Like all five fingers, children come in all shapes and sizes too. However, it’s important to keep a check on whether they are reaching the right growth milestones with age. Growth of a child usually indicates that they are healthy and are getting the right nutrition. Hence regular monitoring of the height and weight of your child can help detect early growth challenges.
You can start immediately by creating and maintaining a growth chart to do this. If you do not know how to create one, AskNestlé is here to put your mind at ease and tell you all the information you need. Here is a quick guide on growth charts – what they mean, why you should maintain them, how often to measure your child and more.
What is a baby growth chart?
A baby’s growth chart is something that enables you and your doctor to monitor your child’s growth and wellbeing. When you maintain a growth chart, you learn how well your child is growing in comparison to other children their same age or gender. This growth chart also acts as a piece of information for your doctor to check for any kind of deficiencies. However, the chart is different for boys and girls as their growth patterns are different too. Below are the growth standards that are considered while measuring.
- Head circumference
- Height
- Weight
- Chest circumference
Measuring Your Child’s Height & Weight: When & How
The height changes slower than the weight. You can measure your child’s height every 6-12 months. In case you notice any problems in their growth then you might want to measure it more often and consult a paediatrician as well. The weight on the other hand should be measured every month until your child turn 5 years. After that, you can measure their weight every six months.
Reading the height-weight chart for kids up till 5 years
Below are growth charts that are created by World Health Organisation (WHO). These charts act as a great point of reference to measure your child’s growth too.
After your child turns 5 years old, they tend to grow at a steady pace until puberty. They grow at an average of about 6-7 centimetres in height each year and about 2-3 kilograms in weight.
Reading growth charts, like the one issued by WHO, is not as difficult as it looks. Just follow these instructions. First check for the age of the child at the bottom of the chart. Then follow the line from bottom to top. You will then find the weight or the height on either side of the chart. The point where the age and the weight or height lines intersect is your answer. You can then check to see if it matches with your baby growth chart.
Interpreting the results of the chart is best left to your doctor. These charts show a general view of growth, so if your child's development differs slightly, then you have nothing to worry about
A few things to remember about growth charts
If you are a parent, it’s a common thing to worry if you come to know that your ward’s weight or height is not the same as most children of his or her age. You might start worrying if he or she will perform well in school and later in life. So, here are a few important things to keep in mind for parents. Remember, that if you are child is not meeting a certain height or weight centile for his age, it might not mean he is not growing fine or not eating alright. Current measurements of your child cannot, for sure, predict whether he will be short, tall, skinny or heavy later in life.
In Conclusion
A growth chart is a great way to track your kid's physical development. Doctors look for a steady growth in a child to ensure that they are growing in a healthy way. Of course, their weight may differ in comparison to children of their own age but if there are drastic differences then you may want to consult your Paediatrician. Keep that growth chart updated and help your child grow safe and healthy.
The growth tracker helps you assess the growth of your child, with respect to other Indian children of the same age group. The growth assessment is based on the child’s height, age, weight and gender.
