Height and Weight in Infancy and Childhood

 Height and Weight in Infancy and Childhood

 Infancy :        Average 20 inches, 7 ½ pounds at birth; 

 Full-term newborns (95%) are 18 to 22 inches long and weigh between 5½ and 10 pounds. 

After delivery lose 5 -7 % body weight. Infants adjust to sucking, swallowing, and digesting, they gaining an average of 5 to 6 ounces per week during the first month. 

They have doubled their birth weight by the age of 4 months.

 1st Year Triple weight by 1 year

  1½ adult height, 20% adult weight by age 2

 2nd Year Rate of growth slows down

Infants weigh approximately 26 to 32 pounds, one-fifth of their adult weight.

32 to 35 inches tall, which is nearly one-half of adult height.

Early   Childhood:   Growth slows, patterns vary individually

Girls slightly smaller and lighter than boys.

Both boys and girls slim down

Heads are large for their bodies, by the end of the preschool years they have lost their top-heavy look.

Girls gain fat, boys gain muscle.

Height differences are based on the ethnic origin and nutrition.

SES: First born --taller --Urban & Middle

Mothers smoked during pregnancy were half an inch shorter

Problems for short:

Congenital factors (genetic or prenatal problems), growth hormone deficiency, a physical problem that develops in childhood, or an emotional difficulty. 

Physical problems include malnutrition and chronic infections.

Middle and Late Childhood:  6 - 11 yrs; Slower, consistent growth

Elementary school years - grow an average of 2 to 3 inches a year. 

Boys & Girls 4 feet 2 inches tall and gain about 5 to 7 pounds a year. 8 yrs weigh 56 pounds. 

Muscle mass and strength increase as well as the size of some body organs.

increase in muscular strength is due to heredity and exercise.

Boys stronger, body proportions change

Head circumference, waist circumference, and leg length decrease in relation to body height.