Your child’s ideal weight for children and height continue to change as they grow.
That’s why a standard reference is essential for tracking your baby’s and child’s ideal weight.
Read on for a complete guide to the ideal weight for children, including height benchmarks for babies and kids.
What Is the Normal Birth Weight for a Newborn?
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According to American pediatrician Dr. Robert M. Kliegman, the average normal birth weight of a newborn is between 3 and 3.5 kilograms.
By 5 months of age, a baby’s ideal weight is twice their birth weight. At 1 year old, the weight reaches three times the birth weight, and at 2 years old, it becomes four times the birth weight.
What Is the Ideal Weight Gain for Babies?
Kliegman also provided a guideline for ideal baby weight gain in the first year:
- 700–1000 grams/month in the first quarter
- 500–600 grams/month in the second quarter
- 350–450 grams/month in the third quarter
- 250–350 grams/month in the fourth quarter
During the preschool years, the average ideal weight gain for toddlers is about 2 kg per year.
Kliegman also established the average ideal height of a newborn baby as 50 cm.
- By the age of 1, their height will reach one and a half times their birth length.
- At 4 years old, a child’s height will be about twice their birth length.
- By age 6, their height will be about one and a half times their height at age 1.
What Factors Affect a Baby’s Weight Gain?
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Several factors can affect a baby’s weight, including gender, the type of milk consumed, and individual health conditions. Here are the details:
1. Gender
Baby boys tend to be larger than baby girls and gain weight slightly faster during the first few months.
2. Type of Milk Consumed
A baby’s weight gain and growth rate can also depend on the type of milk they consume, whether it’s breast milk or formula.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies who are breastfed tend to gain weight and grow more rapidly than formula-fed babies during the first 6 months.
However, this can change in the following 6 months.
Breastfed babies may grow more slowly than formula-fed babies between the ages of 6 months to 1 year.
3. Certain Health Conditions
Certain health issues can cause a baby’s weight gain to be slower.
For example, babies with congenital heart defects may have a harder time gaining weight compared to healthy babies.
The same goes for babies born prematurely. Their weight gain tends to be slower in the first year than that of full-term babies.
However, in most cases, premature babies can gain weight quickly and catch up before they turn 1 year old.
Additionally, be alert to health issues that affect nutrient absorption or digestion.
For example, celiac disease can make it difficult for a baby to gain weight.
Ideal Weight for Babies and Children
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A baby’s growth and weight gain occur most rapidly during the first 6 months of life.
On average, a baby gains about 113–200 grams per week during the first 4 to 6 months.
Weight gain then slows slightly, with an average increase of around 85–140 grams per week from 6 to 18 months of age.
By the age of one year, a baby’s weight typically triples their birth weight.
What Is the Ideal Height and Weight for Children?
According to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 2 of 2020 on Child Anthropometric Standards, the ideal or average height and weight of babies and children are categorized based on gender, as follows:
Ideal Weight for Baby and Toddler Boys
|
Age |
Ideal Weight |
0 month |
3.3 kg |
1 month |
4.5 kg |
2 month |
5.6 kg |
3 month |
6.4 kg |
4 month |
7.0 kg |
5 month |
7.9 kg |
6 month |
8.3 kg |
7 month |
8.6 kg |
8 month |
8,9 kg |
9 month |
9.2 kg |
10 month |
9.6 kg |
11 month |
9.9 kg |
12 month |
10.1 kg |
2 month |
12.2 kg |
3 month |
14.3 kg |
4 month |
16.3 kg |
5 month |
18.3 kg |
Ideal Weight for Baby and Toddler Girls
|
Age |
Ideal Weight |
0 month |
3.2 kg |
1 month |
4.2 kg |
2 month |
5.1 kg |
3 month |
5.8 kg |
4 month |
6.4 kg |
5 month |
6.9 kg |
6 month |
7.3 kg |
7 month |
7.6 kg |
8 month |
7.9 kg |
9 month |
8.2 kg |
10 month |
8.5 kg |
11 month |
8.7 kg |
12 month |
8.9 kg |
2 month |
11.5 kg |
3 month |
13.9 kg |
4 month |
16.1 kg |
5 month |
18.2 kg |
It’s important to remember that growth patterns don’t follow a fixed schedule.
Some babies gain weight steadily or gradually, while others may experience a growth spurt, which can happen at any time.
How to Calculate the Ideal Weight of Babies and Children
Here are some formulas you can use to independently estimate your baby’s and child’s ideal height and weight:
Ages 3 to 12 months:
Ideal weight (in kg) = (Age in months + 9) ÷ 2
Ages 1 to 6 years:
Ideal weight (in kg) = (Age in years × 2) + 8
Ages 7 to 12 years:
Ideal weight (in kg) = ((Age in years × 7) – 5) ÷ 2
Normal growth reflects optimal nutritional status and health condition.
If weight gain remains normal, height/length and head circumference will also likely be normal. Growth occurs simultaneously, but at different speeds.
A child’s growth should be assessed regularly. Many physical and psychosocial issues can affect a child’s development.
Growth disturbances may be an early sign of nutritional or health problems.
Calculating the Ideal Height of Babies and Children
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Weight is not the only indicator of physical development. Other measurements, such as a baby’s height and head circumference, also play a role.
Here are formulas for calculating the ideal height of babies and children:
- Newborn: Around 50 cm
- Up to 1 year old: 1.5 × birth height
- At 4 years old: 2 × birth height
- At 6 years old: 1.5 × height at age 1
- At 13 years old: 3 × birth height
- For children over 13 and adults: 3.5 × birth height (or 2 × height at age 1)
Parents can also use this formula for children aged 2–12 years:
Ideal height = (Age in years × 6) + 77
The guidelines from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia provide standard height measurements for babies and children based on age.
Ideal Height for Baby and Toddler Boys
|
Age
|
Ideal height
|
0 month |
49.9 cm |
1 month |
54.7 cm |
2 month |
58.4 cm |
3 month |
61.4 cm |
4 month |
63.9 cm |
5 month |
65.9 cm |
6 month |
67.6 cm |
7 month |
69.2 cm |
8 month |
70.6 cm |
9 month |
72.0 cm |
10 month |
73.3 cm |
11 month |
74.5 cm |
12 month |
75.7 cm |
2 month |
87.8 cm |
3 month |
96.1 cm |
4 month |
103.3 cm |
5 month |
110 cm |
Ideal Height for Baby and Toddler Girls
|
Age |
Ideal Height |
0 month |
49.1 cm |
1 month |
53.7 cm |
2 month |
57.1 cm |
3 month |
59.8 cm |
4 month |
62.1 cm |
5 month |
64.0 cm |
6 month |
65.7 cm |
7 month |
67.3 cm |
8 month |
68.7 cm |
9 month |
70.1 cm |
10 month |
71.5 cm |
11 month |
72.8 cm |
12 month |
74.0 cm |
2 month |
86.4 cm |
3 month |
95.1 cm |
4 month |
102.7 cm |
5 month |
109.4 cm |
What Foods Can Help Children Grow Taller?
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Foods rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins are essential for a child’s height growth. Here are some height-boosting foods, as cited from Mom Junction:
- Eggs
Eggs are rich in protein and are great for promoting height growth. They are also a good source of vitamin B2, known as riboflavin.
- Milk
Milk helps increase height by providing calcium and vitamin D. It also contains vitamin A, which helps maintain calcium in the body. For teenagers, it’s best to consume low-fat or fat-free milk that still contains protein.
- Chicken
Chicken is one of the highest sources of protein among animal-based foods. It provides a significant amount of protein needed by the body to build tissues and muscles.
- Beef
Like chicken, beef is also high in protein but contains fats that may increase cholesterol levels.
- Starches and Grains
Starches and grains are a good source of carbohydrates, providing energy to the body. They also contain B vitamins, fiber, iron, magnesium, and selenium. Brown rice, corn, whole wheat bread, and whole grain pasta help meet the calorie needs of growing children.
- Soybeans
Why are soybeans considered height-boosting? The pure protein in soy can help increase bone and tissue mass. For teenagers aiming to grow taller, it’s recommended to consume 50 grams of soybeans daily.
- Fish
Fish is one of the best foods for promoting height. Salmon and tuna are especially rich in vitamin D and protein.
Once again, the numbers provided above are just reference points for your baby’s and child’s ideal height and weight.
Don’t forget to use the growth chart on the KMS (Child Growth Monitoring Card) to track your baby’s and child’s ideal weight range.