When it comes to babies, parents can have many questions concerning growth, development and making sure they’re on a healthy track. Dr. Natasha Shur, pediatric geneticist at Children’s National Hospital, answers common questions to ease parents’ worries.
What does my baby’s weight and height percentile mean?
The percentile is just a comparison to other babies of the same age based on World Health Organization standards. For example, if a baby is 10 percent, that means about 90 out of 100 babies weigh more, and 10 weigh less at the same age. Babies can be healthy across different percentiles, and often weight and length are based on genetics. It is only if a baby’s weight and height are outside of the typically expected range or the expected pattern changes suddenly that pediatricians will want to take a closer look to make sure that the baby is healthy.
What are growth charts? How often should I expect my baby’s growth to be measured?
Growth charts are just a way of tracking a baby’s expected growth for head circumference, length, and weight. For example, babies grow at the fastest rate in the first six months of life — and to grow, babies simply need good nutrition, medical health, and love. A growth chart offers great reassurance when a baby is growing as expected. On the other hand, if the pattern is different than expected, it is time to take a closer look to make sure that there is not a medical issue or other problem preventing optimal growth. Some problems that cause a change in the growth pattern, such as low thyroid or growth hormone deficiency, are treatable, and identifying conditions that can affect growth early can make a lifelong difference when there is early intervention. It’s important to look at both the overall pattern and the baby to get the best overall picture.
How do growth charts differ for premature babies?
Babies that are born prematurely are expected to take extra time to catch up. For example, if a baby is born 10 weeks early (at 30 weeks), the baby is given 10 weeks to catch up and in effect is plotted as a newborn when the baby reaches what would have been the 40-week full-term date. The baby continues to be plotted on a regular growth curve but with 10 weeks subtracted as a correction for gestational age until about age 2. Most premature babies catch up more quickly than expected, especially when given extra care during the early months.
What factors influence my baby’s growth rate?
As mentioned, a baby’s growth is the fastest in the first six months of life, so all of those sleepless nights of extra feedings are worth it. It’s important to provide proper nourishment with the essential fats and proteins that serve as building blocks for growth. While alternative milks like almond milk are healthy options for adults, these same alternative milks may not contain adequate proteins for growing children. Early exposure to lots of words, songs, and happy interactions in a loving home help form connections and optimizes growth. Of course, sometimes, genetic or other conditions affect growth, and babies may be naturally smaller due to their conditions. The cause explains the growth issues and confirms that the baby is growing as expected for the condition and does not need extra calories.
Every baby and family are different but looking at the overall growth, health, and happiness of your baby, and consulting your pediatrician for your baby’s exact needs will go a long way in keeping them healthy.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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