The birth weight of an infant triples at the age of _____.

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

The question asks for the age at which an infant's birth weight triples.
According to standard pediatric growth milestones, an infant's birth weight is expected to triple by their first birthday (1 year or 12 months).
This milestone is a fundamental parameter used by healthcare professionals to assess if a child's growth is on a healthy trajectory.
For an average Indian infant with a birth weight of 3 kg, the expected weight at 1 year would be approximately 9 kg.

Option B: At 2 years of age, an infant's birth weight is expected to quadruple (be four times the birth weight), not triple.
Option C: 14 months is just past the 1-year mark. While the infant will weigh more than triple their birth weight, the milestone for tripling is specifically at 12 months (1 year).
Option D: At 9 months, an infant's weight has typically doubled but has not yet tripled. The rate of weight gain slows slightly after the first 6 months.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Infant growth and development milestones, specifically weight gain as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use growth milestones to monitor an infant's health, nutritional status, and development during well-child check-ups.
A significant deviation from these milestones (failure to gain weight or excessive weight gain) can be an early indicator of underlying health issues, such as feeding problems, metabolic disorders, or neglect, prompting further investigation.
What if? If an infant's weight has not tripled by 15 months, this is considered a 'red flag'. The nurse should conduct a thorough assessment, including dietary history, evaluation for illness, and developmental screening, and may need to refer the family to a pediatrician or a nutritionist.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core concept of the question, which is a specific developmental milestone related to infant growth (weight).
Recall the standard timeline for infant weight gain.
Remember the key milestones: weight doubles by 5-6 months, triples by 1 year, and quadruples by 2 years.
Compare the options provided with these standard milestones.
Select the option that correctly matches the milestone of tripling the birth weight.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Infant growth and development milestones, specifically weight gain.
Stem keywords: birth weight, infant, triples
Lead-in keywords: at the age of
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.