You're in for many changes! By midway through this year, most babies are walking and learning to talk. They're turning into toddlers. By their second birthdays, most are losing that "baby" look. As toddlers get stronger and more capable, their rate of physical growth slows during this year. How Much Should My Child Grow? During this second year of life, growth slows down. Your toddler may gain about 5 pounds (2.27 kg) and grow about 4 or 5 inches (10 to 12 cm). By 2 years, children have reached about half of their adult height and 90% of adult head size. Boys tend to weigh about a pound more than girls but average about the same height. What you will notice more than actual growth are changes in a toddler's appearance. Body proportions are beginning to change. Instead of sporting the rounded belly and relatively short arms and legs suited to crawling on all fours, toddlers start to trim down, become more muscular because of increased activity, and will begin to look more like preschoolers than babies. Should I Be Concerned? Like babies, toddlers come in all shapes and sizes. Your doctor will continue to plot your little one's growth on a growth chart during regular checkups. Although you may be concerned that your child is too thin or too chubby at any one time, the most important thing is that your child continues to grow at a steady rate. During the second year of life, babies are learning to feed themselves. They are moving to table foods and learning about new tastes and textures. Keep in mind that appetites slow down as growth slows and there may be times when your child is not very interested in food. If you have concerns your child is not eating enough, speak with your doctor. Encourage activity and exploration by providing a safe environment that lets your child be active every day. Besides the physical benefits, this is also how a lot of learning takes place. This should be fairly easy, as most toddlers are naturally curious and seize every opportunity to move. Try not to let your baby spend too much time in confined spaces — such as strollers, playpens, and cribs — that restrain moving and exploring. What's Next? Toddlers grow at a slower but steady rate. From their second birthday to their third, most kids grow only about 2–3 inches. But you will see your child growing in other ways, especially in the area of language. Continue to provide a safe and healthy environment to support your child's growth and development. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your child's growth. Back to Articles Related Articles Your Child's Checkup: 1 Year (12 Months) Find out what this doctor's visit will involve and what your baby might be doing by the first birthday. Read More Communication and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Your toddler is probably saying a few first words now, but you may not be able to understand them all. Learn about how your child is communicating. Read More Medical Care and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old The toddler months might continue to bring colds, bruises, and other minor emergencies, but you'll also find yourself dealing with your toddler's emerging independence. Read More Safe Exploring for Toddlers Toddlers are learning to talk, to walk and run, and to assert their independence. For many in this age group, "outside" and "play" are common requests. Read More Toddlers at the Table: Avoiding Power Struggles By anticipating problems and offering choices, you can teach your toddler healthy eating habits and avoid power struggles about food. Read More Toddlers: Learning by Playing It might look like just child's play, but toddlers are hard at work learning important physical skills as they gain muscle control, balance, and coordination. Read More Sleep and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Nighttime feedings may be a thing of the past, but in this second year of life your tot might be rising for other reasons. Learn more. Read More Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Toddlers have little tummies, so serve foods that are packed with the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong, and limit the sweets and empty calories. Read More Movement, Coordination, and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Most toddlers this age are walking and gaining even more control over their hands and fingers. Give your child lots of fun (and safe) things to do to encourage this development. Read More Learning, Play, and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Kids go from babies to toddlers during this time, from first steps to walking well. They also make major strides in language and communication. Read More Your Child's Growth From the moment parents greet their newborn, they watch the baby's progress eagerly. But how can they tell if their child is growing properly? Read More Your Child's Checkup: 1.5 Years (18 Months) Find out what this doctor's visit will involve and what your toddler might be doing by 18 months. Read More Your Child's Checkup: 2 Years (24 Months) Find out what this doctor's visit will involve and what your child might be doing by the second year. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.