Baby’s growth

Essential information to rememberYour child is unique! He will grow at his own pace.

Photo: Claude Fortin

A variety of factors can influence the speed at which a child grows, including gender, diet, and genetic makeup. Your baby is unique, and will grow at his own pace. He may be bigger or smaller than other babies his age.

Growth spurts

During your baby’s first months, he will experience periods of rapid growth called “growth spurts.”

Growth spurts occur most frequently around

  • 7 to 10 days
  • 3 to 6 weeks
  • 3 to 4 months

Children of the same age don’t necessarily have their growth spurts at the same time.

Tracking baby’s growth

To track a baby’s growth, a health professional will weigh him and measure his height and head circumference from time to time. The health professional will record the results on a growth chart. There’s no need to measure or weigh your child at home unless a health professional recommends it.

If you have questions about your child’s growth, don’t hesitate to talk to a health professional.