Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Mapping Infant Immunity with Minimal Input: Integrative Single-Cell and Multiomic Profiling
10:29

Mapping Infant Immunity with Minimal Input: Integrative Single-Cell and Multiomic Profiling

Published on: April 3, 2026

Growth of immigrant Chinese infants in the first year of life

T Y Wu1, L Daniel

  • 1Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA. Tsu-yin.Wu@emich.edu

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|July 17, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Chinese-American infants show rapid early growth, reaching the 70th-80th percentile by 6 months. Their growth then slows, falling below the 50th percentile by 1 year, according to US growth charts.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Growth and Development
  • Cross-cultural Studies

Background:

  • Understanding infant growth patterns is crucial for assessing health and development.
  • Variations in growth trajectories may exist among different ethnic and geographic populations.
  • Previous research has not extensively detailed the growth patterns of Chinese-American infants compared to their counterparts in Taiwan.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the growth patterns of Chinese-American infants and infants in Taiwan from birth to one year of age.
  • To identify potential differences in weight and length trajectories between these two groups.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study design was employed.
  • Growth data from 163 full-term, healthy Chinese-American infants in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were compared with data from 158 full-term, healthy Chinese infants in Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Infants were monitored from birth to 12 months of age.

Main Results:

  • Chinese-American infants were significantly heavier and longer than Taiwanese infants across all age groups and genders.
  • Chinese-American infants experienced rapid weight gain, reaching the 70th-80th percentile by 2-6 months (using US growth charts), followed by a decline to below the 50th percentile by 9-12 months.
  • These fluctuations in growth percentiles were not observed when using Taiwanese growth curves, indicating population-specific growth patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid weight gain in the first six months is characteristic of Chinese-American infants, followed by a deceleration.
  • By one year of age, Chinese-American infants typically fall below the 50th percentile on the US National Center for Health Statistics growth standard.
  • These findings can inform healthcare providers, enabling them to offer appropriate nutritional guidance and reassurance to parents of Chinese-American infants.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:18

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical growth is especially rapid during the first three years of life, with the greatest rate in the first few months after birth. Although children continue to gain height and weight throughout infancy and toddlerhood, the rate of growth gradually slows during the second and third years. At most ages, boys are typically slightly taller and heavier than girls, reflecting a common pattern of early physical development.Changes in Body ProportionsAs infants become toddlers, their body...
Vision During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:23

Vision During Infancy and Toddlerhood

At birth, vision is the least developed of the major senses because the visual system is still structurally and neurologically immature. The retinas, optic nerves, and visual regions of the brain continue to mature after birth. As a result, newborns have limited visual acuity, or sharpness and clarity of vision, and respond best to objects viewed at close range, roughly 8 to 12 inches away.Rapid Visual DevelopmentVision improves rapidly during the first few months as infants observe and...
Perceiving Language Sounds and Structure During Infancy01:20

Perceiving Language Sounds and Structure During Infancy

Infants are born with a predisposition to perceive and categorize basic linguistic sounds. Early in development, they can discriminate sounds from many languages and detect differences in rhythm and pattern. This sensitivity may begin before birth. Newborns exposed to two languages prenatally can recognize both, indicating that fetal language exposure influences later auditory discrimination.Recognition of Familiar SoundsBy five months, infants show preferences for familiar auditory stimuli,...
Early Vocalization During Infancy01:24

Early Vocalization During Infancy

Communication in infancy begins with crying, a reflexive and adaptive behavior that signals needs such as hunger, discomfort, or anger. Variations in pitch, pattern, and intensity help caregivers interpret these states, making crying an important survival mechanism during the neonatal period.Emergence of VocalizationsBy about six weeks, infants begin cooing, producing vowel-like sounds, squeals, and gurgles that often indicate contentment. Between six and ten months, cooing develops into...
First Words During Infancy and Toddlerhood: Part 101:26

First Words During Infancy and Toddlerhood: Part 1

Language development in infancy progresses from understanding words to producing meaningful speech. Infants use contextual and social cues to connect sounds with meanings and gradually expand their vocabulary.Word Recognition Before SpeechInfants understand words before they can say them. By about six months, they may look toward a familiar object, such as a banana, when hearing its name. This receptive vocabulary provides a foundation for later speech.First Words and Linguistic SpeechMost...
Imitation During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:27

Imitation During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Imitation is an important form of learning in early childhood, allowing children to learn new behaviors and participate in social interactions. Children imitate others for different purposes. They may copy adults and peers to learn skills and build social connections. Imitation becomes especially important toward the end of the first year.Early Development of ImitationPiaget observed that infants initially imitate actions they can see themselves perform, such as hand or foot movements. By about...