Growth charts are tools your pediatrician can use to keep track of your child's physical growth. During each checkup, the doctor will measure your baby's length, weight, and head circumference. The doctor can then compare the measurements for your baby to a chart of national averages for infants of the same age and sex.
The result is that the doctor will be able to tell you what percentile your baby is in when compared to average baby growth around the nation. For example, if your doctor tells you your 4-month-old is in the 86th percentile for weight, that means 86 percent of the two-month-olds in your country weigh less, and that 14 percent weigh more. A baby that is at the 50th percentile in either height or weight is right at the national average.
Typically, parents seem to worry quite a bit about these percentages, and that worrying is usually needlessly blown out of proportion. There are many factors that come into play when determining where your baby's statistics will fall in the percentile chart.
It is very important to remember that no two babies are the same and that every child, due to body chemistry, heredity, diet, and many other factors will grow at their own pace.
Some babies will have growth spurts right from the start and others will take a bit longer to begin major growth periods. These measurements, charts, and percentile points are merely guides for a doctor to help in assessing your baby's growth.
In addition to the measurements that your pediatrician will take during regularly scheduled doctor visits, you may also want to track your baby's growth at home.
Keep in mind that the measurements you take at home may or may not be as accurate as the measurements your doctor takes, but they can provide a certain degree of insight into the growth of your baby and many new parents have found it to be a fascinating way to participate in the parenting process.
Here are some tips that can help you, as inquisitive parents, track your baby's growth at home using commercially available scales and other measuring devices.
If baby is too small to stand upright on the scale, you can try using this procedure:
· With your baby in your arms, step onto a standard bathroom scale.
· Make note of the weight displayed on the scale and write it down on a piece of paper.
· Put your baby down and step onto the scale alone this time.
· Make note of the weight displayed and subtract this number from the combined weight of you and your baby. The resulting number is your baby's weight.
To measure your baby's length all you need to do is lay her down on a flat surface (her changing table is a great place for this task) and stretch a measuring tape from head to toes.
For the measuring of head circumference all you need to do is wrap the measuring tape around your baby's head. You should wrap the measuring tape just above your baby's eyebrows, so the tape falls right at the top of the ears. What you are trying to measure is the point around his head that has the largest circumference.
When taking your baby to the doctor your pediatrician will perform more accurate measurements. Pediatricians do the "baby measuring thing" on a daily basis and will be able to achieve a much more accurate result than you will at home. This is due to the fact that they are accustomed to the things babies do that can result in an inaccurate measurement and they have very accurate measuring tools made specifically for the purpose of measuring the characteristics of babies, such as proper baby scales equipped with cradles.
Your doctor will most likely take measurements several times during one visit and average the results together to ensure accuracy and to compensate for any discrepancies that may arise. It is crucial for the doctor's measurements to be as accurate as possible because a discrepancy of as little as a few millimeters in length or a few grams in weight can make a difference where your baby falls on the charts.
Since the results of these measurements may determine changes to your baby's diet, and other possible changes to how your baby is fed and treated during her first year, it is important that these results are as accurate as possible.
Your pediatrician will measure the following characteristics of your baby:
Weight:
After calibrating the scale the doctor or nurse will place your completely naked baby on a baby scale. There are electronic and traditional beam-type versions of the baby scale, but most will typically have the same type of baby holding stainless steel cradle. After your child is able to stand on her own, your pediatrician will most likely use a standard upright scale.
Length:
Like weighing, until your baby is able to stand up on his own, your doctor will perform the height/length measurements with your baby lying down. Your doctor may use a tape measure, much like you use at home, or may utilize a special "baby-measuring device", which consists of a headboard and movable footboard to obtain the most accurate results possible.
Head circumference: This measurement will be taken in almost the same way you did at home. The doctor will take the measurement at the point where the head is at its largest circumference, right above the ears and around to the back of the head where the neck meets the cranium. Usually the pediatrician will record this measurement to the nearest 0.3 cm (1/8th of an inch).
The head is different from other parts of the body in that the brain is not fully formed at the time of birth and therefore the head will continue to grow during baby's first year.
Baby's head is a particular point of concern for the doctor because a head that is growing too rapidly can be a sign of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and a head that is growing too slowly can be indicative of nutritional or developmental problems. Regardless, you shouldn't be too concerned if your baby's head appears a bit disproportional compared to the rest of her body, as this is completely normal for the first year of life.
For More Honest Parenting Advice, Information, Tips, and Product Reviews go to http://www.babytownsite.com today!
Lists of baby names are always fun to look at,... Read More
Many parents already know that it is better not to... Read More
The conversation went something like this:"Hey honey, when we get... Read More
Try something new, a Daddy Baby Shower. Even though no... Read More
Your Leo Baby..July 23 - August 22Leo children are sunny,... Read More
A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant... Read More
When most new parents are preparing for the arrival of... Read More
There seems to be more and more pressure on parents... Read More
Limit the time you allow your child to use a... Read More
It's true. Colic is MUCH harder on the parent than... Read More
With our twin boys getting ready to start solid food,... Read More
There is actually a bit of controversy about this question.... Read More
With orange juice spilled over the kitchen table, Playdough in... Read More
You have a baby shower planned for a friend; you... Read More
A new baby with colic is one of the most... Read More
In this article you will be provided with information about... Read More
Your baby's first year is filled with many challenges and... Read More
Imagine sitting your baby in your lap and reading a... Read More
Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so... Read More
Goodbye Bertha, Hello Kaitlyn! The top baby names of today... Read More
Choosing baby shower themes is the first step in planning... Read More
There are seven stages of potty training. They begin with... Read More
Baby boy invitations are the first thing you'll need to... Read More
Congratulations! It is a great honour your friends have done... Read More
After reading several books about potty training (my son was... Read More
There are many different ways to potty train your toddler.... Read More
Some things we take for granted. Like getting dressed. Unless... Read More
Modern parents want to do everything they can to help... Read More
Baby is into her fourth month now.Mom's milk is best.Breast... Read More
The old saying "babies aren't born with instruction manuals" has... Read More
Blue & Yellow Make Green - Put a few drops... Read More
There are many essential baby products a new parent must... Read More
Hosting a baby shower or looking for a great gift... Read More
So you carefully fill a spoon with medicine for baby,... Read More
When you plan for a baby room decor, the best... Read More
The baby carriage or buggy has come along way. Thanks... Read More
Having a baby is one of the most amazing things... Read More
Baby clothes are one of the most popular types of... Read More
This Spring many new parents will welcome new additions into... Read More
Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination... Read More
Babies and young children have thinner and more delicate skin... Read More
When choosing and buying baby clothes, parents can be faced... Read More
As many as one in 700 babies are born with... Read More
Keeping your baby safe at all times is one of... Read More
If having a Couples Baby Shower seems odd to you,... Read More
A long distance baby shower is for when mothers won't... Read More
It's finally time. My child is old enough to be... Read More
Mobiles are well known for its effectiveness in capturing and... Read More
There is something so amazing and joyous about watching a... Read More
It seems that the days of naming your son or... Read More
If circumcision were a choice I had to have made,... Read More
In the 15-year period from 1982 to 1996, the leading... Read More
It's one of the few things your child can do... Read More
Here are guidelines or quick baby shower tips for hosting... Read More
There are multitudes of ways to purchase used clothing for... Read More
Most shower checklists will suggest you start planning approximately four... Read More
Your Pisces Baby..February 19 - March 20Your baby will have... Read More
No aspect of party planning is more crucial and sometimes... Read More
There are many different ways to potty train your toddler.... Read More
Some parents have the shock of hearing their young child... Read More
Picture this; you are invited to a baby shower. How... Read More
Getting ready for a new baby requires a lot of... Read More
The addition of a new child to a family is... Read More
Colic hurts. Any parent who has an affected child will... Read More
Your Scorpio Baby..October 23 - November 21 Young Scorpios have... Read More
First of all, in case you do not know, what... Read More
Babies & Toddler |