What is a growth curve?
Growth curves are used to make a comparison of a child’s height, weight and head size against others of the same age. They can help both parents and family members keep track of the individual child as he or she grows. These curves can also serve as a warning when the child has a health problem. The way to obtain the growth curves is by analyzing the measurements and weights of thousands of children. From this data, nationally averaged weight and height can be established for each age and sex.
What data do the growth curves record?
The specialist will record the following values of the youngest child to know if he/she is in good health:
- Weight
- Height
- Head circumference: this is measured using a tape measure around the front of the head above the eyebrows.
From the age of two, the child’s Body Mass Index (BMI) can be measured. With height and weight, this value can be calculated. This record is used to measure the child’s body fat. Each of the above-mentioned data is recorded on the growth curve. Later these are compared with the standard range with children of the same sex and age. Even if the child continues to grow, the same table is still used to get real data.
Some growth curve data may be of concern to your medical specialist.
How to understand a growth curve?
It is important to know some details that can make it easier for parents to understand these measurements.
- There may be errors when measuring the child.
- It is possible that a particular record may not represent the correct value at a given time.
- The child’s records are not able to predict whether he/she will be short, tall, fat or thin in the future.
However, some growth curve data that may be of concern to the specialist are as follows.
- Situations in which the child’s measurements are below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile according to his age.
- Cases in which the child’s head is growing slowly or very fast and this is reflected in the previously noted records.
- When the child’s data record does not lie close to a line on the growth curve.
Altered results on growth curves are only one sign that there may be a problem. The medical professional will be in charge of establishing if it is a real health problem or if the child’s care and growth simply need to be monitored more closely.