Parents with toddlers

What Every Parent Needs to Know About Toddler Growth Spurts

Written by: Dayvin Malifer

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Date Published

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Time to read 3 min

Watching your toddler grow is an exciting part of being a parent. While the first year of life is marked by rapid growth, the toddler years (ages 1 to 3) are characterized by slower, steadier physical and developmental progress. This period involves small but meaningful milestones in height, weight, motor skills, and language acquisition [²].


Although the dramatic growth spurts of infancy may slow down, toddlers still experience periodic changes that may seem sudden, such as increases in appetite, changes in sleep patterns, and new learning achievements. [⁵]

What Are Toddler Growth Spurts?

A toddler growth spurt refers to a brief phase of accelerated physical growth or developmental change. These spurts are typically less dramatic than those in infancy but still signal ongoing maturation. Children grow at different rates, but during the toddler years, the average weight gain is approximately 4 to 6 pounds per year, and height increases by about 2.5 to 4.5 inches annually [¹].


Unlike in infancy, where growth occurs rapidly and predictably, toddler growth tends to follow a more individualized pattern. Most children grow in spurts rather than a consistent daily rate [²]. Parents may observe that their child suddenly outgrows clothing or demonstrates new skills after a phase of increased hunger or fatigue.

Toddler Boy climbing on the ladder

Signs of Growth in Toddlers

While not all growth spurts are accompanied by visible symptoms, some common signs include:


  • Increased appetite : Toddlers may eat more before or during a growth phase [³].

  • Changes in sleep : Growth hormone is primarily secreted during sleep, and some toddlers may sleep longer or experience sleep disruptions [⁴].

  • Developmental leaps : Improvements in language, coordination, or social interaction often accompany physical growth [⁵].

Daycare activities for toddlers

How to Identify a Growth Spurt

Childhood growth generally follows three key stages [⁶]:


  1. Rapid growth in infancy (0–12 months), during which babies triple their birth weight and grow about 10 inches in length.

  2. Slower, steady growth during early childhood , including the toddler years.

  3. A second growth spurt in adolescence , leading to adult height [⁶].

From ages 1 to 3, the body's rate of growth slows compared to infancy but remains active. Toddlers typically gain about 4 to 6 pounds per year and grow approximately 2.5 to 4.5 inches in height annually [¹].


These changes reflect a steady development pattern rather than the abrupt spurts observed in newborns.

Typical Toddler Growth Patterns:

  • From 1 to 2 years : Gain ~5 pounds and grow ~4–5 inches

  • From 2 to 3 years : Gain ~4 pounds and grow ~2–3 inches

  • From 3 to 4 years : Gain ~4–6 pounds and grow ~2–3 inches [¹]

These numbers are averages, and each child’s growth trajectory may differ due to genetics, nutrition, activity level, and overall health.

Supporting Healthy Growth in Toddlers

Toddlers grow best when supported by a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and opportunities for physical activity. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a well-rounded diet including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy is essential for supporting normal growth [⁴].


Consistent routines around meals and sleep can also help regulate appetite and ensure toddlers get the rest needed for physical development.[³]


Regular pediatric checkups help monitor growth using standardized growth charts from the World Health Organization (WHO) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which allow doctors to track your child’s percentile rankings for height, weight, and head circumference [⁶].

Smiling toddler boy

When to Consult a Healthcare Provider

If your toddler appears to be growing significantly slower than peers or falling off their expected growth curve, it may be worth consulting a pediatrician. A child who was previously following a consistent growth pattern but begins to plateau or decline in height or weight percentiles may require evaluation for underlying health issues. In most cases, small variations are normal and reflect individual growth differences [⁶].

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Child Growth Charts. Retrieved from  https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts.

  2. Karlberg, J. (1989). A biologically-oriented mathematical model (ICP) for human growth. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica Supplement, 350, 70–94. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2801108/ .

  3. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Nutrition: What to Feed Your Toddler. Retrieved from  https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/healthy-active-living-for-families/toddler-food-and-feeding/. 

  4. Taveras, E. M., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Oken, E., Gunderson, E. P., & Gillman, M. W. (2008). Short sleep duration in infancy and risk of childhood overweight. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162(4), 305–311. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18391138/ .

  5. Adolph, K. E., & Hoch, J. E. (2019). Motor development: Embodied, embedded, enculturated, and enabling. Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 141–164. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30256718/ .

  6. World Health Organization. (2006). WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age. Retrieved from  https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards .

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