Is My Child Growing Normally?
Child Growth: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
Watching your child grow is one of parenting's greatest joys, but it's normal to wonder if they're developing on track. Most children follow their own unique growth pattern within a normal range, and small variations are usually nothing to worry about.
What's normal growth?
Children don't grow like clockwork. They have growth spurts followed by slower periods, and that's completely normal. Your child's growth pattern is more important than hitting exact numbers at specific ages.
Doctors track growth using percentile charts that show how your child compares to other children their age. If your child is in the 25th percentile for height, it means they're taller than 25% of children their age and shorter than 75%. Being in any percentile from 3rd to 97th is typically considered normal.
The key is consistency. A child who stays around the same percentile over time is usually growing well, even if they're smaller or larger than their peers.
What you might notice
- Steady weight gain and height increases over time
- Clothes becoming too small every few months
- Increased appetite during growth spurts
- Your child seeming hungrier or eating more than usual
- Periods where growth seems to slow down
- Development of new skills and abilities
Supporting healthy growth
Provide nutritious meals and snacks with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. Don't stress if your child has picky eating phases, as most children eat what they need over the course of a week.
Ensure your child gets enough sleep, as growth hormone is released during sleep. Most toddlers need 11 to 14 hours, preschoolers need 10 to 13 hours, and school age children need 9 to 11 hours daily.
Encourage active play and limit screen time. Physical activity supports healthy bone and muscle development.
When to worry
Seek immediate medical attention if your child stops eating entirely, loses significant weight rapidly, or shows signs of severe illness along with poor growth.
Contact your doctor or text Arlo if your child drops more than two percentile lines on their growth chart, hasn't gained weight in several months, seems much smaller than peers, or if you have ongoing concerns about their eating, energy levels, or development.
The takeaway
Trust that most children grow exactly as they should, following their own timeline. Your pediatric visits will catch any concerns early.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References
- [Growth charts and development](https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/growth_charts)
- [Healthy growth for children](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=634&language=english)
- [Child growth and development](https://www.ontario.ca/page/child-growth-and-development)