For any parent, a growing child's health and development are top priority. That's why we're always on the lookout for signs of good health. But what exactly should you keep your eyes trained on?
How do you know when your child is growing healthy?
There are many different signs to look out for in children that indicate their health and that they are developing normally. These include their physical appearance, how they behave and how they interact with others.
Read on for a brief list of things to keep your sights on, to learn about your child's health and development.
Weight
According to research, children who keep their weight under control tend to be more active, happy, mentally capable, and more confident. They are also much less inclined to develop health problems as they age.
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to finding the ideal weight for your kids! The first thing is to make sure that they are comfortable with whatever weight they have. If they seem uncomfortable or unhappy, then it might be time to consider changes in their diets. Second, you want to make sure that their head is in proportion with their body.
Generally, healthcare providers use growth charts to track a child's weight and growth over time, comparing their weight to other children of the same age and gender.
As a guideline, here are the average weights for children based on age and gender:
| Ideal Weight | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Female | Male |
| 2 | 26.5 lb. (12.02 kg) | 27.5 lb. (12.47 kg) |
| 3 | 31.5 lb. (14.29 kg) | 31.0 lb. (14.06 kg) |
| 4 | 34.0 lb. (15.42 kg) | 36.0 lb. (16.33 kg) |
| 5 | 39.5 lb. (17.92 kg) | 40.5 lb. (18.37 kg) |
| 6 | 44.0 lb. (19.96 kg) | 45.5 lb. (20.64 kg) |
| 7 | 49.5 lb. (22.45 kg) | 50.5 lb. (22.9 kg) |
| 8 | 57.0 lb. (25.85 kg) | 56.5 lb. (25.63 kg) |
| 9 | 62.0 lb. (28.12 kg) | 63.0 lb. (28.58 kg) |
| 10 | 70.5 lb. (31.98 kg) | 70.5 lb. (32 kg) |
| 11 | 81.5 lb. (36.97 kg) | 78.5 lb. (35.6 kg) |
| 12 | 91.5 lb. (41.5 kg) | 88.0 lb. (39.92 kg) |
Height
The height of a child is essential, and a clear sign of their physical and nutritional status. Observing the height of a child can help determine whether a child suffers from chronic or acute malnutrition.
As a parent, you may have questions about how tall your children should be. You may wonder if they are growing too tall or not tall enough. The truth is, there is no “ideal” height for kids. All children grow at their own pace and reach their full potential height at different ages. However, there are some general height ranges that doctors use to track a child’s growth.
You can check this chart for reference.
| Height Chart | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Female | Male |
| 2 | 33.7" (85.5 cm) | 34.2" (86.8 cm) |
| 3 | 37.0" (94 cm) | 37.5" (95.2 cm) |
| 4 | 39.5" (100.3 cm) | 40.3" (102.3 cm) |
| 5 | 42.5" (107.9 cm) | 43.0" (109.2 cm) |
| 6 | 45.5" (115.5 cm) | 45.5" (115.5 cm) |
| 7 | 47.7" (121.1 cm) | 48.0" (121.9 cm) |
| 8 | 50.5" (128.2 cm) | 50.4" (128 cm) |
| 9 | 52.5" (133.3 cm) | 52.5" (133.3 cm) |
| 10 | 54.5" (138.4 cm) | 54.5" (138.4 cm) |
| 11 | 56.7" (144 cm) | 56.5" (143.5 cm) |
| 12 | 59.0" (149.8 cm) | 58.7" (149.1 cm) |
Energy Level
Generally, healthy children have enough energy to participate in physical activities, as well as academic and social pursuits. They can do their daily activities without feeling exhausted. Younger children, such as toddlers and preschoolers, typically have high energy levels. They can spend much of their time running, jumping, and playing. As children get older, they may become more sedentary due to various factors such as increased screen time and academic demands.
It is important to know that children's energy levels can be influenced by diet, sleep patterns, and stress levels. Children who are not getting enough sleep or who are not eating a healthy, balanced diet may experience lower energy levels. Additionally, children who are dealing with stress or health issues may also have lower energy levels.
Mental Strength
A healthy child's mental aptitude refers to their overall cognitive abilities, including their ability to learn, think, reason, and solve problems. Mental aptitude is influenced by several factors, including genetics, early childhood experiences, and environmental factors such as education, socialization, and nutrition.
A child with strong mental aptitude may show several cognitive strengths, including:
- → Language development: They may have a strong vocabulary and communication skills, and be able to understand and use language effectively.
- → Memory: They may be able to remember and recall information easily and accurately.
- → Attention: They may have good concentration and attention span, and be able to focus on tasks for extended periods of time.
- → Spatial reasoning: They may have good spatial awareness and be able to visualize and manipulate objects and spaces effectively.
As parents, you don’t need to feel pressured. It is important to note that mental aptitude is a complex and multi-faceted concept. Some children may have strengths in some areas but weaknesses in others. Additionally, mental aptitude can develop and change over time with education, experiences, and training.
Appetite for the Growing Child!
As a parent, you want your children to grow up healthy and strong. Children need a variety of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, to support their growth and development. Eating a balanced diet can also improve cognitive function, including memory, attention, and concentration, which can help children perform better in school and other activities.
Aside from a healthy diet and exercise, one way to support their mental and physical growth is by giving them supplements. Supplements provide essential nutrients that kids may not get from their diet alone.
Ensuring that children consume appropriate vitamins may help foster healthy eating habits, as their dietary patterns form the basis for their overall health and vitality.
If you are not familiar with vitamins, you may find it beneficial to review the following
vitamins and the advantages they offer:
1.) 100% RENI B-Complex Vitamins: Coenzyme in energy transformation that helps build tissues. Helps in increasing appetite, increased energy level, body weight and general well-being of a child.
- → Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) helps your child’s body convert carbohydrates as energy.
- → Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) helps support your child’s healthy nerves, skin and red blood cells.
- → Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) helps to prevent and treat low blood levels so that your child’s body has good metabolism, blood cells and nerves.
2.) 100% RENI Iron (as Ferric Pyrophosphate): It helps transport oxygen around your child’s body so that your child is able to optimize the conversion of food into energy.
3.) Lysine: Essential Amino Acid that helps increase one's desire to eat. Lysine is an essential amino acid that is not produced by the body, so it is sourced from your child’s diet or through supplements.
RENI stands for Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake while RDA stands for Recommended Dietary Allowance.
Want to know more about the benefits of these vitamins? Check out the Appebon website for other details!
ASC Reference No. U0156P032823A
References:
https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards/standards/length-height-for-age
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324728
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324728
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/grow12yr.html
https://www.disabled-world.com/calculators-charts/height-weight-teens.php
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=the-growing-child-2-year-olds-90-P02303
https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/childrens-weight/#ways-to-help
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/childrens-weight/healthy-weight-children-advice-for-parents/
