Growth in humans

Humans grow at different rates at different stages in their lives. Growth is very rapid in the womb and in the first two years of life. Puberty is another stage when growth and development is rapid.

Growth in humans

Human gestation is around 40 weeks although infants can survive if born earlier than this. Other mammals have different gestation times depending on their size, the number of offspring and how independent they are when born. Large animals with a small number of independent offspring have the longest gestation.

When humans are born, their heads are relatively large, and their legs relatively short. Through childhood their bodies grow faster than their heads until they reach maturity. To check that development is happening at normal rates, infants regularly have their mass and head circumference measured.

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