BASICS

• One of the most important parameters to help monitor a child’s development.
• For the first 2 years, Length of a child is taken( Child is lying down and length measured from head to heel, keeping legs straight).
• Measurements of growth-height and weight need to be done regularly( 3 months at least in first few years).
• The values are plotted in a standard graph ( see below)
• Some babies are smaller compared to others at birth ( due to various reasons). And every one of them will follow their constant line( also known as percentile) in the graph.
• A sudden change in the graph line ( percentile) should be followed up and a change in 2 percentiles should be evaluated( preferably by a doctor).
• In acute conditions (like infections/ diarrhoea..) the weight is affected and in chronic (long-lasting conditions like food intolerance, heart or kidney diseases, reflux) the weight and height , both are affected.

TAKING A HEIGHT MEASUREMENT

• Ask the child to stand( no footwear) against a wall with the heel( Back of foot) and the back of head touching the wall.
• Ask the child to look straight
• Place a book on the head and mark the point
• Move the child and then measure from the mark to the ground.
• Plot it on the graph according to the age( age is in X-axis)
• Keep this record for future use

FINDING THE EXPECTED HEIGHT OF YOUR CHILD AT 18 YEARS

• It is done by the following formula. its called Mid-parental height
• It is simple to calculate

Father height( cm) + Mother height (cm) / 2  + 7         in case of boys 
Father height( cm) + Mother height (cm) / 2  – 7         in case of girls

• The accuracy of this formula may vary 5 cm.

• Change in > 2 percentiles on graph
• Obvious signs of illness

 

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