Every child has a unique weight according to their body size and other variables. Do you know the appropriate weight for your child? Knowing the healthy weight for children by age is important because it will help you assist your kids to keep a healthy weight for their age.
It is always a delight to have our children maintain a healthy weight.
It is reported that about 50 percent of children living in Africa are either overweight or underweight? This scary figure is perhaps due to the fact that parents either do not give much thought to the weight of their kids or are unschooled to do so. Poverty and nonchalance is also a big factor.
If parents know the healthy weight for children by age, this will no doubt help reduce this figure.
In America, the Centre for Disease Control reports that almost seventeen percent of children ages 2 to 19 years old are obese in the United States. Helping your child attain and keep a healthy weight is a prime duty for any parent, guardian or caregiver. You must always remember that every child has a unique size and grows at its own peculiar rate.
There is a dare need for all parents to understand the healthy weight for children by age. If you are concerned about your child’s weight, you can talk to your paediatrician or health care provider.
According to the CDC growth charts, the average weight of a 5-year-old is between 34 and 52 pounds; 7-year-olds weigh between 40 and 66 pounds; while 10-year-old weigh between 54 and 105 pounds.
Healthy Weight for Children by Age
I have mentioned earlier that understanding the healthy weight for children by age will guide parents, guardians and caregivers in their quest to help their children achieve and maintain the healthy weight for their age.
Here, we will discuss the healthy weight for children by age, listing and discussing the respective age phase for children. The list below will guide you as you strive to help your children attain the appropriate weight for their age.
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#1. Healthy Weight for Infants
In our discussion of the healthy weight for children by age, let’s start with the phase of infancy.
Knowing the healthy weight for infants is crucial. Over 30 percent of illnesses in infants is weight related? This emphasises how crucial it is to have your infant attain and maintain the healthy weight for their age.
The average weight for infant is 5 1/2 to 9 1/2 pounds. Infants generally lose about five to ten percent of their body weight during the first week of life but should start gaining more weight after the second week.
Infants grow at a tremendous rate, and by 4 to 6 months usually double their birth weight. Growth spurts may occur during the second week and sometime between the third and sixth week.
You might notice your baby is hungrier during these growth spurts. Feed your baby more often to meet her extra caloric needs. An infant will usually triple her birth weight by the time she turns age 1.
An average one-year-old boy weighs between 19 and 27 pounds. An average one-year-old girl weighs between 17 1/2 and 25 pounds.
If your baby weighs less or much more than the aforementioned weight, then you may need to seek medical advice. Always note the data provided in the discussion of the healthy weight for infant above.
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#2. The Healthy weight for Toddlers and Preschoolers
The next phase in our discussion of the healthy weight for children by age is the phase of toddling and preschool.
Toddlers and preschoolers are between the age of one to five.
Understanding the healthy weight for toddlers and preschoolers is important because at this stage of life, living with a dysfunctional weight may wreck untold episodes of illness in children.
Between the ages of one and five, your child will usually gain about 10 pounds, five pounds between ages 1 and 2 and the remaining five pounds between ages 2 and 5. Note that growth rate recedes with age.
The average weight for a 2-year-old is between 22 to 33 pounds. The average weight for a 4-year-old is between 28 and 44 pounds.
The preschooler age is a very delicate age phase. You might notice your preschooler has less of an appetite or becomes a picky eater. These are normal phases, and a decreased appetite can be a sign of slower growth. You should continue offering them healthy meals and snacks, and don’t be concerned if your preschooler refuses to eat at times or can’t seem to get full at others.
Illness are a usual experience for children at this phase. Therefore, you must ensure that you feed them adequately and watch their weight to ensure they attain and maintain the healthy weight for toddlers and preschoolers as is peculiar to their body configuration.
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#3. The Healthy Weight for Elementary-Age Children
Next in our list in the discussion of the healthy weight for children by age is the elementary age.
Health care providers usually use either a Body Mass Index (BMI) chart or a growth chart to measure your child’s weight. BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation using your child’s weight and height that measures body fatness or overweight.
To aid us understand the healthy weight for children by age, the Centre for Disease Control designed four weight status categories based on Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles.
According to the CDC weight status categories, a BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile is considered normal weight. If your child is below the 5th percentile she is considered underweight. If the child is between the 85th and 95th percentile she is considered overweight, and the 95th percentile or higher is obese. There are also calculators available online to determine your child’s BMI.
Growth charts may also be used to plot your child’s weight. Your child should stay around the same percentile on the growth chart as he gets older. Most children between ages 2 and 10 grow at a fairly steady rate.
According to the CDC growth charts, 5-year-olds should weigh between 34 and 52 pounds, 7-year-olds should weigh between 40 and 66 pounds and 10-year-olds should weigh between 54 and 105 pounds.
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#4. The Healthy Weight for Teens
The last group of children we will discuss as the subject of the healthy weight for children are the teens.
What is the health weight for Teenagers? 
Teenage phase starts at age 13 and ends at age 19. Teenagers are the most rebellious set of children. They are difficult to control and manage. Therefore, if you want to ensure they keep a healthy weight during their teenage age, you must teach them the need to attain and keep a healthy weight.
What is more? At this stage of life, there is a rapid growth in children as a result of puberty. It is difficult to attain the healthy weight for teens. This is the stage where parents, guardians and caregivers must be on their ores to ensure these teens maintain the right weight.
Sometime between ages 9 and 15, your child will experience another growth spurt. At this age, the growth spurt is a sign of puberty. This may last two to five years.
Usually by the time a girl is 15 years old and a boy is 16 or 17 they have reached their adult height.
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The healthy weight for your teenager depends on his height and when his growth spurt occurs. Monitoring his BMI during these years is the best way to determine if he has a healthy weight.
According to the Centre for Disease Control growth charts, the weight for an average 12-year-old is between 66 and 130 pounds. Fifteen-year-old boys usually weigh between 94 and 174 pounds, while 15-year-old girls weigh between 90 and 168 pounds. A healthy weight for an 18-year-old boy is between 116 and 204 pounds, and a healthy weight for an 18-year-old girl is between 100 and 178 pounds.
Let’s Take a Quick Review
How often to calculate the weight of your children?
Do you know that over 30 percent of illness in children is weight related?
Are you getting this information for the first time?
Drop your comments and question in the comment box below, let’s discuss and further develop this topic.
Pictures Illustrating Healthy Weight for Children by Age
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Originally posted 2021-04-26 00:04:04.
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