1. Weight and height for a 2-year-old baby girl
According to the WHO growth standards for children from birth to 5 years old in 2017:
- Height: The standard height for a 2-year-old girl ranges from 80 cm to 92.9 cm with an average of 86.4 cm. So, what is the standard height for a 2-year-old girl? A height within this range is considered normal.
- Weight: The average weight for a 2-year-old girl is 11.5 kg. A child is at risk of malnutrition if her weight is 10.1 kg or malnourished if it drops to 9.2 kg. Conversely, she is at risk of obesity if she weighs 13.1 kg and is considered obese if her weight reaches 14.6 kg.
Although the weight and height of a 2-year-old girl are only approximate measures, parents should regularly check and monitor these figures to assess the child’s health status and growth rate, ensuring whether they are appropriate for her age or not.
In fact, due to factors such as genetics, living environment, physical activity, nutrition, and the child’s health status at birth,... each child has their own growth rate. A child may be taller or shorter, thinner or plumber compared to their peers. As long as their height and weight fall within the standard range, it is acceptable.
2. Factors affecting the weight and height of a 2 year-old baby girl
There are 2 key factors affecting the development of a child. They are:
2.1 Sleep
At the age of 2, children to be more active and sleep less than the earlier stage. They often reduce their nap times during the day. However, parents should not worry too much and can set a fixed schedule for their children, encouraging them to go to bed and wake up at regular times.
Most 2-year-old children sleep about 11–12 hours at night and approximately 1.5–3 hours during the day. Sleep allows children to relax to achieve the best physical and mental development.
2.2 Diet
Nutrition is a key factor influencing a child’s height and weight growth. A well-balanced diet helps optimise their development. In addition to breast milk and formula milk, parents can give their children low-fat foods such as yoghurt and cheese. The child needs to get about 700 mg of calcium per day, and fat should make up no more than 30% of their daily calorie intake. A 2-year-old girl can have 3 main meals plus 2 snacks each day. Parents should ensure their children have a variety of foods, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, and protein. Diverse foods will stimulate the child's appetite.
3. Daily nutrition menu for children
To ensure a 2-year-old girl reaches the standard height and weight for her age, parents can refer to the following suggested nutritional menu:
- 7 am: Formula milk or 200 ml soy milk
- 11 am: 1 bowl of soft rice, eggs mixed with fried meat, soup, 1 banana
- 2 pm: Chicken soup with potatoes
- 6 pm: 1 bowl of soft rice, tofu stuffed with meat, soup, 1 slice of watermelon
- 9 pm: Egg porridge or egg noodles.
Parents should pay attention to the diet for a 2-year-old girl, limiting junk food and sweets.
The weight and height of a 2-year-old girl are of primary concern to parents. Changes in these indicators reflect the child's health and nutritional status. Parents should not worry too much if the child's indicators differ slightly from the average. However, if the child's height and weight do not increase over a long period or if the child shows signs of weight loss, parents should take the child to see a doctor for timely consultation and intervention.
In addition, a 2-year-old child needs 5 mg of elemental zinc per day to eat well and achieve proper and above-standard height and weight. Zinc plays a role in almost all biological processes in the body, particularly in the synthesis and breakdown of nucleic acids and proteins,.... Organs in the body with a deficiency in zinc can lead to various health issues, such as neurological disorders and irritability,... Therefore, parents need to understand the role of zinc and guide appropriate supplementation for their child.
Apart from zinc, parents should also supplement their child with other essential vitamins and minerals, such as lysine, chromium, and B vitamins,.. to help them eat well, have a strong immune system, and enhance resistance to common illnesses.
Regularly visit the Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your baby and your whole family.