Children grow at different rates.Some children can develop very quickly, while others are just much slower. This is usually no reflection on the health status of your child. After birth, it is usual for babies to drop between 5% and 10% of their original weight. In the first few months, breast-fed babies can often be heavier than bottle fed infants. Later in the first year, breast-fed children are often thinner than bottle fed children. After six months, the build of a child is generally dependent on characteristics inherited from their parents.

Babies experience a rapid growth rate from birth to 24 months; thereafter their growth rate is steady. There is very little difference between boys and girls in size in infancy and during early childhood. Girls tend to develop more quickly thereafter up until early teenage years.

Generally, infants will increase their length by about 30% by the first 5 months, by about 12 months, an infant's height has increased by 50%. An infants weight is expected to double between birth and five months, increases three times by the age of 1 year and almost four times by 24 months.

Check to see if your child's weight and height is between the 3rd and 97th percentile for their age. The figures given are based on the weight and height per 100 children of the same age. The height and weight graphs display the average weight of a child. If you feel that your baby is outside the scale for his or her age, without any apparent reason, you may wish to discuss it with your family doctor.