Understanding Normal Growth Patterns in the First Two Years

Let’s look at two common scenarios:

1️⃣ An 8-month-old baby who weighed 6 kg at 6 months but now weighs only 7 kg. Parents feel distressed.

2️⃣ A 1.5-year-old child who weighed 10 kg at 12 months but still weighs the same at 18 months. Parents worry that the child is losing weight.

Things to remember:

🔹 Growth is not linear throughout the first two years. Some months show rapid growth, while others have slower growth. Nutrition and genetics play a crucial role.

🔹 Never compare your child’s growth with another child’s. Every baby grows at their own pace. A child born at the same weight as another may grow differently, and both can be perfectly healthy.

What is a Normal Growth Pattern?

✅ Birth to 1 year:

A new-born’s weight usually triples by the first year (e.g., a 3 kg baby reaches 9–10 kg by 12 months).

Weight doubles in the first 3–5 months and triples over the next 6–8 months.

✅ 1 to 2 years:

• Weight gain slows down significantly—only around 1–2 kg in the entire year.
• Height, however, increases by about 10–12 cm in the second year.
• The child starts walking, increasing physical activity, which balances calorie intake and expenditure.

If your child is active, playful, eating well, meeting developmental milestones, and growing in height, there is no need to worry! Every child grows at their own pace, and you’re doing a great job as a parent. 😊

Share this with a fellow parent who needs to hear this!

Dr Deepa Aggarwal

Senior Consultant Paediatrician

MD/ DNB Paediatrics & Neonatology

LHMC / AIIMS Delhi

Mayom Hospital, Gurgaon

DrdeepaAggarwal #Pediatrician#childdoctor#childhealth #newborncare #parenting #BabyGrowth #ParentingTips#BabyGrowth #ParentingTips #ChildDevelopment #NewMom #MomLife #BabyWeightGain #HealthyBaby #GrowthMilestones #NoMoreMomGuilt #DoctorApproved #ToddlerGrowth