She Sleeps More Than UsualĪ lot of growth happens during sleep because secretions of human growth hormone peak throughout the night. In fact, leg length and sitting height (aka torso length) can be used to predict the age at which your child will hit peak height velocity, according to the University of Saskatchewan. All of His Pants Are Suddenly Too ShortĬhildren's legs tend to grow before their torsos do. Make sure kids are getting well-balanced nutrition, including plenty of protein, during this time to support rapid growth. This study found that 95 percent of girls and about 70 percent of boys achieve peak height velocity during puberty. Peak height velocity, the period in which a child experiences the fastest growth, largely coincides with puberty, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology. Make sure that these additional calories are coming from whole, nutritionally dense foods rather than snacks and sweets. With the increasing nutrition needs associated with growth, your child will likely experience a surge of hunger before and during growth spurts, which can last an average of 24 to 36 months. When keeping tabs on kids' growth, there are six things you should look out for: 1. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns. "Offering new foods from each of the food groups on a regular basis helps ensure that a child receives the nutrients they need for growth," she says.įor parents who have trouble getting their children to eat enough calories and nutrients, supplements such as PediaSure ® can help fill nutritional gaps.
Williams recommends using daily nutrition guidelines to incorporate a variety of healthy foods and nutrients into your child's diet. While some nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, form the "building blocks" of bone and tissues, others, such as vitamin D and zinc, play regulatory roles, explains Jennifer Williams, a research scientist at Abbott.ĭuring this time, she says it's important to make sure that your child's intake of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals supports healthy growth. Growth spurts are fueled by a delicate interplay of hormones, genetics and, you guessed it, nutrition. Why Nutrition is Key During Growth Spurts
This process extends through the length of the plate, ultimately making bones longer. That cartilage is then calcified and transformed into hard bone. The plates' cells, called chondrocytes, produce and distribute cartilage along the length of the bone. Each bone is equipped with growth plates - specialized growth centers.
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