|
Author: Lily Carter Article source: http://www.cuddlesngifts.net/. Used with author's permission.
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!
Five Ways To Maximize Affiliate Profits from Articles
What does it take to become a "BIG EARNER" with your affiliate marketing commissions? How can you start to make larger affiliate commission checks?
Change 1 Thing Per Month - Making it Great One Step at a Time
Life is short, and you want to try new things, right? But you're afraid that too much change will kill you, so you're looking for an easy way to try something n...
Weight Loss Online -- The Fastest & Easiest Weight Loss Plan
A healthy fast and easy weight loss plan for those who really want to quickly lose weight...
The Worst PR Mistakes
For a business, non-profit or association manager, they could be fatal, coming as they do in four bitter flavors. Mistake #1 - You limit your PR activity pret...
What Does Success Look Like?
While we are well into the 21st century too many are still thinking about their business as they did in the 1990's. The face of business has changed and the In...
Gaining Wisdom
Wisdom eludes me. The more I learn, the less I think I know. Maybe it's
because when I learn something new I realize how much more there is
to know. And by th...
Questioning Cardio for Weight Loss?
C+A+R+D+I+O does not always = Weight Loss. Find the answer to this
mathematical equation...
Tanning Beds: History and Advice
Tanning beds were brought to North America by German scientist Friedrich Wolff in 1978 and rose to popularity in the mid-1980s. Since then, tanning beds have be...
PR: The Wildcard Marketing Strategy
What is the true purpose of public relations and how can it really help impact the growth of your small business? In order for the media to succeed, they need i...
Do Cellulite Creams Actually Work?
The short answer is NO. Most cellulite creams will NOT work if they are the one and only element in your battle against the enemy. The enemy is too subtle for...
Combating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Naturally
Combating chronic fatigue syndrome naturally
Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress
What's causing all of this workplace stress? What can we do about it? Here are the top 10 stressors your people face and steps you can take to control stress ...
The Importance of a Great Cover Letter
You've seen a want ad for a job that seems to be the perfect fit for you. You really want to impress the employer, so you set out to write a cover letter that ...
How to Save Thousands on Your Marketing
Marketing can be expensive. It doesn't have to be, but sometimes you will spend more than you should. Usually you'll realise this after you've done it. But here...
Mind is All A Commentary on the Dhammapada
What is the mind? Sanskrit and Pali have the same word for mind: "man". Mana
comes from the root verb "man", which means "to think." However, mind takes in mor...
Cooking With Kids--Safely!
A few things to remember when cooking with kids, plus a few kid-friendly recipes.
Accutane Without The Ouch
If Accutane proves too expensive for you, the are other ways to garner Accutane-like results.
MP3 Encoding Technology
The MP3 is a complete godsend for anyone who enjoys and appreciates good music. Not only does it afford users the convenience of purchasing music online and ri...
The Top 10 Ways to Add Extra Value
Everyone wants the best possible value in every transaction, but each of us defines "value" in different ways. Some customers want the lowest price, while othe...
Personal Philosophy is Like The Set of The Sail
In the process of living, the winds of circumstances blow on us all in an unending flow that touches each of our lives.
Getting Comfortable in Your Own Skin
What it really means to express yourself and your spiritual gifts.
5 Resume Mistakes Telecommuters Often Make
Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands of other people are competing for the same p...
Why Wont My Child Do as I Say?
Parents frequently say: "My child won't listen to me!!" Repeated attempts in trying to get a child to co-operate often lands on deaf ears and leaves prents fee...
Create Your Plan B Before the Layoff Axe Falls
In one short week, the axe fell at a number of companies and thousands of employees were without jobs. Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Ford Motor Company of Canada, PNC...
|
Print this page