Are you worried about your baby’s weight? Has his percentile dropped or seems different from other children? These questions are among the most frequent during growth reviews. However, in the majority of cases, there is nothing abnormal.
Understanding what healthcare professionals actually measure can help reduce anxiety and better monitor your child’s development.
What does a growth report really check?
Growth checks are generally carried out by a maternal, child and family health nurse, a general practitioner or a pediatrician. These appointments allow us to monitor the child’s progress over time.
During the consultation, several measurements are taken: weight, height or length and head circumference. The doctor also observes the child’s general condition, his level of alertness, his muscle tone, as well as everyday elements such as eating, sleeping or the number of wet and soiled diapers.
This data is plotted on a growth curve, a tool that allows you to check whether the child is growing and developing at the expected rate.
Beyond the measures, these meetings also have an important support role. Doctors are there to answer questions, reassure parents and help them gain confidence during the first years of their child’s life.
Percentiles: a benchmark, not a grade
The growth charts used in Australia and New Zealand are based on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards. They make it possible to compare the growth of a child to that of other children of the same age and sex.
The results are expressed in percentiles:
- A child at the 50th percentile is average;
- A child at the 25th percentile is shorter than average;
- A child at the 85th percentile is taller than average.
For example, a baby at the 25th percentile for weight would be the 25th lightest out of a group of 100 comparable children.
But one essential point is often misunderstood: there is no ideal percentile. Each child has their own growth rate, influenced in particular by their genetics, their ethnic origin, their birth weight or even the duration of the pregnancy. Even siblings can have very different curves.
Furthermore, an isolated measurement provides little information. What matters most is the evolution of growth over time.
When should you be vigilant?
Small variations on a growth curve are common. Babies don’t grow perfectly evenly: they often experience growth spurts.
However, health professionals examine the situation more carefully when a child:
- Crosses multiple percentile lines up or down;
- Shows signs of feeding difficulties or dehydration;
- Looks sick.
Even in these situations, the goal is not to be alarmed but to assess the situation carefully. Additional examinations or closer follow-up may be offered to check that everything is progressing correctly.
In most cases, these additional checks mainly serve to reassure families.
Three questions parents often ask themselves
Should I supplement with infant milk?
Breastfeeding is recommended when possible. However, in certain situations, particularly when weight gain is considered worrying, supplementing with infant milk may be recommended.
The decision should always be discussed with a healthcare professional. The objective is to support parents, never to judge them.
Should a “big” baby start solid foods earlier?
No. Recommendations call for introducing solid foods around six months of age, when the baby is developmentally ready.
Before this age, breast milk or infant milk generally covers the child’s nutritional needs.
Introducing solids too early can increase the risk of choking, digestive upset and an increased risk of being overweight later in life.
Why does weight vary from week to week?
A baby’s growth is not linear. Its weight can fluctuate depending on diet, sleep or even a recent illness.
Periods of rapid growth frequently occur during the first few weeks, around six to eight weeks, between three and four months, and then around six months. During these stages, babies may ask for more food or seem more agitated.
The essential message to remember
Seeing your baby change percentile or growing differently from another child can be a source of worry. However, each child follows their own growth trajectory.
More than a number or a percentile, it is the trends observed over time and the general condition of the child that allow health professionals to evaluate their development. In the vast majority of situations, growth assessments are above all a monitoring and reassurance tool for families.