How much should an infant's birth weight increase in one year?

An infant’s birth weight typically increases significantly during the first year of life, and the ideal growth target is for the infant's weight to triple by the time they reach one year. This significant increase is due to the rapid growth and development that infants experience in their first year, where a combination of factors such as nutrition through breast milk or formula, their metabolic needs, and developmental milestones contribute to this weight gain.

At birth, the average weight of a newborn is approximately 7.5 pounds, which means by the end of the first year, the expected weight would be around 22.5 pounds if the growth is on track. This exponential growth is crucial as it supports their overall development, including physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. Celebrating milestones such as this weight increase is important in pediatric care, as it reflects not only nutritional adequacy but also the health of the child.

The other options represent growth expectations that are not typically associated with the first year of life. Doubling, quadrupling, or a percentage increase do not align with the standard growth guidelines established by pediatric health organizations, which confidently assert that the weight should triple in a healthy infant under normal circumstances.