- 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."
Infant and toddler health (3)
- Flu shots for kids: Should healthy kids be vaccinated?
- Baby Einstein: Can baby DVDs promote infant development?
- Fruit juice: Is it good or bad for kids?
Newborn health (3)
- Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- Sagging breasts: Inevitable after breast-feeding?
Infant health (9)
- Infant formula: Is tap or bottled water better?
- Infant growth: What's normal?
- Infant swimming: Do indoor pools pose an asthma risk?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (6)
- Discolored baby teeth: A cause for concern?
- Temper tantrums: What's normal, what's not?
- Toddler speech development: When should a parent be concerned?
- see all in Toddler health
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Question
Infant growth: What's normal?
How much should I expect my baby to grow in the first year?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Healthy infants come in a range of sizes. Doctors typically monitor infant growth at well-baby exams using standard growth charts, which compare a baby's weight, height and head circumference with those of other babies who are the same sex and age.
Consider these general guidelines:
- From birth to age 6 months, a baby may grow 1/2 to 1 inch (about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters) a month and gain 5 to 7 ounces (about 140 to 200 grams) a week. Expect your baby to double his or her birth weight by ages 5 to 6 months.
- From ages 6 to 12 months, a baby may grow 3/8 inch (about 1 centimeter) a month and gain 3 to 5 ounces (about 85 to 140 grams) a week. Expect your baby to double his or her birth height and triple his or her birth weight by age 1.
If you're worried about infant growth, consult your child's doctor. Keep in mind, however, that many healthy babies go through brief periods when they stop gaining weight or even lose a little weight. A doctor would likely be concerned only if an otherwise healthy baby doesn't gain weight from one well-baby exam to the next.
Next questionInfant swimming: Do indoor pools pose an asthma risk?
- Clinical growth charts. National Center for Health Statistics. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm. Accessed May 18, 2009.
- Growth and development. In: Ball JW, et al. Pediatric Nursing: Caring for Children. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall; 2008:83.
- Development in infancy. In: Thies KH, et al. Growth and Development Through the Lifespan. 2nd ed. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2009:120.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 29, 2009.
