Chapter 3. Signs of Normal Development. Height, Weight And Body Proportions

Chapter 3. Signs of Normal Development. Height, Weight And Body Proportions.

Physical development plays an important role in a person's mental growth and development. It is especially important to monitor the development and growth of the child in the first year of life to be sure that it is proceeding normally. The main indicators of physical development are the baby’s weight, height and body proportions.

Height, weight and body proportions are key indicators of a child's development. In order to monitor the development of a child in the first year of life and to be sure that it is proceeding normally, it is necessary to regularly weigh and measure the baby’s growth. It is currently believed that in the first 6 months of life, a child with normal development should gain weight from 500 g to 1 kg monthly or at least 125 g every week. During the first month of life - an average of 600 g; in the second and third - 800 g, and during each subsequent month - 50 g less compared to the previous one. A one-year-old child should weigh on average 10.5 kg.

However, it is worth noting that there may be individual differences in weight gain among children. Small children gain less weight; large children, on the contrary, gain more weight. If the child is healthy, then there is no need to worry too much about his weight gain. You can completely rely on the assessment, which can only be correctly compiled by a medical specialist.

If you notice that your child is not gaining weight within 10-14 days, contact your pediatrician for advice. On the other hand, excessive weight gain is also undesirable. Overfed children lag behind in development, begin to walk later, and have a more difficult time surviving illness.

Weighing is a sensitive indicator of how well a child is progressing or failing in development, and therefore it is useful to monitor weight. Mothers who are able to weigh their newborn at home would do well to weigh him regularly. If this is not possible, then the child’s weight can be found out when visiting a children’s consultation.

When weighing a newborn, certain rules must be followed: weighing should always be carried out under the same conditions to eliminate the possibility of side effects. Therefore, the child should always be weighed on the same day of the week, at the same time, and always only before feeding. The child is weighed naked, and the weight of the diaper placed under him must be subtracted from the established total weight after weighing.

When your baby turns 4 months old, it is no longer necessary to weigh him every day. It is enough to do this once a week. And so on until the end of the year. If you attach great importance to the accuracy of regular weighings, then weighing can be continued after the child’s first year of life.

However, in addition to weight, the height of the child is also important. The child's height should be appropriate for his age and gender, and should also be measured regularly. Doctors usually use special tables to determine the normal height and weight of a child depending on his age and gender.

In addition to weight and height, it is also important to monitor the proportions of the child’s body. Normal body proportions in a child are characterized by symmetrical development, a balanced ratio of the sizes of the head, torso and limbs. Deviations in body proportions may indicate the presence of any problems in the child’s development.

In general, regular measurements of weight, height and body proportions help parents and doctors determine how well the child is developing and promptly notice any deviations in his physical development. Therefore, monitor your baby’s development and do not forget to seek advice from specialists if any questions arise.