From the moment parents bring their new baby home from the hospital, they watch the baby's progress eagerly, anticipating every inch of growth and each new developmental milestone along the way. But what exactly are they watching for and how do parents know if their child is growing properly?

What Is Growth?
Growth refers to the various physical and developmental milestones that most children reach during each age level. This includes increases in height and weight as well as development in cognitive, (cognitive skills include knowing how to perceive, think, recognize, and remember), language, and social skills. Hair grows; teeth come in, come out, and come in again; and eventually puberty hits. It's all part of the growth process.

What's Normal?
The first year of an infant's life is a time of astonishing change. During this time, a baby will grow rapidly and achieve major developmental milestones, such as taking first steps or maybe even saying a few first words. On average, babies grow 10 inches (25 centimeters) in height while tripling birth weight by their first birthday.

Given all the growth that occurs in the first year of life, new parents may be surprised when their child doesn't continue to grow through the roof. But no child continues the rate of growth experienced during infancy. After age 1, a baby's growth in length slows considerably, and by 2 years, growth in height usually continues at a fairly steady rate of approximately 2 1/2 inches (6 centimeters) per year until adolescence.

No child grows at a perfectly steady rate throughout this period of childhood, however. Weeks or months of slightly slower growth alternate with mini "growth spurts" in normal children. Kids actually tend to grow a bit faster in the spring than during other times of the year!

A major growth spurt occurs at the time of puberty. Around age 8 to 13 in girls and 10 to 15 in boys, kids enter puberty, which lasts from about 2 to 5 years. This growth spurt is associated with sexual development, which includes the appearance of pubic and underarm hair, the growth and development of sex organs, and in girls, the onset of menstruation.

By the time girls reach age 15 and boys reach age 16 or 17, the growth associated with puberty will have ended for most teens and they will have reached physical maturity.

At the Doctor's Office
Beginning in infancy, a child will visit a doctor for regular checkups. At each of these visits, the doctor will record the child's height and weight on a growth chart. This chart shows the doctor and parents how the child's height and weight compare to that of other children the same age. This valuable tool can help your child's doctor determine whether your child is growing at an appropriate rate or whether there might be any problems.

What Can You Do?
There are plenty of things you can do to help your child grow and develop normally. "Adequate rest, proper nutrition, and adequate exercise are critical to overall health and wellness," says Elizabeth Choi, PhD, RN, at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. A balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals will help ensure that your child will reach his full growth potential.

Choi also cautions parents about obesity problems in kids. She recommends that parents balance their kid's nutrition with a regular exercise program. Bicycling, hiking, in-line skating, sports or any enjoyable activity that will motivate your kid to get moving will promote good health and fitness and help to prevent obesity.

Sleep patterns vary by age and individual child, but most kids need an average of 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Sleep gives growing bodies the rest they need to continue growing properly.

Talking to Your Child About Growth
"It's important to stress how children differ in growth and development during childhood," Choi says. Just like adults, some kids are taller or shorter. Generally girls hit puberty earlier than boys, although some girls might lag behind their peers in breast development and the onset of menstruation. All of this is usually completely normal.

Try to avoid comparing growth among siblings or other children. Drawing attention to a child's height, for example, will only make him feel self- conscious about his size. Encourage your child to accept his own growth and development. Explain that some children grow and develop at different rates - and late bloomers generally will eventually catch up.

Children have many questions, from why their teeth fall out to difficult or potentially embarrassing topics like breast development or perspiration. "Be honest and supportive," Choi advises. It's not easy for kids to know what to do or to ask for help, especially when they are embarrassed or unsure whether what's happening to their bodies is normal. Initiate conversations about growth and help your child understand the many changes he's facing. Explaining the need for antiperspirants, shaving, and more frequent showering in a matter-of- fact tone will help your kid accept the changes positively.

If you are uncomfortable discussing these topics or avoid the subjects altogether, your child may interpret that to mean that there's something shameful about the changes he's going through and he may be less likely to talk to you about any concerns he has.