How does the rate of human height growth change from birth through adolescence?

In general, the rate of human height growth—often referred to as growth velocity—follows a pattern of continuous deceleration from birth through early childhood, followed by a dramatic acceleration during adolescence.12

Growth Patterns from Birth to Adolescence

• Infancy and Childhood: Following birth, the velocity of height growth decreases rapidly until about age four or five. From that point until the onset of puberty, the rate of growth typically becomes more stable, sometimes showing a slight, gradual deceleration or, in some children, a minor increase in velocity between ages six and eight.12
• The Adolescent Growth Spurt: This phase is characterized by a marked acceleration in growth, where the velocity approximately doubles for a year or more. This spurt is driven by the endocrine system, specifically through the interaction of growth hormone and sex hormones.3142

Sex Differences in Timing

While the pattern of growth is similar for both sexes, the timing differs significantly:
* Timing: The adolescent growth spurt occurs earlier in girls than in boys, with a consistent two-year difference in the age of peak height velocity.53
* Peak Velocity: On average, boys reach their peak height velocity at approximately 14 years of age, while girls reach theirs at about 12 years.3

Ultimately, the rise in sex steroids during puberty triggers this growth spurt but also eventually leads to the closure of the epiphyses (growth plates), which marks the cessation of height increase.42