For baby’s healthy growth and development pediatricians as well as parents always keep track of the baby growth chart. Baby growth charts indicate the growth of your child over the period. However, you need to keep in mind that these charts only work as a child growth tracker and parents need not compare bay’s size and weight with that of other babies as this may mislead you. The important thing to take from this baby growth tracker is that your baby is growing healthy and normal.
What is the infant growth chart?
An infant growth chart helps you and your doctor keep track of how your baby is developing. You may find different growth charts as well as baby growth calculator for girl and boy, for infants and older children.
So, how this baby growth tracker can help track your baby’s growth? Growth charts record developmental changes in your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference. All dimensions are written on the planto help youcompare the changes with time.
Now, let’s understand how to read the baby growth chart. On the vertical axis of the chart is the measurement, while the horizontal axis represents the baby’s age.
Remember that the ‘normal’ baby growth ranges a lot, and every baby grows at a different pace. As long as your baby keeps growing normally, is healthy and responsive, there’s no need to worry about the numbers on the growth chart.
How will your baby be measured?
Babies under 2 years old are weighed on a special infant scale. Weighing babies with no clothes on until they are 12 months old is more accurate. Once the baby turnstwo, you can measure your kid by making her or him stand up in very light clothes. You baby’s head circumference is measured using a tape.
If your child was prematurely born, their age should to be corrected on the chart until they turn
Though baby growth charts are mainly used to track infants’ growth, there are a lot of growth charts that can be used until the child turns 18.Other than using the baby growth tracker, you will need to run some health checks that your GP or pediatrician may suggest to make sure your child is developing and growing normally.
When should you be worried?
All babies lose some weight during the first week after birth. So, you shouldn’t be worried as most babies gain double weight in the next 4 months and triple the weight in 12-15 months.
However, you should not be worried if your baby:
- has at least five wet nappies every day
- does soft well-sized poos
- has good muscle tone and skin color
- is meeting other developmental and growth milestones
Remember, the baby growth chart should be as a tracker and to make sure that your baby is growing normal and healthy. Don’t compare your kid’s growth to that of other children. You should only ensure that your child is growing normally and is following the same percentile.
