- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
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Question
Infant growth: What's normal?
My 6-month-old daughter doesn't seem to be growing as fast as other babies the same age are. Should I be concerned?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Probably not. Healthy infants come in a range of sizes. The rate at which your infant grows in the first year depends on several factors, including sex, diet and genetics. For example, boys usually grow faster than girls do, and bottle-fed babies tend to put on weight faster than breast-fed babies do.
Many healthy babies go through brief periods when they stop gaining weight or even lose a little weight. However, a doctor would likely be concerned only if an otherwise healthy baby doesn't gain weight for three consecutive well-baby exams during the first year.
Doctors monitor infant growth at well-baby exams using standard growth charts, which compare your baby's weight, height and head circumference with those of other babies who are the same sex and age. Infants who fall below a certain weight range for their age or who are failing to gain weight at the expected rate may require further evaluation.
So how much should you expect your infant to grow in the first year?
- Weight. Infants generally gain 4 to 7 ounces (113 to 198 grams) a week during the first month. After the first month, they gain an average of 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a month for the first six months. From six months to 1 year, they gain about 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a month.
- Height. Infants generally grow about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) a month during the first six months, and about 1/2 inch (1 centimeter) a month from six months to one year.
If you're concerned about your child's size or rate of growth, consult your child's doctor.
| Infant growth: What's normal? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age of infant | Average growth in height | Average growth in weight |
| 0-6 months | 6-7 inches (15-18 centimeters) | 7-12 pounds (3-5 kilograms) |
| 6-12 months | 3-4 inches (8-10 centimeters) | 5-7 pounds (2-3 kilograms) |
| 12-24 months | 4-5 inches (10-13 centimeters) | 5-7 pounds (2-3 kilograms) |
Adapted from the National Center for Health Statistics, 2000
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