To support their growth, parents should be aware of the ideal weight range for toddlers aged 1–5 years.
This is because a non-ideal weight, such as being underweight or overweight, can indicate specific health problems in their little ones.
However, some parents may find it difficult to determine whether their child's weight is normal, considering that many factors can influence a child's growth and development.
So, what is the average weight of a 1-year-old to a 5-year-old child according to their age? To find out more, read this article until the end!
Ideal Weight for Children
Between the ages of 1 and 5, often called the toddler years, children experience significant growth and development.
Children's growth during this crucial period goes through various stages, such as walking backwards, dancing to music, jumping, catching a ball, and imitating pictures.
Furthermore, children's cognitive development also undergoes rapid growth during the five years, moving towards language skills and imitating adult behavior.
To support these milestones, it's essential to pay attention to a child's ideal weight to prevent it from becoming a factor hindering their growth and development.
According to the anthropometric standards in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (Permenkes) No. 2 in 2020, the ideal body weight for children is as follows.
Ideal weight for boys based on age:
- 1 year: 8.6–10.8 kg.
- 1 year 6 months: 9.8–12.2 kg.
- 2 years: 10.8–13.6 kg.
- 2 years 6 months: 11.8–15.0 kg.
- 3 years: 12.7–16.2 kg.
- 3 years 6 months: 13.6–17.4 kg.
- 4 years: 14.4–18.8 kg.
- 4 years 6 months: 15.2–19.8 kg.
- 5 years: 16.0–21 kg.
Ideal weight for girls based on age:
- 1 year: 7.9–10.1 kg.
- 1 year 6 months: 9.1–11.6 kg.
- 2 years: 10.2–13.0 kg.
- 2 years 6 months: 11.2–14.4 kg.
- 3 years: 12.2–15.8 kg.
- 3 years 6 months: 13.1–17.2 kg.
- 4 years: 14.0–18.5 kg.
- 4 years 6 months: 14.9–19.9 kg.
- 5 years: 15.8–21.2 kg.
How to Increase Your Child's Weight
Parents should pay attention to their child's growth, especially their ideal weight.
A threshold far from the ideal weight indicates malnutrition, depending on age, height, and body mass index.
A child's body not receiving the ideal nutrients can impact their immune system, growth, and development. This is certainly not what any parent wants.
So, how can you help your child achieve their ideal weight? Here are some steps you can take to help your child achieve their perfect weight.
- Ensure your child eats three regular meals a day. However, for children with low weight, it is recommended to change their eating pattern to 4–5 meals a day.
- Provide foods with a balanced macronutrient and micronutrient composition.
- Provide your child with a maximum of two healthy snacks a day.
- Avoid high-sugar drinks; instead, provide sufficient mineral water.
- Avoid drinking and eating substantial portions to prevent your child from becoming easily full.
How to Lose Weight in Children
Being underweight is certainly not good, but being overweight is even more dangerous.
This is because children with excessive nutritional values can increase the risk of various diseases, such as high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.
Therefore, parents need to maintain their children's ideal weight by doing the following:
- Implement a healthy diet by maintaining adequate fluid intake, providing milk, and incorporating fruits and vegetables into the child's diet according to their calorie needs.
- Encourage children to engage in regular physical activity, such as morning walks, sunbathing, or light exercise.
- Control your child's portion sizes and replace them with healthy snacks or supplements in sufficient quantities, preferably 1–2 times a day.
Factors Affecting Children's Weight
Not all children are underweight or overweight. Some children simply have different body sizes.
Therefore, parents need to recognize their child's ideal weight by referring to the anthropometric standards issued by the Ministry of Health.
You should consult a doctor if your child experiences drastic weight changes that affect their performance.
Several factors influence a child's ideal weight, including:
1. Diet
The first factor affecting a child's growth is an age-appropriate diet.
Consuming high-calorie foods, such as fast food, or a nutritional deficiency can cause drastic changes in a child's weight.
2. Lack of Physical Activity
Another factor that influences a child's ideal body weight is a lack of physical activity, which is essential for burning calories.
Spending too much time in bed playing video games and watching TV can lead to being overweight.
3. Genetic Factors
If a child comes from a family with a tendency to be overweight, the child is also at risk of developing the same condition. Furthermore, a family history of diseases such as diabetes mellitus can also lead to a child having a significant birth weight, also known as macrosomia.
To prevent this, parental guidance is necessary to encourage children to engage in regular physical activity or exercise.
4. Psychological Factors in Children
A child's ideal body weight can be influenced by psychological factors stemming from family problems.
Lack of parental supervision and affection can lead children to overeat to cope with stress or boredom.
5. Family Socioeconomic Factors
Some families with certain financial or social conditions may struggle to meet their children's nutritional needs.
As a solution, they often provide their children with fast food, such as biscuits, frozen food, or instant noodles.
6. Certain Current Medications
Medications, including propranolol, paroxetine, or amitriptyline, can increase the risk of obesity in children.
This concludes the discussion on ideal child weight, which parents should monitor.
Although growth and development vary in every toddler, it is also important to monitor whether their growth is within expected ranges.
If you notice that their growth is below or exceeding the standard, you can try to implement steps such as light exercise and a healthy diet to prevent your child from the risk of harmful disease.
To keep your child hydrated, ensure they have an adequate daily fluid intake with high-quality water. Therefore, always choose #AQUADULU.
It is also important to note that not all water is AQUA. AQUA is a mineral water of guaranteed quality, sourced from 19 selected mountains in Indonesia that have a protective layer, preventing contamination. Therefore, AQUA is safe to consume.
Furthermore, AQUA also tastes naturally cool and refreshing when drunk without prior cooling.
So, always prepare AQUA to help meet your daily fluid intake and keep your child hydrated. Created by nature, AQUA is 100% PURE mountain mineral water with no additives, just as nature intended you to drink it.
