Question
Does a child’s height have a standard? Do they need medical treatment? How long until improvement is seen after treatment?
Answer
A child’s height indeed has a standard, which is the sum of the lengths of the head, spine, and lower limb bones. At birth, the average height of a newborn is about 50 centimeters. The first year of life is the fastest period of growth. From birth to 6 months old, the average monthly growth is 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters, totaling about 15 centimeters. From 7 to 12 months old, infants grow an average of 1 to 1.5 centimeters per month, totaling about 10 centimeters. Therefore, a one-year-old baby can reach a height of about 75 centimeters. In the second year, the growth rate slows down slightly, with an annual growth of about 10 centimeters, making the height of a 2-year-old child reach around 85 centimeters. After the third year, children’s height increases, with an annual fluctuation between 5 to 7.5 centimeters.