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, like the child’s weight and height by month. Compliance with the standards proposed by WHO based on 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 on artificial feeding, then with the improvement of working conditions for breastfeeding women and the opportunity to receive paid leave after childbirth for 1.5 years, it has led to the fact that now more and more babies are on breastfeeding, which is otherwise reflected in the increase in weight and body length.

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

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:

• transferred 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 adjusted 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;
• environmental 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, sufficient sleep, physical activity and walks on fresh air accelerate the growth of children. In turn, insufficient care and poor environmental conditions do not in the best possible way affect 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 gender of the child, 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 body weight, 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 cereals 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 the 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 up to 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 can be a dangerous phenomenon, leading to dehydration. 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 weight A child’s body at any age should be a signal for parents that it’s time to sound the alarm and seek help from doctors if you cannot help the baby on your own.

Tables of normal height and weight of children for boys and girls under one year old by month, from one year to 10 years, from 11 to 17 years old by year. How many kilograms should a child weigh by age? Teenagers are the norm for height and weight.

The children's height and weight chart gives a rough estimate of your baby's physical development. It indicates low, average (normal), high and very high indicators of the child’s weight and height.

Very low and very high scores indicate a deviation from the norm. Indicators in the range below and above average are considered standard.

Assessment of a child’s physical development

Child development is assessed according to four indicators:

• Height;
• Head circumference;
• Girth chest.

In this article we will talk about the first two parameters, given in accordance with the norm adopted by WHO.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a series of studies between 1997 and 2003 on the development of healthy children from 0 to 24 months, and in a cross-sectional study from 18 to 71 months. Research includes parameters of the child’s height and weight, their relationship and the monthly norm of physical development.

Indicators of physical development of girls and boys under one year of age

The height and weight of a child up to one year are the most important parameters for determining the normal development of the child. The nurse or doctor weighs the child monthly, measures his height, chest and head circumference, and records these figures in the medical record. What factors are taken into account?

• Maternal nutrition after conception.
• Gender of the child.
• Weight and height of the child at birth.
• Nutrition - height and weight directly depend on the daily intake of protein, carbohydrates, fats and calcium, vitamins and other microelements.
• Previous illnesses: ARVI, intestinal infections, severe dehydration, teeth thinning and loss of appetite.
• Genetics - the presence of disorders, congenital pathologies, chromosomal diseases.
• Social conditions in which the child is raised. Problems in the family environment directly affect the growth and development of the child. They lead to a delay or even arrest of development, and the genetic material that was passed on from parents to child does not reach its full potential. Children who develop in an environment filled with love, joy, peace and trust develop more harmonious and healthy bodies;
• Sleep - a child grows most rapidly during sleep. Systemic lack of sleep actually affects the development of the baby.

If a child is born prematurely or underweight, the weight and height of such a baby will differ from those of children born from 38 to 42 weeks of pregnancy and normal weight.

Weight and height chart for girls under one year old

Weight and height table for a boy under one year old

Characteristics of the first year of life

• The average (normal) birth weight of a baby is between 3.2 kg and 3.7 kg.
• The baby may have a normal birth weight, but the baby may even lose some weight in the first week of life.
• The weight of newborns is added monthly at the following average rate: from 1 to 3 months - 750 g, from 4 to 6 - 700 g, from 7 to 9 - 550 g, from 10 to 12 - 350 g
• When bottle-fed, babies gain weight quickly.
• The height range of a child may vary depending on the weight, gender, and overall development of the baby.
• The growth of a newborn increases monthly according to the following average pattern: from 1 to 3 months - 3.5 cm, from 3 to 6 - 2.5 cm, from 6 to 9 - 1.5-2 cm, 9-12 - 1 cm per month .
• Most intensive growth observed in the first months of life, then it slows down a little, and at the end of the first year of life the child grows even more slowly.
• The normal weight of a child for one year ranges from 8.9 kg to 9.6 kg.
• The average height of a 1 year old child is from 74 to 76 cm.
• In the first year of life, a child can grow by 20-25 cm.

Infants under one year of age are especially sensitive to underweight. Slow weight gain may indicate anemia, malnutrition, rickets, immune deficiency, endocrine disorders, and central nervous system disorders. With a stable weight loss, a delay can begin not only physically, but also in mental development. It is important to make sure that you infant enough breast milk. You can also add formula during breastfeeding.

Height to weight ratio in children

As we have already indicated, height and weight, considered separately, are not informative enough to determine the normal development of a child. Pediatricians are interested in their ratio - the correspondence of a certain height to a certain weight. If they are within normal limits, it means that the child is developing harmoniously; deviations from the norm indicate disorders that may be pathological.

Body mass index for children Quetelet

This is the formula for calculating your height/weight ratio. It doesn't take age into account. This is just the weight in grams divided by the height in centimeters. The Belgian statistician and mathematician Adolphe Quetelet developed an index that indicates the harmonious development of newborns:

Birth weight: height at birth = 60 – 70
The number to the right of the equality shows the index. In the range from 60 to 70 it is harmonious and healthy, and anomalies are pathological.

Example : The baby was born with a weight of 3.350 kg and a height of 52 cm - this is normal. But with a height of 56 cm, its mass is too low.

3350 g: 52 cm = 64.4 - normal
3350 g: 56 cm = 59.8 - below normal, the child’s height is below normal
3350 g: 47 cm = 71.2 - above normal, child above normal

Using this formula, you can always calculate how your child is developing (within what limits). It works during the following months after birth, without taking into account age itself.

And for older children, a Quetelet index below 60 means underweight due to intrauterine malnutrition. For what reason - should be clarified.

The Quetelet index and calculation formula are valid only for children born during term birth . For premature infants, there are other indices and formulas.

Forecast indices

Other formulas allow you to predict the final growth of a child - they take into account the genetic basis:

Hawker's formula

Boy's height = (father's height + mother's height): 2 + 6.4 cm
Girl's height = (father's height + mother's height): 2 - 6.4 cm

Formula for Frame

Boy's height = (Father's height + Mother's height X 1.08): 2
Girl's height = (Father's height x 0.923 + Mother's height): 2

Smirnov/Gorbunov formula

Boy's height = (father's height + mother's height + 12.5): 2
Girl's height = (father's height + mother's height - 12.5): 2

With this formula, the resulting height changes by +/- 8 cm.

Checking the parameters using specific examples showed that the third formula is closest to reality.

The child’s height/weight is not normal: why, what to do

The real sign of a problem is not a specific indicator that does not match the table, but general deterioration of the child’s condition + weight problems. Weight loss in combination with any of the following is a worthy cause for concern:

• The child suffers from severe dermatitis;
• Its development is periodically disrupted - it becomes chaotic, stops;
• The child periodically suffers from complications;
• He gets excited easily or, on the contrary, is too calm.

In the above cases, being underweight is just one symptom of the problem.

When the baby is alert and healthy, deviations from 75% to 125% from the data in the table n are not a cause for concern. Variation comes from factors such as genes, food, lifestyle. To make sure your baby is developing properly, check the head circumference as well as the chest circumference. An alarming sign of going beyond the norm is when some indicator reaches an extreme - plus or minus.

Growth disorders in children - why?

Suspicion falls on hormones or pathologies internal organs, if there are no adverse external effects - for example, injuries, if the child receives proper care and proper nutrition.

• Problems may be associated with endocrine disorders.
• Skeletal dysplasia and chromosomal diseases accompanied by short stature.
• Pathologies of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract.
• Indirectly - liver problems.
• In addition, growth disorders in children include some hereditary forms of pathology, for example, familial short stature.
  

Overweight in a child under one year old: why, what to do

Problems usually arise with artificial nutrition. In most cases there are three reasons:

1. Baby food is not properly selected, does not meet needs, or is not used correctly by parents. for example, the mother thinks that the diluted formula does not taste at all, and, to correct this, she adds more mixture than indicated. The child receives additional calories and gains weight with all the health consequences.
2. Overfeeding - if you act on the principle “the child will not eat more than he needs” - then you are mistaken. In fact, the baby obeys his sucking reflex and absorbs extra calories.
3. A genetically determined abnormality or nervous system control over the gastrointestinal tract is not developed for some reason.

The specific cause must be determined by a pediatrician.

The following nuances should also be taken into account when feeding infants: if regular food does not cause a rash or changes in stool in the child, parents often prematurely begin to give him food from their table in addition to formula.

As a result, some 4-month-old babies are already eating half a banana, others are scratching their gums on a cookie, thereby taking in additional food several times a day. This could result in overweight, and sometimes into a weight deficit (if nutrition is insufficient).

The problem is not weight, but...

The main part of the problems is associated with excessive parental care and psychological problems inherent in our culture.

Many grandmothers and mothers believe that a child should be well-fed. Fatness is an indicator of health. They do not take into account that physical indicators are individual, they still tend to compare their child with other children. In our culture, we respect physical strength and people in the body. It is believed that someone else’s child, who is a few grams fuller or a few centimeters taller, is more developed. The mother is probably on a diet, but she feeds the child excessively so that it is no worse than others. And grandmothers who suffered from hunger and poverty want to “provide” the future generation with red cheeks and plump legs.

Weight and height of girls and boys from one to ten years

What is the relationship between a child's weight and age during this period? As in early childhood, it is important to consider genetic predisposition, previous diseases, congenital pathologies. But equally important factors are diet, lifestyle, individual characteristics metabolism. It is also necessary to take into account the correspondence between the height and weight of the child.

Table of height, weight, age for girls from one year to 10 years

Growth table by year:

Weight table by year:

Table of height, weight, age for a boy from one year to 10 years

Growth table by year:

Weight table by year:

Teen Height and Weight Chart

The weight and height of children in this age range are characterized by a wide range of norms. With slow development in a boy and much faster development in a girl, complexes can form. It is important for a teenager to psychologically adapt to the changes that occur in his/her body in order to explain the reason for these changes. Teenage girls are strictly prohibited from dieting and adjusting themselves to the “beauty standards” established in society.

Table - weight of girls from 11 to 17 years old

Table - Height of girls aged 11 to 17 years

Table - Weight of boys aged 11 to 17 years

Table - Height of boys aged 11 to 17 years

Characteristics of physical development during puberty

• As a rule, girls develop physically until they are 17-19 years old.
• Boys grow up to 19-22 years old.
• Intensive growth in girls was observed at the age of 10-12 years.
• A boy's intensive growth usually begins later - from 13 to 16 years.
• The growth spurt is explained by the hormonal surge during puberty.
• The table shows the average indicators of the norm and deviations from it in terms of height and weight of children. It is always necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the body and genetic predisposition.

The height and weight of the child by month and year are reflected in the standards proposed by WHO. It is important to consider a number of individual factors that influence the physical development of girls and boys. If there is too intense or, conversely, a slow increase in height and weight in children of any age, consult a neurologist, gastroenterologist, or endocrinologist.

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website I found 5 ways to calculate the optimal weight that fitness professionals use.

Method 1. Quetelet index

If you know your body mass index, you can judge whether you are obese or underweight. The index is calculated for adult men and women from 20 to 65 years old. Results may be false for pregnant and breastfeeding women, athletes, the elderly and adolescents (under 18 years of age).

The resulting number will be your index. The norm for men is 19-25. For women - 19-24.

Method 2. Volumes

The Quetelet index shows the amount of fat in the body quite well, but does not indicate how the fat is distributed, in other words, it does not give a visual picture. But you can check your body for ideality using another formula.

The distribution of body fat is determined by the ratio: waist circumference (at the level of the navel) divided by the volume of the buttocks. The norm for men is 0.85; for women - 0.65 - 0.85.

Method 3. Taking into account age

It has been proven that the weight of men and women should gradually increase with age - this is a normal physiological process. The kilograms that some people consider “extra” may not actually be so. You can use a formula based on age to determine your optimal weight.

P is height in this case, and B is age in years. Body weight = 50 + 0.75 (P - 150) + (B - 20) : 4

Method 4. Broca's formula

One of the most popular calculation methods ideal weight is Broca's formula. It takes into account the ratio of height, weight, body type and age of a person.

Broca's formula for people under 40 years old: height (in cm) minus 110, after 40 years - height (in cm) minus 100.

In this case, people who have an asthenic (thin-boned) body type must subtract 10% from the result, and people who have a hypersthenic (broad-boned) body type must add 10% to the result.

How to determine your body type? It is enough to measure the circumference of the thinnest place on the wrist with a centimeter.

Method 5. Nagler's formula

There is a Nagler formula that allows you to calculate the ideal ratio of weight and height. For 152.4 cm of height there should be 45 kg of weight. For every inch (that is, 2.54 cm) over 152.4 cm there should be another 900 g. Plus another 10% of the resulting weight.

Method 6. John McCallum formula

One of the best formulas was created by expert methodologist John McCallum. Its formula is based on measuring the circumference of the wrist.

1. Wrist circumference multiplied by 6.5 is equal to chest circumference.
2. 85% of the chest circumference is equal to the hip circumference.
3. To get your waist circumference, you need to take 70% of your chest circumference.
4. 53% of the chest circumference is equal to the hip circumference.
5. For the neck circumference you need to take 37% of the chest circumference.
6. The biceps circumference is about 36% of the chest circumference.
7. The girth for the lower leg is slightly less than 34%.
8. The circumference of the forearm should be equal to 29% of the circumference of the chest.

But not everyone’s physical data will exactly correspond to these ratios; the numbers have an average, statistical average value.

A few more options for height and weight ratios:

1. The physique is considered ideal if the waist circumference is 25 cm less than the hip circumference, and the hip circumference is approximately equal to the chest circumference.
2. The waist circumference should be equal to: height in centimeters - 100. That is, a woman 172 cm tall will be built proportionally if the waist circumference is 72 cm, the hip and chest circumference is about 97 cm, that is, if she wears clothing size 48.
3. If the hip circumference is less than the chest circumference, and the waist circumference is 20 cm less than the hip circumference, then this figure is called an “apple”. If the chest circumference is less than the hip circumference, and the waist circumference is 30 cm or more less than the hip circumference, this is a pear-shaped figure.
4. For women and girls of average height - from 165 to 175 cm - this observation turned out to be fair. Their waist circumference in centimeters is approximately equal to their weight in kilograms. One kilogram of weight loss results in a decrease in waist size of one centimeter.

Every mother sooner or later asks herself the question: “Is the baby developing correctly?” Some people think that the child is too calm, others, on the contrary, that he is too active; for some, the child is overly well-fed, for others, he is “losing weight.” In order to understand the correct development of her child, every mother finds her own solutions, be it a consultation with a doctor or searching for answers on the World Wide Web.

When a child grows up, he is no longer such a defenseless lump, and it may seem that the difficulties are behind him, but this is only an appearance. With age, a huge number of changes occur in a small body. And all parents are concerned about how the child should develop correctly. One of the most often exciting issues for parents is the norm of height and weight for girls and boys. And all because this is, perhaps, one of the few visible indicators of the development of a young creature.

It should be noted that boys and girls develop differently, so you need to write about them separately.

Normal height and weight for girls

Nature dictates that boys are larger and taller, while girls are fragile, small and slender. But it is not only the gender of the child that determines the accuracy of height and weight measurements. You need to understand that the figures showing the ratio of height and weight for girls are approximate. After all, different nationalities have different external signs, for example, a European and an East Asian will clearly differ in height. Another factor of non-compliance with the parameters is lifestyle and nutrition.

There is also a so-called psychological factor, that is, sometimes a girl thinks that she is overweight, and she takes all sorts of actions to solve this problem. But this factor is typical for girls aged 14 and older. Also, we should not forget about heredity. In any case, even when all factors are determined, the norm of height and weight for girls may differ. After all, people tend to be different, have different muscle and bone mass, various features of growing up.

Weight and height chart for teenage girls

Although everyone develops differently, tables of approximate indicators are still available and are widely used by adolescent therapists. The data in this table is updated regularly, just as the statistical norms of height and weight for girls are updated.

The tables clearly illustrate the current norm in this regard. It should be noted that height and weight for girls are shown in three columns: very low height/weight level, average and very high.

Weight table

As for weight, the average figures look like this.

If one of the parameters in the table (weight or height) corresponds to a very low or very high value, then there is no need to immediately sound the alarm and take the teenager to medical specialists. The fact is that a young body tends to develop faster or slower. If, for example, a child is very tall, but his weight, on the contrary, is very low, then this situation indicates a so-called growth spurt. The same applies to a sharp jump in body weight towards increase. It is much worse if weight and height are close to the lower limits of normal. This picture may indicate problems in the child’s development.

Weight and height for a 12 year old girl

As you know, 12 years is a turning point for a young lady; she begins to turn from a girl into a girl. And these changes, physical and psychological, are very noticeable. Girls' bodies are rebuilt, metabolism accelerates, which, in turn, leads to less weight gain. Weight and height for a 12-year-old girl are the indicators about which parents should least worry. At this age, there may be a slowdown, some decline in physical development (within the normal range), but everything will be restored as the girl matures. Of course, the onset of puberty for every girl occurs at different times, and 12 years is by no means always a breaking point.

Body mass index

The approximate height of the girl before the start of " adolescence"should be between 137-164 cm, weight can range between 27-64 kg. If parents still have concerns about their child’s body weight, then try calculating the body mass index. This the right way checks suitable for any gender and age.

To calculate your body mass index, divide your weight by the square of your height. For example, weight 48 kg, height 1.56 - then 48: (1.56 * 1.56), that is, 48: 2.4336, equals 19.72.

The normal body mass index ranges from 19 to 25. If this figure is less than 19, then this indicates underweight, and if more than 25, then it indicates excess weight.

in girls

The transition period for a girl is a complex process of emotional and physical restructuring of a young body. The child begins to perceive the reality and people around him differently, to see what he did not pay attention to before. There may come a moment of complete denial of all norms of behavior. Actions go against everything, but this does not mean that the teenager has become bad person, it’s just that the physical changes that occur during this period in the body of a young girl force the nervous system to work “for wear and tear”, and it is clear that the girl does not fully understand why this is happening to her. As development processes accelerate, there is first some delay, after which there is a sharp increase in the girl’s height and weight. Usually this jump begins from the moment of the first menstruation. Also, the transition period is characterized by the final formation of the girl’s internal organs and the production of a huge amount of hormones. At this time, parents should be most attentive to the young girl.

Changes in the body of a teenage girl are natural and occur differently for everyone and at different times. Girls grow and gain weight. So that parents are aware of how correctly the child is developing, there are various calculation formulas and tables and weights for children.

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 excellent appetite a sign 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 is in large quantities ate high-calorie foods, 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. Overweight 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.