Babies continue to grow rapidly between 8 and 12 months of age. The typical 8-month-old boy weighs between 17.5 and 22 pounds (8 to 10 kg). Girls tend to weigh half a pound less. By their first birthday, the average child has tripled their birth weight and is 28 to 32 inches (71 to 81 cm) tall.
Your baby's growth curve
Do not be alarmed if your child does not follow the typical growth curve in the middle, but follows their own curve. If they were born small, they may stay under the bottom line of the growth curve for the first few years. As long as they are following an upward curve, this is fine.
Head circumference
Head growth between 8 and 12 months slows down from the 6 months. Typical head size at 8 months is 17 1⁄2 inches (44.5 cm) in circumference; by one year, it's 18 inches (46 cm).
Each baby grows at their own rate. But you should check your child's height and weight curves on
growth charts to make sure they're following the pattern set in their first 8 months.
Standing up
When your child first stands, you may be surprised by their posture. Their belly will protrude, their rear will stick out, and their back will have a forward sway to it. It may look unusual, but this stance is perfectly normal until they develop a confident sense of balance sometime in the second year.
First steps: your baby's feet & legs
When your child takes their first teetering steps, you may notice their feet turning outward. This happens because the ligaments of their hips are still loose and their legs naturally rotate outward. During the first half of their second year, the ligaments will tighten and then their feet should point nearly straight.
At this age, your child's feet will seem flat. That's because the arch is hidden by a pad of fat. In 2 to 3 years, this fat will disappear and their arch will emerge.
Remember
If you have any questions about your baby's growth and appearance at this age, don't hesitate to talk with their pediatrician.
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