What would be an expected weight for a 2½-year-old who was born weighing 7 pounds 15 ounces?

A 2½-year-old's weight can be estimated using growth patterns typical for children in that age range. Generally, children double their birth weight by around 5 to 6 months and can be expected to triple it by the time they are 1 year old. By 2 years of age, a child typically weighs about 4 times their birth weight.

In this case, the child was born weighing 7 pounds 15 ounces, which is equivalent to 7.94 pounds when converted to a decimal for easier calculation. By 2½ years, we can expect the child to weigh approximately 4 times their birth weight, leading to an estimated weight of around 31.76 pounds. Since we round to the nearest ounce and age growth patterns can vary, the closest expected weight from the given choices is 31 pounds 12 ounces.

This answer aligns with the normal growth patterns observed in toddlers, reflecting healthy weight gain and development during this critical stage of early childhood.