Final answer:
A healthy one-year-old child who initially weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces at birth would likely weigh around 19 pounds and 8 ounces at one year, having tripled their birth weight. Infant growth is rapid in the first year and includes significant gains in both weight and length.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the expected healthy weight gain and growth patterns in infants. On average, a newborn will double their birth weight by six months and triple it by one year. Given that the child in question weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces at birth, we can expect the healthy one-year-old to weigh approximately 19 pounds and 8 ounces, as infants usually triple their birth weight by their first birthday.
Infant growth is very rapid in the first year of life. From birth, they will lose a small amount of weight initially but should gain an average of about 28 g (1 oz) per day in the first two months. This rate decreases slightly later on, but by around 12 months, the birth weight has typically tripled. Additionally, growth in length during the first year is also significant, with considerable increases during the first six months.
Regular health check-ups are important as they help to compare the baby's weight and length with standard charts to ensure the baby is growing normally. It's critical to monitor the baby's growth curve to ensure there are no health concerns or nutritional deficiencies.