What Is Growth Velocity?
Growth velocity measures the rate of growth — how fast a child's weight, height, or head circumference changes over time. It's calculated as: Velocity = (Value₂ − Value₁) / (Age₂ − Age₁).
While a single percentile tells you where a child is today, velocity tells you where they are heading. It's often the earliest sign of a growth problem.
Clinical significance: Growth faltering — a significant drop in growth velocity — is one of the most important early indicators of undernutrition or illness, often visible before the child falls below any percentile threshold.
Typical Growth Rates (First 2 Years)
| Age | Weight gain (g/day) | Length gain (cm/month) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 months | 25–35 | 3.0–3.5 |
| 3–6 months | 15–21 | 2.0–2.5 |
| 6–12 months | 10–13 | 1.0–1.5 |
| 12–24 months | 5–8 | 0.7–1.0 |
Track velocity automatically
GrowChart automatically computes growth velocity from your child's measurements.