Identifying and understanding growth charts

The best that a parent can offer a child is to give them their best. Tracking how they grow and develop has to be one of the best in so many ways. Looking at growth charts is one good way of monitoring this.

Now, you might be asking, What’s the big deal about these wonderful tools? These are actually charts tracking your child’s growth along with your pediatrician. So what are they and what do they mean? Let’s break this down in layman’s terms for you.

What Are Growth Charts?

Growth charts are graphical displays of the growth curves for children. They are, therefore, the best visual aids to measure your child’s stature, weight, and Body Mass Index against a nationwide average for children of that age and sex. Two sources of standardized growth charts are available to pediatricians: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Why Does Growth Chart Matter?

It follows and tracks development in their growth charts and thus makes it possible to continually monitor the child’s advancement at different times. This chart shows how they come out in terms of height and weight in comparison with children of similar ages, thereby able to help in pointing out some early health worries.

• Identification of Patterns: All children grow with different velocities, but the charts help determine the patterns. When a child steadily follows up the percentile growth, it means that he or she is growing well. Abrupt fall or rise in percentile may require research from a pediatrician.

• Guiding Nutrition and Health: Monitoring growth regularly will inform you whether your child is receiving the right amount of nutrition. A child not gaining weight or height should prompt you to make a change in diet or possibly even more health checks.

Percentiles

Percentiles are what growth charts mean in terms of how your child measures up compared with other children. For example:

• 50th Percentile: Your child’s height or weight falls exactly in the middle or average for his age.

• 75th Percentile: Your child is above 75 percent of his peers in terms of height or weight.

• 25th Percentile: Your child is below 25 percent of his peers in terms of height or weight.

Being in a certain percentile does not mean anything is wrong. Children come in all shapes and sizes. What is most important is the trend over time.

Reading a Growth Chart

When you look at a growth chart, you will see horizontal lines (percentiles) and vertical lines (ages). Here’s how to read it:

• Find Your Child’s Age: Locate the appropriate age on the bottom of the chart.

• Plot Height and Weight: Note where your child’s height and weight lie on the chart. Each measurement maps to a certain percentile.

• Follow the Lines: Watch for a trend over subsequent visits. In an ideal world, your child would continue growing along a growth curve.

When to Worry

Growth charts are great, but there is a time to go see your pediatrician. Here are some red flags:

• Stagnation: If your child stops growing and is no longer on his or her growth curve, it is probably time to visit your pediatrician.

• Changes at a Rapid Pace: Very sharp weight gain or weight loss, or very sharp growth in height indicates possible other disorders in the body system or nutritional deficiencies and hormonal disorders.

• Family History: In case there is a documented or reported condition in family in children connected to growth, keep a close watch on your child’s growth.

How to Help Your Child Grow Healthy

There are very many things a parent can do to contribute towards the healthy growth of the child as an individual.

• Healthy Sleep: Keep the child in pretty good sleep for a decent amount of time. Most growth hormones are secreted once the child is sleeping, so there will be some good development within that many hours of sleep.

• Only a few Sugary foods and Beverages: The quantity of sugary food consumption and beverages should also have to be minimal. In all, excessive sugar-based dietary intake may lead to adverse weights or gain that goes against nutritional intake.

Conclusion

Knowing about growth charts forms a great part of an intelligent and proactive parent. It gives insights into how your child grows, in turn helping you to decide about health and nutrition. Always remember, every child has his growing rate. Being well-equipped with this knowledge of growth will enhance your capability to support them.

In case there is something that can worry you about the growth of your child or even the development process, make sure to consult a pediatrician for guidance. For they are just there to guide you in better times with regards to a healthy future and with all happiness on the side of your little one. Cultivate this journey full of love with patience and commitment towards the best wellbeing of your baby.

FAQ’s