Babies grow

Your baby is changing and growing in many ways, and is crawling, cruising along the furniture, or maybe even walking by 12 months!

Along with all this activity, babies are also learning to feed themselves.

How Babies This Age Grow

By the time of their first birthday cake, most babies have almost tripled their birth weight and grown about 10 inches (25 centimeters). However, physical growth slows down during the second half of the first year, and you may notice your baby's appetite slowing down, too.

Your child's doctor will continue to monitor growth during routine visits, usually scheduled at 9 months and 1 year of age.

Should I Be Concerned?

Parents' concerns about growth often focus on eating habits. Is your skinny baby a picky eater? Do you worry that your baby isn't getting enough to eat? Chances are that everything is fine. Most babies eat enough to satisfy their hunger, which in most cases is enough to supply them with the energy they need.

Your baby's weight, length, and head circumference have been measured since birth and plotted on a growth chart by your doctor. This is where you should start looking if you have questions about how your baby measures up.

When you review the growth chart with the doctor, make sure to compare your baby's growth with his or her own growth pattern, not with the growth of other babies. As long as your baby's growth is steady, there is probably no reason to worry.

If you do notice slowed growth or a drop in weight, consider these questions:

• Has your baby been ill? A couple of days of not eating, especially if combined with vomiting or diarrhea, can lead to weight loss that will be regained when your little one feels better.
• Is your baby on the move? Crawling, cruising, and walking all burn lots of calories, so weight gain might not be as great with this new mobility.
• Is your baby just more interested in playing peek-a-boo or dropping the spoon on the floor than eating? The world is a fascinating place and your baby is learning new things every day. Keep distractions at a minimum during mealtime and pay attention to cues that he or she has eaten enough.
• Are you introducing the right kinds of foods? As your baby gets better at eating, you can begin to pay more attention to the texture and variety of foods you serve. If your child is not so interested in baby foods anymore, how about introducing soft table foods and finger foods that are safe and fun?

Though growth rate does slow down between 8 and 12 months, your child should continue to follow his or her own growth curve. Talk with your doctor if you have growth-related concerns.