How to identify malnutrition in children through weight and height measurements.
Parents can check if their children are malnourished by monitoring their weight and height growth indicators.
Standard weight for children
The weight of a full-term newborn baby is approximately 2.9 - 3.8 kg.
Infants under 6 months old gain an average of at least 600g per month, or 125g per week. After 6 months of age, babies gain an average of about 500g per month.
In the second year after birth, the baby will gain approximately 2.5 - 3 kg.
From the second year onwards, a child's growth potential is approximately 2kg per year until puberty.
How to weigh your baby correctly
The most accurate way to measure your baby's weight is to weigh them immediately after they urinate or have a bowel movement.
Subtract the weight of clothes, diapers, etc.
During the first year, you should weigh your baby once a month: Boys will generally weigh slightly more than girls, so mothers don't need to worry too much.
2. Basic principles of height growth indicators in children
Standard height for newborns
Newborn babies are typically about 50cm long.
A baby's height will grow fastest in the first year. From 1-6 months, the average increase is 2.5cm/month. From 6-12 months, the increase is about 1.5cm/month.
After the second year, the rate of height growth in babies begins to slow down, averaging only about 10-12cm.
From the age of 2 until puberty, children will grow an average of 6-7 cm per year.
How to measure your child's height correctly
For accurate height measurements, mothers should take the measurements in the morning.
Before measuring, remember to remove your child's shoes, hat, or cap.
For children under 3 years old, height can be measured while they are lying on their backs.
Similarly to weight, boys will be slightly taller than girls, which is normal, so mothers don't need to worry too much.
3. Standard height and weight chart for infants and young children
Child's age | Weight of a baby boy (kg) | Boy's height (cm) | Weight of baby girl (kg) | Girl's height (cm) |
Newborn | 2.9 - 3.8 | 48.2 - 52.8 | 2.7 - 3.6 | 47.7 - 52 |
1 month | 3.6 - 5.0 | 52.1 - 57.0 | 3.4 - 4.5 | 51.2 - 55.8 |
2 months | 4.3 - 6.0 | 55.5 - 60.7 | 4.0 - 5.4 | 54.4 - 59.2 |
3 months | 5.0 - 6.9 | 58.5 - 63.7 | 4.7 - 6.2 | 57.1 - 59.5 |
4 months | 5.7 - 7.6 | 61.0 - 66.4 | 5.3 - 6.9 | 59.4 - 64.5 |
5 months | 6.3 - 8.2 | 63.2 - 68.6 | 5.8 - 7.5 | 61.5 - 66.7 |
6 months | 6.9 - 8.8 | 65.1 - 70.5 | 6.3 - 8.1 | 63.3 - 68.6 |
8 months | 7.8 - 9.8 | 68.3 - 73.6 | 7:2 - 9:1 | 66.4 - 71.8 |
10 months | 8.6 - 10.6 | 71.0 - 76.3 | 7.9 - 9.9 | 69.0 - 74.5 |
12 months | 9:1 - 11:3 | 73.4 - 78.8 | 8.5 - 10.6 | 71.5 - 77.1 |
15 months | 9.8 - 12.0 | 76.6 - 82.3 | 9:1 - 11:3 | 74.8 - 80.7 |
18 months | 10:3 - 12:7 | 79.4 - 85.4 | 9.7 - 12.0 | 77.9 - 84.0 |
21 months | 10.8 - 13.3 | 81.9 - 88.4 | 10.2 - 12.6 | 80.6 - 87.0 |
2 years | 11.2 - 14.0 | 84.3 - 91.0 | 10.6 - 13.2 | 83.3 - 89.8 |
2.5 years | 12:1 - 15:3 | 88.9 - 95.8 | 11.7 - 14.7 | 87.9 - 94.7 |
3 years old | 13.0 - 16.4 | 91.1 - 98.7 | 12.6 - 16.1 | 90.2 - 98.1 |
3.5 years old | 13.9 - 17.6 | 95.0 - 103.1 | 13.5 - 17.2 | 94.0 - 101.8 |
4 years old | 14.8 - 18.7 | 98.7 - 107.2 | 14:3 - 18:3 | 97.6 - 105.7 |
4.5 years old | 15.7 - 19.9 | 102.1 - 111.0 | 15.0 - 19.4 | 100.9 - 109.3 |
5 years old | 16.6 - 21.1 | 105.3 - 114.5 | 15.7 - 20.4 | 104.0 - 112.8 |
5.5 years old | 17:4 - 22:3 | 108.4 - 117.8 | 16.5 - 21.6 | 106.9 - 116.2 |
6 years old | 18.4 - 23.6 | 111.2 - 121.0 | 17.3 - 22.9 | 109.7 - 119.6 |
7 years old | 20.2 - 26.5 | 116.6 - 126.8 | 19.1 - 26.0 | 115.1 - 126.2 |
8 years old | 22.2 - 30.0 | 121.6 - 132.2 | 21.4 - 30.2 | 120.4 - 132.4 |
9 years old | 24.3 - 34.0 | 126.5 - 137.8 | 24:1 - 35:3 | 125.7 - 138.7 |
10 years old | 26.8 - 38.7 | 131.4 - 143.6 | 27.2 - 40.9 | 131.5 - 145.1 |
The above is a standard chart of height and weight for infants and young children to help mothers identify whether their child is malnourished. These are two important factors that help assess a child's physical condition so that mothers can provide better care and nutrition for their child's healthy development.
