Physical development stages, height velocity, weight milestones, and puberty progression from birth to age 18.
A child's growth is a key indicator of overall health, nutrition, and endocrine balance. Children grow rapidly during the first two years, maintain a steady rate during childhood, and experience a dramatic growth spurt during puberty.
The fastest period of growth after birth. Birth weight typically doubles by 5 months and triples by 12 months. Length increases by ~25 cm in the first year alone.
Growth slows to a steady velocity of approximately 6–8 cm per year and 2–3 kg weight gain per year. Gross motor skills and body proportions mature rapidly.
Growth remains steady at 5–6 cm per year. Muscle strength, bone density, and facial structure evolve prior to the onset of hormonal changes.
Driven by gonadotropins, pubertal growth spurts account for 15-20% of final adult height. Girls usually experience peak growth earlier (11-13 yrs) than boys (13-15 yrs).
| Age Group | Avg Weight (Boys) | Avg Height (Boys) | Avg Weight (Girls) | Avg Height (Girls) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 3.3 kg | 49.9 cm | 3.2 kg | 49.1 cm |
| 1 Year | 9.6 kg | 75.7 cm | 8.9 kg | 74.0 cm |
| 3 Years | 14.3 kg | 96.1 cm | 13.9 kg | 95.1 cm |
| 5 Years | 18.3 kg | 110.0 cm | 18.2 kg | 109.4 cm |
| 8 Years | 25.6 kg | 128.0 cm | 25.4 kg | 127.5 cm |
| 12 Years | 40.5 kg | 149.0 cm | 41.5 kg | 151.0 cm |
| 16 Years | 60.8 kg | 173.5 cm | 54.2 kg | 162.5 cm |
| 18 Years | 68.9 kg | 176.5 cm | 57.0 kg | 163.8 cm |
Growth velocity is highly individualized and influenced by genetics, nutrition, and health conditions. If a child drops significantly across percentile channels or fails to gain height for over 6 months, consult a pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist.