You're in for many changes! By midway through this year, most babies are walking
and learning to talk. They're turning into toddlers. By their second birthdays, most
are losing that "baby" look. As toddlers get stronger and more capable, their rate
of physical growth slows during this year.
How Much Should My Child Grow?
During this second year of life, growth slows down. Your toddler may gain about
5 pounds (2.27 kg) and grow about 4 or 5 inches (10 to 12 cm). By 2 years, children
have reached about half of their adult height and 90% of adult head size. Boys tend
to weigh about a pound more than girls but average about the same height.
What you will notice more than actual growth are changes in a toddler's appearance.
Body proportions are beginning to change. Instead of sporting the rounded belly and
relatively short arms and legs suited to crawling on all fours, toddlers start to
trim down, become more muscular because of increased activity, and will begin to look
more like preschoolers than babies.
Should I Be Concerned?
Like babies, toddlers come in all shapes and sizes. Your doctor will continue to
plot your little one's growth on a growth
chart during regular checkups.
Although you may be concerned that your child is too thin or too chubby at any one
time, the most important thing is that your child continues to grow at a steady rate.
During the second year of life, babies are learning to feed themselves. They are
moving to table foods
and learning about new tastes and textures. Keep in mind that appetites slow down
as growth slows and there may be times when your child is not very interested
in food. If you have concerns your child is not eating enough, speak with your doctor.
Encourage activity and exploration
by providing a safe environment that lets your child be active every day. Besides
the physical benefits, this is also how a lot of learning takes place. This should
be fairly easy, as most toddlers are naturally curious and seize every opportunity
to move.
Try not to let your baby spend too much time in confined spaces — such as
strollers, playpens, and cribs — that restrain moving and exploring.
What's Next?
Toddlers grow at a slower but steady rate. From their second birthday to their third,
most kids grow
only about 2–3 inches. But you will see your child growing in other ways, especially
in the area of language.
Continue to provide a safe and healthy environment to support your child's growth
and development. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your child's
growth.
