Through the Years Normal Growth Rates for Young Children By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD on December 04, 2020 linkedin Sarah Rahal, MD is a double board-certified adult and pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist. Learn about our Review Board Sarah Rahal, MD on December 04, 2020 Print Photo by BJI / Blue Jean Images Regular measurements of your child's height, weight, and head circumference and plotting them on a growth chart are a good way to see if your child is growing normally. Your pediatrician will use these measurements to assess your child's development. Normal Growth for Children Although many parents are preoccupied with where their child is on the growth charts and often worry if their child is small or near the bottom of the growth chart, it is your child's rate of growth that is the most important factor to consider when evaluating if your child is growing and developing normally. If your child is following his growth curve, then he is likely growing normally. Keep in mind that some children can normally move up or down on their growth curves when they are 6–18 months old. As long as they are not actually losing weight, and they have no other symptoms, such as persistent diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, or having frequent infections, then it may be normal to move down on your growth percentiles. Older children should stick to their growth curves fairly closely, though. How to Reach Your Child's Growth Chart Normal Growth Rates for Boys and Girls General guidelines for your younger child's growth rates for weight include: 2 weeks: Regains birth weight and then gains about 1 1/2–2 pounds a month3 months: Gains about 1 pound a month5 months: Doubles birth weight1 year: Triples birth weight and then gains about 1/2 pound a month2 years: Quadruples birth weight and then gains about 4–5 pounds a year9–10 years: Increased weight gain as puberty approaches, often about 10 pounds a year In addition to monitoring your child for poor growth or failure to thrive, it is also important to make sure your child isn't gaining too much weight. Height Growth Rates General guidelines for your younger child's growth rates for height include: 0–12 months: Grows about 10 inches (25 cm)1–2 years: Grows about 5 inches (13 cm)2–3 years: Grows about 3 1/2 inches a year most children will double their birth height by 3–4 years of age3 years to puberty: Grows about 2 inches (5 cm) a year You can also use your child's height to try and predict how tall they will be when they grow up. Head Circumference Growth Rates General guidelines for your younger child's growth rates for head circumference include: 0–3 months: 2 centimeters a month4–6 months: 1 centimeter a month6–12 months: 1/2 centimeter a month1–2 years: 2 centimeters a year While head circumference isn't followed by parents as closely as a child's height and weight, it is important to make sure a child's head isn't too small (microcephaly) or too big (macrocephaly). A Word From Verywell Remember that these are general guidelines, though. Your child may grow a little more or a little less than this each year. If you have concerns about your child's growth, especially if you think that he has a failure to thrive (poor weight gain) or short stature (poor growth in height), be sure to talk to your pediatrician. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit