Growth is one of the most important factors for a newborn baby. It is important to look at the child growth chart to identify the physical growth and the child’s development as an individual. The growth chart indicates that the kid is gaining weight and inches that ensure their development. Each age has a generalized rate of the child’s development, and you will know if your kid is gaining more weight than usual or vice versa.
The importance of percentiles
When you visit the doctor, they will measure the height, weight, and head circumference of your child and will also help you understand the percentiles of measurement. The percentile number will help you understand your baby’s growth in an effective way; for example, if the doctor says your kid is taller than 85 percentiles, it means your child is taller than 85 percent kids of their age.
How to chart your kid’s growth
Growth and development are very important for a child; it is also important for the parents to keep an eye on the growth and development of their baby. The child growth chart can be considered a reliable method to keep an eye on the development and growth of your child. Nowadays, you can find the child growth chart easily on the internet, which you can use. If your child is below 2 years of age, we recommend that you use a standardized chart like the growth charts from the World Health Organization that maintain international standards framed in the year 2006.
On the other hand, if your child is older than 2 years, you can follow the growth charts prepared by the National Center for Health Statistics. You can also find growth charts for premature babies and toddlers with specific conditions like achondroplasia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and others.
Here are the basics regarding the normal growth and development according to the age of a child that you can refer to and keep a check on your child’s growth and development.
Birth
At the time of birth, a child is usually 19.5 inches long and weighs about 7.25 pounds. The National Center for Health Statistics also says that boys acquire a head circumference of about 13.5 inches, whereas girls’ head circumference is somewhere around 13.3 inches.
Birth to 4 days
The child loses 5-10 percent of his total weight due to the loss of fluid through the passing of stools and urination.
5 days to 3 months
Your child can gain about 28 grams on a daily basis during this phase. You can see that the child will return to their birth weight during the second week. A growth surge is generally seen in the third week, and you can see additional signs of development by the end of the sixth week.
3 months to 6 months
Generally, the child gains around half a pound in 14 days, and you will notice that the baby’s weight has become double since birth when they are 6-months old.
7 months to 12 months
During this period, a child gains around a pound per month. You have to remember that a child burns increased calories during this period. Moreover, it is the time when the child learns to crawl. You can also see a growth of 10 inches in height by their first birthday, and the weight is tripled from their birth weight. You can also notice a significant change in the head circumference, where it is likely that it has increased by about 4 inches.
Growth for toddlers and big kids
1 year old
At this period, toddlers grow slowly. A child is likely to gain about half a pound in a month, and also, there is a noticeable growth of 4-5 inches in their height.
2 years old
The kid is likely to gain about 3 inches by the end of their third year. and then they will gain 4 more pounds. During this period, you can assume their adult height.
3 and 4 years old
Now a child will gain about 4 pounds and 3 inches every year. You can also notice the reduction of baby fat from their face.
5 years old and more
The child will gain about 4 pounds and 2 inches till their puberty. In general, boys hit the adult height by the age of 17, whereas girls reach their adult height two years after their first period. This is how a child develops their growth from the time of their birth. The child growth chart will help you understand the rate of your child’s growth, and you can adjust the measures to be taken according to the statistics provided in the chart.
Thus, maintaining a child growth chart acts as a perfect tool to keep track of your child’s development. In addition, it will also let you constantly monitor the growth of your child. So, consult your child’s doctor and seek the help of maintaining a growth chart.
