Height is considered one of the factors that assess the development of children. In particular, 2-year-old children are considered the initial stage for outstanding growth in height. So how tall is a 2-year-old child according to development standards? Today's article will provide you with information about the standard height of a 2-year-old child.
1. How do 2-year-old children grow in height?
How 2-year-old children grow in height is a matter of concern for parents so that they can build the best care regimen for their child's development. The height development of children by age has the following characteristics:
- According to a study on the average height of newborns in 2021 by scientists, newborns are on average 50 cm long and weigh 3.3 kg. In the newborn stage, the baby's height will increase rapidly and can reach about 72-76 cm before the child turns 1 year old.
- When 1-year-old children are in the toddler stage, the baby's height growth is not as great as in the previous stage, and the child's height increases on average by about 1.2 cm per month.
- Height will increase by about 10 cm when the child is 2 years old, and by the age of 3–4 years old, the height will develop more than before, so the child will have a taller figure.
- Children from 5 years old and up: Height increases on average 5–6 cm/year until puberty.
2. What is the average height for a 2-year-old child?
Research indicates that each child has a different rate of growth, depending on various aspects of life, including genetic factors and the environment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average height and weight for a 2-year-old girl are 85 cm and 12 kg, while for a 2-year-old boy, they are 87 cm and 12.5 kg.
To determine whether a child is growing at a healthy pace in terms of height, the percentile chart published by WHO provides the most accurate reflection. The percentile chart shows the percentage of children who have measurements lower than the specified percentile. For example, if a 2-year-old girl’s height is at the 40th percentile in the height chart, it means she is taller than 40% of girls her age worldwide.
According to doctors’ recommendations, a child’s growth varies at different stages, so if parents only look at their child’s height at one point in time, it can be difficult to assess whether the child is growing according to the standard height.
To get an accurate understanding, parents should monitor the child’s height regularly, such as measuring it once a month. In the case of any unusual growth patterns, parents should consult a pediatric nutrition specialist for appropriate advice on care to help the child develop better.
3. What factors affect children's height development?
Detecting and adjusting factors that affect children's height development will help parents take better care of their children, especially height in 2-year-old children, which is the age when children are developing physically and mentally. Some factors that affect children's height development are as follows:
3.1. Genetic factors
The influence of genetic factors is shown through the fact that children always inherit genetic characteristics from their parents and this factor is also considered to have a major impact on children's height development. However, it is not a decisive factor in children's development and children are only affected by about 23% of genetics.
3.2. External environment and nutrition
Nutrition and the external environment are two key factors that significantly impact a child's height development.
A diet lacking in essential nutrients will slow down a child’s physical and intellectual development, leading to malnutrition. Ensuring adequate intake of vitamin D, calcium, vitamin K, and minerals helps promote the growth process of a child’s height.
So, how tall should a 2-year-old child be to have an appropriate diet? Parents should establish a diet plan that suits the child's current height and developmental stage to help the child reach a standard height according to general guidelines.
3.3. Sleep
Sleep is very important because growth hormones are primarily secreted at night. Getting enough sleep plays a crucial role in stimulating bone growth, improving calcium absorption, and fostering overall physical development. For children, at least 8 hours of sleep per night is essential. Therefore, parents should cultivate a habit of going to bed early for their child.
3.4. Pathology
One of the factors affecting the height development of children is pathology. For example, children with sickle cell anemia often have lower height and weight than their peers.
3.5. Health and mood of the mother during pregnancy
The health and diet of the mother during pregnancy greatly affect the physical and mental health of the child after birth. The mother's diet needs to provide adequate groups of nutrients, vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, and DHA…
In addition to nutrition, the mother's mood during pregnancy must always be comfortable, the mother's stress can lead to slow physical and mental development of the child at birth.
3.6. Exercise regimen
Exercise and exercise properly will help children have a balanced weight and height and avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, parents should train their children to have a diet and exercise regimen appropriate to their developmental stage.
Thus, 2-year-old children are in the stage of comprehensive physical development. Therefore, parents should measure their children's height and have regular nutritional check-ups to monitor their development and have a nutritional regimen appropriate to their physical development and height at the age of 2.
In addition, children need to supplement essential micronutrients such as Zinc, selenium, chromium, vitamins B1 and B6, ginger, cherry extract (vitamin C), ... to improve taste, eat well, reach standard height and weight and exceed standards, good immune system, increase resistance to less illness and less digestive problems.
According to nutrition experts, parents need to be calm and persistent when supplementing nutrients for children, both through food and functional foods. In particular, when using functional foods, you should choose types of natural origin that are easy to absorb, do not use many types at the same time, or constantly change types of functional foods.
In addition, nutrition experts emphasize the importance of bioavailable zinc; parents should learn about and properly supplement zinc for their child at appropriate times to avoid zinc deficiency, which can impact the child’s overall development.
Besides zinc, parents should also provide other essential vitamins and minerals for their child, such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins, etc., to help the child enjoy better appetite, have a strong immune system, and boost resistance to minor illnesses.
