drwadhwasclinic - Dr Wadhwas Clinic

The male baby is usually 250 to 500 g heavier and 1 cm longer than the female

baby of the same age.

The weight gain of a newborn is at the rate of 200 g week in the first three months and 150 g per week in the next three months. At 6 to 9 months age the weight gain reduces to 100 g per week and after 9 months to 75 g a week. Thereafter, the weight increases at the rate of 50 g a week till the child is 10 years old. This explains why the child at one year eats less than what he took at three months.


The weight of the baby doubles by the fifth month and triples by one year of age.

The approximate height a child may achieve can be calculated. Add the parents’ height in centimeters and add 13 for boys (or subtract 13 for girls) and divide the
total by 2.

The newborn at birth measures 50 cm and doubles its height by 4 years.

The height at 1 year 10 months is approximately half of adult height.


There are various factors which determine the ultimate height and weight achieved by a child-the most important being heredity. As long as the child’s parameters show a steady increase and fall within the normal range (colour zones), there is no cause for worry. Consult your doctor if your child’s growth curve falls in the white zone as shown in the graph.