What to Expect the Toddler Years (292 page)

Growth slows noticeably in the toddler years, as you will see when you follow your child’s growth on these graphs. To plot growth, find your toddler’s age along the bottom of the chart, and your child’s height
(in centimeters or inches) or weight (in kilograms or pounds) along the side. Mark the point where the two intersect with a dot—using a colored pen or pencil will make the dots easier to see. Connect the dots as you add them at subsequent checkups. (If you have a copy of your child’s growth from birth to 12 months, add this information to the chart as well.) Ninety out of one hundred children fall within the 5th and 95th percentiles for height and weight.
Though some children in the top and bottom 5% may come by their size genetically and be growing appropriately, others may be growing too slowly or gaining weight too rapidly. If you’re concerned about either in your child, discuss your concerns with the doctor. Check with the doctor, too, about any
sudden deviation in your child’s curve (a sudden spurt up in height, weight, or both, or a sudden dip in growth); though such changes most likely are a sign that your child is moving closer to his or her genetic size, they might also signal a problem. See page 515 for more on growth in the toddler years.