pay attention to the baby’s well-being. There are several criteria by which you can determine whether a child is getting enough milk and how well his digestive system is working.

• Feeding frequency. The baby should eat at least seven to eight times a day.
• Activity. If a child is cheerful and active, develops according to his age, is interested in the world around him and has a rosy, healthy complexion, then there is most likely no reason to panic.
• Bowel frequency. On average, a baby should have bowel movements four times a day, and the older he gets, the less often he has such a need.

If the baby is lethargic and capricious, gains less than 16-18 g per day, sleeps too long or too little, his urine is dark and excreted in small quantities, vomiting and fever are noted, then parents should consult a doctor.

Read about signs of lack or excess nutrition in a child.

There can be several reasons for poor weight gain, and the most common of them is a violation of the diet of both the child and the mother: an unbalanced diet, incorrect diet.

In addition, children who have gastrointestinal pathologies, infectious diseases, worms, neurological problems and much more can gain weight poorly.

Why does my baby gain weight too quickly?

Plump, rosy-cheeked children usually do not cause concern among parents and pediatricians, but in reality, not everything is so simple. Excess weight in infancy can lead to obesity, and, accordingly, to metabolic disorders and serious diseases in older age.

Unlike obese adults, obese infants do not require a special diet, but the mother is advised to review and adjust her diet.

You need to feed the baby only when he is really hungry - if he hurts himself or is simply naughty, you need to try to calm him down in another way, otherwise the child will “eat up” stress constantly.

Artificial users who gain weight too quickly may need a different, lower-calorie formula; In addition, you need to make sure that the rules for diluting mixtures are followed - an insufficient amount of water significantly increases their calorie content.

Read about how much formula a child should eat

The height and weight of a child under one year old are indeed very important indicators of his development and health, but you should not try to fit the baby to generally accepted standards.

If he is healthy, cheerful, active and has a good appetite, then the reasons for deviations from the norm are most likely the peculiarities of his constitution and over time everything will return to normal.

During adolescence, the height and weight of children can either change quickly or, conversely, remain stagnant. Parents are often concerned if their child’s physiological indicators differ from their peers. To be calm about the development of your child, it is enough to know the general statistical norms for height and weight in adolescents. It must be remembered that the growth spurt in girls usually occurs earlier - at 10-12 years, and in boys - at 13-16. Nutritional characteristics, physique, heredity - all this affects the child’s size and can be very different between two teenagers the same age. You should only worry if the indicators are near the lowest and highest indicators of the tables. In this case, you should consult your doctor.

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Height to weight ratio in adolescents

The human body does not grow throughout its entire life. For boys, this process stops at 19-22 years old, for girls - already at 17-19 years old. Until this age, height and weight increase unevenly. A particularly noticeable jump occurs in the first year of life and at the initial stage of puberty. In girls it begins at 10-12 years old, in boys - at 13-16 years old: boys begin and finish growing later than girls.

There is a certain average weight and height for each age period, small deviations from which are quite acceptable. Jumps in anthropometric parameters are individual for each teenager. One grows evenly and gains weight over several years, while the other literally stretches 15-20 cm in a matter of months, and then the process slows down sharply.

In addition to age characteristics, other factors also influence the ratio of height and weight:

• hereditary predisposition;
• daily routine and lifestyle;
• food habits in the family;
• characteristic physique;
• features of nationality, race, nationality.

How to create a calorie deficit for weight loss - calculation formulas

Calculation of averages

In order to find out whether a teenager meets age standards in terms of weight and height, you need to take these parameters into account together. This is due to physiological processes occurring in the body. A growth spurt is often preceded by rapid weight gain. In this case, by checking the tables, you can see that the height norm is met, but the weight goes beyond its limits. This is normal and there is no need to worry. Having taken measurements after 1-2 months, it becomes clear that the situation has stabilized.

The opposite situation happens, when a teenager looks too thin despite his height. There is no need to worry if your child does not have chronic illnesses or loss of appetite. By the end of puberty, the proportions will return to normal.

When measuring weight, it is worth taking into account bone mass. There is a so-called “heavy bone”. Most often, a similar phenomenon is observed in boys: such a child will weigh more than normal, although visually there are no signs of excess weight.

Also, one should not confuse the volume of a body with its mass. Sometimes children who look plump weigh less than their peers who play sports: this happens because fat is four times lighter than muscle. When checking the table, a well-fed teenager falls into the average column. And the weight of an athlete whose body has developed muscles will go beyond its limits.

Measurement Rules

Before comparing anthropometric data, you need to obtain it correctly. There are certain rules for measuring weight and height:

• Indicators of human growth measured during the day will differ by 1.5-2 cm. In the morning it will be larger, and in the evening it will be smaller. This is due to the fact that after sleep the body is maximally elongated; in the evening, the distance between the vertebrae decreases under the force of gravity and the height measurement shows lower values.
• The position in which the growth rate is recorded is very important. This is done on a hard, level floor or a special stand, from which the countdown is in centimeters (zero mark). The person being measured stands barefoot, pressing his back, buttocks, heels, head and shoulder blades to a perpendicular, flat surface. Without pressing, lower the height meter bar or ruler onto your head and mark the resulting height level. Then measure the distance from zero to the top mark.
• Weight is measured in the morning, before breakfast. By the evening, a person’s weight can increase by 1.5-2 kg from food. It is important to remember that clothes and shoes can weigh quite a lot, so it is advisable to remove them. Make sure the scale is placed on a level and solid surface. The child must stand still during weighing, without bending or moving.
• When monitoring the dynamics of height and weight, measurements should be taken at the same time of day.

If these rules are followed, reliable data is obtained that can be used as a guide.

Average Tables

Height and weight values ​​for people of all ages are presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the form of anthropometric (centile) tables. In addition to the average indicator, they have graphs with deviations up and down.

The ratio of height and weight in adolescents is quite arbitrary. Having received indicators that at first glance differ from the norm, you should take into account all the factors influencing anthropometric data:

• The average height and weight of the child should be within the green and blue graphs. These figures correspond to the average height and weight of children of this age.
• Values ​​that are within the yellow and green columns are also normal, but indicate a tendency for the child to lag in height or weight.
• Values ​​that are within the blue and yellow columns are also within normal limits, but indicate a tendency for the child to be ahead in height or weight.
• Values ​​that are within the red and yellow columns are already considered low and high, which can be explained both by the characteristics of the child’s growth and by diseases associated with hormonal imbalance (in most cases, of an endocrinological nature). A pediatrician will help you understand and identify the cause.
• Height and weight values ​​that are beyond the red border in both directions are evidence of pathology child's growth. Such children must receive consultation from medical specialists.

Weight of boys from 11 to 17 years (kg):

Height of boys from 11 to 17 years (cm):

Weight of girls from 11 to 17 years (kg):

Height of girls from 11 to 17 years (cm):

Conclusions are drawn based on whether the indicators correspond to age. For example:

• With an average height of 176 centimeters, the normal weight of young men ranges from 75 to 80 kilograms; for a woman of the same height, the normal weight will be only 65-70 kilograms.
• If a woman is 162 centimeters tall, her normal weight varies from 50 to 55 kilograms; men of the same height will weigh 60-65 kilograms.

At the same time, for guys, a height of 162 cm is insufficient, and for a 17-year-old girl, 178 cm is excessive. From the above example it is clear that when calculating the normal ratio of height and weight, one must take into account a variety of factors and aspects.

What can cause developmental disabilities?

If a deviation from the norm is detected in the ratio of weight and height, a mandatory visit to the pediatrician is recommended, followed by following his prescriptions, recommendations and examinations.

Serious causes of violations of the relationship of physical indicators can be:

• early or late puberty in a teenager;
• disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system;
• thyroid diseases;
• suffered severe or chronic diseases of other body systems;
• genetic abnormalities;
• family lifestyle.

Modern laboratory tests will help identify the causes. Most deviations are eliminated after taking specially selected medications and balancing hormonal levels. Even the impact on the body of the lion's share of genetically determined diseases with the help of medicine today can be stopped or weakened.

Lifestyle plays an important role in the proportional increase in height and weight in adolescents. With the right approach, it allows all body systems to work without failures:

And a little about secrets...

The story of one of our readers Alina R.:

I was especially depressed about my weight. I gained a lot, after pregnancy I weighed as much as 3 sumo wrestlers together, namely 92 kg with a height of 165. I thought the belly would go away after giving birth, but no, on the contrary, I began to gain weight. How to cope with hormonal changes and obesity? But nothing disfigures or makes a person look younger than his figure. At the age of 20, I first learned that plump girls are called “WOMAN” and that “they don’t make clothes that size.” Then at the age of 29, divorce from my husband and depression...

But what can you do to lose weight? Laser liposuction surgery? I found out - no less than 5 thousand dollars. Hardware procedures - LPG massage, cavitation, RF lifting, myostimulation? A little more affordable - the course costs from 80 thousand rubles with a nutritionist consultant. You can, of course, try to run on a treadmill until you go crazy.

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Greetings, dear readers! All parents strive for their children to grow up healthy and develop normally. But how can you tell if everything is okay with your baby? Doctors recommend focusing on such important indicators as the child’s weight and height by month. Compliance with the standards proposed by WHO on the basis of research, doctors determine the degree of full term of the baby and the quality of its further development.

Where do the norms come from?

World Health Organization, or WHO in the period 1997-2003. conducted a number of studies on the development of children under one year old, as well as a parallel analysis of the height and weight of children aged 1.5 to 6 years. The focus of the world organization was not only on indicators, but also on their ratios and monthly increases.

Why was such a global study needed? The latest data on indicators of physical development of children were recorded back in the 70s. 20th century. Since then, not only the rhythm and lifestyle of people has changed, but also the nature of infant feeding.

If during the Soviet period most babies were bottle-fed, then with the improvement of working conditions for nursing women and the opportunity to receive paid leave after childbirth for 1.5 years, more and more babies are now breastfed, which is otherwise reflected in the increase in body weight and length.

Data collection was carried out in different countries and ethnic groups: European countries, the USA, India, Brazil, Oman, etc. The study showed that each nation has its own parameters, therefore, to derive the average value of length and weight, for example, for European and Indian children, it is forbidden.

What do the values ​​depend on?

Mothers who have at least once had a monthly check-up with their babies at the clinic know that the nurse not only measures and records indicators, but also pays attention to associated development factors:

• past viral and infectious diseases;
• presence of dehydration;
• teething;
• presence of appetite;
• conditions of education.

They have a temporary effect on physical development, which can be corrected in the future.

However, there are other factors that the mother or doctors cannot or can hardly influence:

• gender of the child;
• genetic features (if dad and mom are tall, the baby will also be tall);
• degree of term, as well as initial height and weight at birth;
• nature of nutrition (natural or artificial);
• presence of congenital diseases;
• mobility;
• ecological situation;
• the nature of the pregnancy (did the mother smoke, drink alcohol, etc.);
• the amount of somatotropic hormone produced, which is responsible for the growth of tubular bones (since most of the hormone is released at night, sleep disturbances in a child can cause growth retardation).

Good care, regular breastfeeding, adequate sleep, physical activity and outdoor exercise speed up children's growth. In turn, insufficient care and poor environmental conditions do not have the best effect on physical development.

To check whether your baby is developing normally, you do not have to rush to the clinic. Parents can take measurements themselves, based on generally accepted development standards and calculation formulas.

Child growth by months

Child growth standards depend, first of all, on the child’s gender, so WHO has created separate tables with average indicators for girls and boys. Depending on the age of the baby, the ratio of length and weight of the body, as well as the increase, will also differ.

First year

The table shows approximate growth indicators for babies at birth and up to one year; you can also track how many centimeters the child will grow within a month.

Children under one year old are characterized by a special change in indicators, and every month of life during this period is significant. But before you take measurements and count, you should make sure that your baby meets the indicators of a full-term baby:

• The birth took place at 38-40 weeks of pregnancy.
• Height is at least 45 cm with a weight of 2.5 kg.
• Head circumference – from 34 to 36 cm.
• Body parts are proportional.
• The skin is smooth and delicate.
• Hair length from 1 cm.
• Clear rhythmic pulse.
• Developed sucking reflex (you can read in my article).

If a baby was born premature, there are separate height and weight indicators for him depending on what week of pregnancy he was born. Here is a table of the height and weight of a premature baby:

Features of growth increase in the first year of life are as follows:

• On average, the baby gains 3 cm over a monthly period.
• The total increase in the first year of life should be at least 25 cm. Thus, the normal figure for a one-year-old baby is from 74 to 76 cm.
• Children grow more rapidly in the first months after birth, after which this process slows down. So, in the first 3 months the increase will be 3.5 cm per month, from 3 to six months - 3-2.5 cm, from 7 to 9 - about 1.5 cm, from 9 to one year - 1 cm.
• It is not only the overall increase in height that is important, but also its relationship to the weight and proportionality of body parts.

For doctors, the indicator of normal development of a baby is not so much its height as its head circumference. If the head is large and disproportionate to the body, doctors may suspect a disease such as hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid in the brain.

From 2 to 17 years

When a baby turns one year old, parents, as a rule, pay little attention to how much his growth is within normal limits. However, before the onset of puberty, this indicator is no less important than in the first months of life.

After a year, children's growth begins to slow down. Up to 2 years of age, the baby grows by an average of 9-12 cm, depending on gender and other factors. Until the age of 5 years, his height will increase by only 20-22 cm.

By the age of 10, the average height of a boy is 138-139 cm. From 11 to 17 years, during puberty, the growth of girls slows down, and in boys, on the contrary, it increases after 12-13 years. By the age of 17, the average for a girl will be 155-160 cm, for a boy - 166-171 cm.

How to determine a child's height?

To determine how tall your baby is under one year old, you will need a measuring tape or meter ruler:

1. Place the baby on the crib so that the back of his head rests on a hard surface.
2. Extend your legs and place your feet at a 90-degree angle.
3. Mark where the heels end.
4. Raise the child and measure the distance from the mark to a hard surface.

If the child can already stand, to measure his height, place him near the wall so that his heels touch a hard surface. Then take a hard ruler and place it on the child's head so that it forms a right angle with the wall. Make a mark where they touch and measure the distance from the floor to the mark.

After measuring your child's height, be sure to pay attention to his weight.

Baby's weight by month

WHO strongly recommends that parents pay attention not only to the height and proportionality of body parts, but also to weight gain. Many parents believe that the more a baby weighs before one year, the better. But this statement is fundamentally wrong. Unhealthy obesity can affect both teenagers and infants, especially those who are formula-fed.

Up to a year

For children under one year old, the weight norm is determined by month, and it should be taken into account that bottle-fed children gain weight much faster:

• 1 month. During this time, the child gains on average about 0.6 kg. To maintain normal developmental indicators, it is ideal if the mother feeds the baby every 3 hours. The volume of mixture consumed ranges from 80 to 120 ml per feeding.
• 2 month. During this period, the increase will be about 0.7-0.8 kg. The intervals between feedings can be increased to 3.5 hours. If in the future you decide to wean your baby from feeding at night, keep in mind that his weight will begin to decrease.
• 3 month. An increase of 0.8 kg is maintained. The intervals between feedings remain, but it is worth considering that up to 3 months the baby is bothered by intestinal colic, so appetite may decrease.
• 4 month. The child gains an average of 0.75 kg, and further indicators will decrease.
• 5 month. By the end of the fifth month, the baby already weighs 0.7 kg more.
• 6 month. In six months, Baby gains 0.65 kg. During this period, complementary foods in the form of vegetable purees begin to be introduced, which can replace one feeding.
• 7 month. Body weight increases by 0.6 kg. At seven months of age, babies can be given gluten-free porridge in the morning.
• 8 months. Weight gain is about 0.55 kg. The baby's menu includes a variety of vegetables, lean meat, cereals, and egg yolk.
• 9 months . The weight gain is half a kilogram. Purees from several components and fermented milk products appear on the menu.
• 10 months . The baby weighs 0.4 kg more than last month. He already tolerates fresh fruit well. You can add butter or vegetable oil to porridge.
• 11 months. Weight increases by 0.4 kg. You can include low-fat fish in the menu.
• 12 months . The weight increase occurs by 0.35-0.4 kg.

The following chart will help you determine if your baby is developing normally:

• For the first half of the year. Multiply 800 by the number of months for the calculation period and add the weight of the baby at the time of birth.
• In the second half of the year. M+800×6+400x(N-6), where M is the birth weight, N is the number of months.

After a year

In the future, not only the indicators prescribed by WHO will be important for girls and boys, but also the body mass index, which shows whether the weight is insufficient, normal or excessive. To determine your mass index, you need to divide your body weight by your height.

For boys and girls, the range of permissible body weight may differ, but on average the indicators are summarized in the following table:

Based on the indicators proposed by WHO, one must take into account that they are averaged, and minor fluctuations in one direction or another are acceptable. Parents need to sound the alarm if weight values ​​are significantly underestimated or overestimated.

If the levels are low, it is recommended to reconsider your diet and daily activity. For example, if until the age of 5 the child steadily gained weight, and by the age of 6 he began to lose weight sharply, the changes may be associated with preparation for school and a stressful state, a violation of the usual daily routine.

For infants up to one year old, vomiting, leading to dehydration, can be a dangerous phenomenon. The problem may arise due to improper nutrition, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. In this case, you should definitely see a doctor.

In adolescence, boys, as a rule, experience pronounced thinness associated with intensive growth. Girls should eat more plant foods, since during the period of hormonal maturation there is a high probability of becoming obese.

Deviations from normal body weight at any age in a child should be a signal for parents that it is time to sound the alarm and seek help from doctors if you cannot help the baby on your own.

Height and weight of a child from 0 to 17 years

IN tables “Child’s height and weight” given below, you will see scores from 1 to 8, and percentages are the rating that doctors give when examining a child. The so-called centile corridor.

Values ​​25% 50% 75%— Norma

From 10% to 125% or from 75% to 90%— Minor deviations from the norm.

3% to 10% or 90% to 97%— It is necessary to pay attention to the child’s health and conduct additional examinations.

Below 3% or above 97%— There is a high probability that the child has a pathology that affects the child’s physical development.

Child's future growth

(Mom's Height + Dad's Height) / 2 = Base

For girls: Base –5 cm = Child’s height as an adult

For boys: Base +5 cm = Child's height as an adult

For example: mom’s height is 162 cm, dad’s height is 178 cm. The approximate height of their son will be 175 cm. ((162+178)/2= 170; 170+5= 175)

Height and weight chart for children and adolescents from 0 to 17 years old.

Height to weight chart

Body mass index (BMI) for children and adolescents from 2 to 20 years.

This is the most accurate indicator of the height-to-weight ratio of children and adolescents. It is advisable to measure and record this indicator regularly. This way, you can determine at the right time a child’s tendency toward obesity or underweight and prevent negative consequences.

• Let's assume that the child is 9 years old and a boy. Then open the body mass index table for boys aged 0 to 20 years.
• On the bottom axis we find the number 9 (child’s age).
• On the left or right axis we find the number 16.0 (child’s BMI).
• We look at the intersection of lines coming from the obtained points.

Let's evaluate the result:

The red and green lines are the ideal height to weight ratio.

Above the yellow field - large excess of body weight

Centile corridor 75% - 85% (in some tables the upper limit is 90%) - a slight overweight

Centile corridor 50% - 75% - normal, height to weight ratio above average

Centile corridor 25% - 50% - normal, height to weight ratio below average

Centile corridor 10% - 25% - slight underweight

Below the yellow field - severe underweight

Increase muscle mass will help protein soups

Height and weight are measured in a child almost immediately after birth, in the fifth minute from the moment of birth. These indicators are of primary importance for assessing the baby’s condition throughout the first year of life. Using the treasured numbers, doctors judge whether the baby is healthy and whether he is developing normally.

Average weights for children from 0 to 12 months

Normal weight indicators in infants under one year of age have a significant relationship with many factors. For example, this is the chosen method of feeding and further feeding the baby, the lifestyle of the parents, and even the geographical place of residence of the mother and baby. But despite all of the above, the medical community has developed a table with parameters as an example of the norm for most children under 12 months.

Boys weight chart

Girls weight table

The growth of a baby under one year of age increases dynamically, taking into account the constitutional characteristics, genetics, nutrition and general health of the baby. A slight deviation from the average parameters is not a cause for concern. If growth rates are far outside the acceptable range, this is an alarming sign that requires consultation with a doctor.

Boys height chart

Girls height chart

On a note! The data given in the table are considered standard when assessing the physical development of infants. However, it is worth remembering that babies are born with different weight categories and continue to gain body weight unevenly. So, one baby can “get heavier” by 0.5 kg in a month, and another by a whole kilogram; but as a result, the increase in both children can be considered the norm, taking into account their individual development.

How are child height and weight standards calculated?

The calculation formula is used if parents need to track changes in the baby’s body weight, comparing each result with growing monthly norms. One of the approximate weight calculations used by pediatricians from the moment of birth until the first birthday is presented in a simple formula - M (kg) = m + 800n, where M is the baby’s body weight, m ​​is the body weight at the time of birth and n is the current baby's age in months.

The rate of weight gain up to a year is usually recorded in the clinic by entries in the medical record, but they can also be monitored at home using special scales. If in short periods the scales show slightly less or more data in the table (with a difference of up to 150 g), then there is no need to worry, this is within normal limits.

Important!Sometimes a child’s weight gain differs significantly from the data given in the table. Large fluctuations in both directions should alert parents. If the lag is more than 350 g or more, something is wrong. Low body weight can seriously affect the development of an infant. If they come along with numerous complaints and disorders in the baby’s health, then the child must be examined by a pediatrician and neurologist.

Table of height gain for infants from 1 month to one year

The growth of a child from birth can be influenced by hereditary factors and, to a greater extent, by the constitutional characteristics of the little person’s body. Growth spurts can be especially noticeable between 3 and 4 months, and also between 6 and 8 months. At this time, in just one night the baby can gain a whole centimeter in length.

Calculation of the baby’s body length can be done using the approximate formula used by pediatricians: L (cm) = 100 – 8(4 – n), where L is the normal body length, n is the baby’s current age.

Anthropometric parameters at birth - what is the norm for newborns?

According to the World Health Organization, the body weight of a full-term baby is considered normal if it is between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. Moms and dads should know that WHO weight indicators are generally indicative.

If the expectant mother has gone through 9 months of pregnancy without serious complications, the baby’s weight will most likely be 3 – 3.6 kg. If the baby was born earlier than expected (before the 37th week), then its weight will be on average 2.5 kg. But there is no need to worry - after a while, a tiny newborn will definitely catch up with his peers. This is facilitated by maintaining a sleep and rest schedule, nutritious nutrition and finding the little person in a favorable living environment.

The table below shows the height and weight of boys, as well as the height and weight of girls in the form of average parameters, indicating the order of maternal birth.

Immediately after birth, most infants lose up to 10% of their initial body weight, so nature intends to rid the baby of excess fluid and accumulated meconium (feces). But after 7-12 days, the weight loss is replenished:

• in the first weeks of life, the baby gains at least 125 g per week;
• from the second month of life, the set is 600-800 g per 30 days.

Having noticed that the baby’s weight is noticeably lower than the prescribed norms, parents should figure out whether there is a reason for concern? Each baby develops at its own pace, so slight variations in height and weight are quite acceptable. If up to the age of three months the toddler gains at least 0.5 kg per month, and from the third to six months, 0.3 kg, and there are no complaints, then there is no reason to worry.

Important! Normally, during the first year of life, babies triple their initial weight (for example, from 3 kg to 10 kg). Girls often gain weight at a lesser rate than boys before 12 months. The acceptable difference in children of the same age can be up to 600-800 g.

How does a newborn gain weight (by week)

Active weight gain in infants occurs in the first eight weeks of life. This is a normal reaction of a child’s body to a change in living conditions, and adaptation to a new diet and regimen.

The digital value of height and body weight indicators in infants is very arbitrary and depends on many factors:

• choice of feeding the baby (mother's milk or adapted formula);
• the amount of food the child eats per day;
• the presence of diseases that prevent the proper absorption of food;
• activity and the amount of time the child spends sleeping and awake;
• often - gender (girls often gain weight more slowly than boys).

Important! Pediatricians calculate height and weight standards for infants in conjunction with tables of the average statistical norm, but in some cases they use experimental calculations. Often, insignificant deviations of indicators from WHO tables are considered acceptable. We also must not forget about genetic heredity - if below average height prevails in a family, you should not expect that the heir will gain 5 cm per month.

Weight and height of the baby after birth - what to pay attention to

In the maternity hospital, doctors record the weight and body length of a newborn baby and carefully monitor changes, especially in low birth weight and premature babies. They are weighed once a day at the same time, mainly in the morning.

• Daily weight gain is considered normal at the rate of 15 g per 1 kg of body weight. Growth is measured only once a week, and its increase will be assessed after 3-4 weeks. By this time it should be at least 2.5-3 cm.
• Most infants, after gaining initial weight, subsequently gain weight quickly, especially during periods of growth spurts. They occur approximately in the middle of the second week of life, and then between 3 and 6 weeks.
• The average child gains an average of 20 grams per day. By the end of the first month of life, the scales at the clinic will show approximately 3.8-4 kg. The height and weight of boys is usually slightly higher than that of girls - the difference in weight can reach 0.4 kg and 1-1.5 cm.

A newborn weighs little - is there any reason to worry?

If an infant was born prematurely or weighed very little at birth, then the norms for growth and weight gain for him will differ significantly from the norms for babies born on time.

Degrees of prematurity of the baby (WHO information):

Birth weight largely determines a child's ability to adapt to life outside the womb. If the baby was born 2.5 kg, this process will take place without deviation from the desired course. If the baby “did not reach” this figure, then adaptation can be much more difficult. What to do?

First, keep warm

In children with low body weight, the layer of subcutaneous fat is very thin, almost absent. In this case, it is difficult for kids to keep warm and the danger of hypothermia is quite real. The temperature of a small baby should be measured at least once every 5-6 hours. If it is below 36.5°C, the baby must be warmed. The best way is skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. Mom puts on an unbuttoned shirt, and the baby is placed on her chest. This way, the child’s temperature and pulse normalize, and the mother’s emotional state improves.

Second, we feed the baby by the hour.

This is a necessary condition, because in underweight children, the level of glucose in the blood often falls below the required level. This can cause sleep disturbances in the baby and a decrease in overall vitality. The best prevention of this condition is to frequently put the baby to the breast. In the first days, the child should drink about 60 ml of milk per day. Then the volume of liquid drunk per day should increase daily by 20 ml per 1 kg of body weight until it reaches 200 ml per 1 kg of body weight. Those. with a weight of 2 kg, the child will need to be given at least 400 ml of milk per day (of course, the amount is divided into 8-10 doses).

Third – massage for appetite and general development

If the child has gained the coveted 2500 g, and the doctors (pediatrician, neurologist) give the go-ahead for massage therapy, it’s time to undergo several strengthening procedures. Massage promotes weight gain, as it whets the appetite even in such babies. It is carried out an hour and a half after eating. It is better for a professional children's massage therapist to massage the baby, or the mother can master it on her own. After lubricating your hands with cream, you need to carefully knead the baby’s muscles according to the pattern from top to bottom - starting with the neck, then the back, buttocks, legs. At the end of the procedure, massage the arms and chest.

Weight and height gain by month: a quick overview of up to a year

Criteria for proper baby development can be confusing for new parents. If it’s difficult to figure it out, you can always ask your local pediatrician for advice. The main thing to remember is that when calculating measurements, you should focus on the initial data at the birth of the baby and only then calculate the individual monthly amount of weight gain and body length.