This is the most common complaint of all the mothers. As a parent it is natural to be concerned about the child?s growth. During ?doctor shopping? some of the parents unfortunately fall prey to quacks with those colorful bottles claiming to boost up the child?s growth and appetite. As a child specialist I have seen many children landing up in the emergency ward in a serious state having no documentation of the medicine which was given to them previously as a tonic.
To make thing simpler for the parents I have summarized the various stages of growth. If your child is following these stages, you need not worry.
Infantile Stage (birth to 1year)
Most infants become triple of their birth weight at 1 year and roughly measure 75cm in length. This is the fastest phase of their growth.
Toddler Stage (2 to 4 years)
Growth is not as fast as it was before. They should have an average weight between 12 kg to 16 kg and height between 85 to 100 cms for ages 2 to 4 years respectively.
Slow Phase (Latent phase - 4 to 12 years)
The child gains only 2 kg per year. This is the phase when most of the mothers are unduly worried about the child?s appetite & weight gain and try all possible remedies.
Adolescent growth spurt (12 to 16 years)
Weight and height gain are dramatic during this phase due to sudden surge of hormones. This phase is slightly earlier in girls.
Final height
Depends on diet, hormonal, genetic and environmental factors.
If the parents have knowledge of these stages they will be satisfied that their child is growing normally and will not look for some ?magic potion? to accelerate their child?s growth.
Remember we all were fussy eaters and were choosy about foods when we were kids, still we grew up quiet well.
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