Weight Gain Guidelines for 2-Year-Old Children

Growth Chart Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using the CDC growth charts for assessing growth in children aged 2-19 years, while the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts are recommended for children under 24 months 3, 2
At age 2, there is a transition point where clinicians switch from WHO to CDC growth charts, which coincides with the change from recumbent length to standing height measurements 1, 4
When using CDC growth charts for 2-year-olds, the 5th and 95th percentiles are typically used as cutoff points to identify potential growth concerns 1, 4

For 2-year-old children, weight gain typically slows compared to infancy, with an average gain of 2-3 kg (4.4-6.6 pounds) per year 5

Regular plotting of weight measurements on appropriate growth charts is essential for identifying potential growth concerns 3, 6
Growth should be assessed in the context of the child's previous growth pattern, genetic potential, and overall health status 2, 6

Weight measurements should be taken using calibrated scales with the child wearing minimal clothing 6
Measurements should be plotted immediately on the appropriate growth chart to identify any concerning trends 3, 2
Weight should be assessed alongside height/length and BMI for a comprehensive growth evaluation 6