“Is my child growing well?” Questions and answers for parents

What does a child’s growthtell us?
The way a child grows tells us a great deal about that child’s health. If a child is having problems with health or nutrition, growth is often affected.

How do I know if my child is growing okay?
Your child may be taller or shorter, heavier or lighter than other children of the same age. But changes in height and weight follow a regular pattern. That is why we measure weight and height. For babies, we measure their body length when they are lying down. Once toddlers can stand still, we measure their standing height. For babies and toddlers, we also measure the size of their head, known as head circumference.

It is best if children have their weight and height measured regularly so we can see how they grow over time. Then we are able to compare the child’s growth with other children of the same age and sex. If we measure a child just once, it only tells us how big the child is at that particular time.

How should I keep track of my child’s growth?
The measurements are put on a growth chart, which looks like a graph (Figure 1). As new height and weight measurements are added, we can see if a child is following a natural growth pattern (Figure 2). A growth chart is part of your child’s health record at the health care provider’s office.

How often should my child be weighed and measured?
If possible, have your child weighed and measured:

Older children and adolescents should also be measured once each year.

Why do some children grow slower or faster than others?
Many things affect the growth of children. Small changes in patterns are normal, especially during the first two years of life and during the teenage growth spurt. Growth spurts are part of normal growth and development. Children may be short or thin because their parents are short or thin. If children do not eat enough, growth and weight gain may slow down. They may also become more tired, cranky, and have less energy and strength than before. Babies and children who eat well but still grow poorly may have health problems. Weight can get ahead of height for many reasons. If a child is overeating and doesn’t get much exercise, or has a health problem, the child might gain weight very fast.

See your health care provider for more help with these types of concerns.

Do boys and girls grow at different rates?

Many things affect your child’s growth. Remember that children have their own pattern of growth that is natural for them. Regular weight and height measurements need to be taken to see your child’s special growth pattern.

Figure 1: Growth chart. Growth charts are available for boys and girls from birth to 36 months and for 2 to 20 years. Reproduced from reference 1

Figure 2: Growth patterns. Adapted from reference 2

Acknowledgements: This fact sheet was developed by Dietitians of Canda and is endorsed by the Canadian Paediatric Society, The College of Family Physicians of Canada and Community Health Nurses Association of Canada. The content of this fact sheet is based on “Assessing and Monitoring Growth in Canadian Infants and Children: Which Growth Charts to Use? A Collaborative Statement from Dietitians of Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, The College of Family Physicians of Canada and Community Health Nurses Association of Canada, 2003”. To access the complete position paper or the Executive Summary link to <www.dietitians.ca/news/highlights_positions.asp?pg=2 >. Dietitians of Canada gratefully acknowledges authors Shefali Raja RDN (DCPNN) and Janet Schlenker RDN (DCPNN) for development of this fact sheet, and DC Paediatric Nutrition Network (DCPNN) for financial support. 

References

For more information:
A health professional’s guide to using growth charts
Use of growth charts for assessing and monitoring growth in Canadian infants and children 

This document is also available courtesy of the Dietitians of Canada in Punjabi, Vietnamese, Chinese and Spanish.

Reviewed: February 2008

This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Canadian Paediatric Society
2305 St. Laurent Blvd.,
Ottawa, Ont. K1G 4J8
Phone: 613-526-9397, fax: 613-526-3332