Typical Growth during Toddlerhood

• Tripling their birth weight by their first birthdays. For example, at their first birthdays, my biggest baby (9 lbs. 3 oz. at birth) was 27 lbs. and my littlest (5 lbs. 2 oz. at birth) was 17 lbs. Both of their weights had tripled as expected, but there was a ten pound difference because they started out such different sizes.
• Gaining four to six pounds during the second year of life and two to three pounds during the third year.
• Growing an average of two to three inches in the second year and three to five inches the third year.
• Growing at variable speeds in different body areas. Most of the growth of childhood is in the limbs and body since the head is already near adult size.
• Decreasing appetites and increasing activity level. Toddlers often have food jags, or periods when they will eat only certain foods. These are not cause for worry since most toddlers will usually eat a nutritionally balanced diet over the long run when given healthy options. By the third year many children have strong likes and dislikes.
• Pointing feet forward and developing arches.
• Needing approximately 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Most toddlers are transitioning to one afternoon nap per day.
• Erupting six to ten new teeth during the second year. Teeth continue appearing until toddlers have all twenty of their deciduous teeth (or “baby teeth”) by their third birthdays. Regular care of the teeth, such as daily brushing, should start as early as possible to establish good oral hygiene.