How to identify malnourished children through weight and height index
Parents can check whether their children are malnourished by checking their weight and height development indicators.
Standard weight of children
The weight of a full-term newborn baby is about 2.9 - 3.8 kg.
Newborns under 6 months old have an average monthly weight gain of at least 600g or 125g per week. After 6 months old, babies will gain an average of about 500g/month.
During the second year after birth, your baby will gain about 2.5 - 3kg.
After the second year, the baby's growth potential is about 2kg per year until puberty.
Measure your child's weight correctly
The correct way to measure your baby's weight is to weigh him or her right after he or she urinates or has a bowel movement.
Excluding weight of clothes, diapers, nappies…
In the first year, you need to weigh your baby once a month: Boys will weigh a little more than girls, so mothers don't need to worry too much.
2. Basic principles of height growth indicators in children
Standard height of newborn baby
Newborn babies are usually about 50cm long.
Your 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, it increases about 1.5cm/month.
After the second year, the baby's length growth begins to slow down, only increasing an average of about 10-12cm.
After 2 years old until puberty, children will grow an average of 6-7cm/year.
Measure your baby's height correctly
To measure height accurately, mothers should measure in the morning.
Before measuring, remember to remove your child's shoes, hat, and cap.
Children under 3 years old can have their height measured while lying on their back.
Similar to weight, boys will be a little taller than girls, this is normal so mothers don't need to think too much.
3. Standard height and weight table for infants and young children
Child's age | Baby boy weight (kg) | Boy height (cm) | Baby girl weight (kg) | Girl 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 |
Above is a standard table of height and weight in infants and young children to help mothers recognize whether their children are malnourished or not. These are two important factors that help assess the physical condition of children so that mothers can take care of and nourish their children to develop better.