Children's growth and development.

From birth children are weighed and a note made of their OFC (head circumference) and length. Health professionals chart these measurements on a chart known as a "centiles chart". This allows an accurate following of the child's growth. Some weight loss is expected immediately after delivery but babies generally regain their birth weight by about 2 weeks.

If you look at a centiles chart, there is usually one in your child's personal health record, you will see that the graph has nine curves. Starting at -04th and rising to the 99.6th.
If you lined up 100 children of the same age, in height/length order you would find that, if your child is following the 25th percentile, your child would be number 25 in the row with 75 children taller.

Until a child is 2 years old the weight and length of the child are noted. From the child's second birthday the measurements change to a standing height measurement.

There is no exact measurement at which a child's measurement is abnormal, but, only one child in one thousand will follow the curve at 0.4th.

Weight gain is not the only important measurement, children can gain weight but not be thriving. When a child's weight crosses two percentile lines, for example a child who at birth and the first few months measured along the 50th percentile and then this falls to the 9th percentile, a referral should be made to a Consultant Paediatrician. Further investigation will determine if there is any underlying health problem which requires treatment.

Children do not always follow a centile line exactly an it is not unusual for a child to lose a little weight due to illness but will usually return to the initial centile after two or three weeks. If the charted measurements fall between one percentile curve and another, (e.g.between the 75th and 50th, or, 50th and 25th) that is not a cause for concern.

Children aged 2 weeks to 6 months should be measured and weighed once a month.
Once every two months at age 6-12 months.
Over age 12 months one measurement every three months is enough unless there are concerns about the child's eating or other health issue.

Children born before their due date should be charted on a "preterm" percentile chart, or, if they were born with a particularly low birth weight then the appropriate chart should be used.

When a child is a fussy eater these measurements can be an important indicator of whether this behaviour is affecting their growth and development. Some children have a limited diet but continue to grow and to follow the centile as they always have. Others may have a falling growth pattern. Where growth is failing and weight is rising but not to meet the anticipated pattern, further investigations are necessary.

Simple things like frequent coughs and colds, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and gastric reflux can have a negative effect on children's growth. It is always important to recognise these and where necessary to treat them.

If you would like a UK percentile chart to plot your child's growth;-
 Contact Dream-Angus at info@dreamangus.com