Physical growth: The first 3 months

Babies grow quickly during their first three months. After babies regain their birth weight at 10 to 14 days, they gain about two pounds and grow about one to one and one half inches in length each month. This rapid growth slows after the third or fourth month of age.

Regular measurements

At each routine clinic visit, the nurse will measure your baby's weight, length and head circumference (which estimates brain growth). All three measurements should be plotted on a standard growth chart (See growth chart links below).

Measurements taken at a single point in time rarely tell you much about how your baby is doing. The trends seen after several measurements give much more information about your baby's growth.

Growth charts

The National Center for Health Statistics provides growth charts that parents and doctors can use. To download these charts, you need Adobe Reader:

• Birth to 36 months: Boys (Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentiles)
• Birth to 36 months: Boys (Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length percentiles)
• Birth to 36 months: Girls (Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentiles)
• Birth to 36 months: Girls (Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for length percentiles)

Related Links

Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota: Well child care

Return to "Volume 3: The first month"

Pregnancy Condition Center: Your baby

First published: 05/07/2001
Last updated: 05/24/2005

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rogan, MD, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota