Childhood Development

[billroper]

Earlier this week, the pediatrician updated Katie's vitals to 11 pounds, 13 ounces and 23.5 inches long, which puts her off the charts apparently. However, her head is in proportion to her body, so that's good. Maybe they just need new charts.

In other developmental news, daisy_knotwise observes that Katie has figured out when Mommy is on the phone, because that seems to be the right time for some recreational screaming.

Comments

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

Don't know if you're interested or already found something.... but if you want to keep score at home....

http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babygrowthchart.asp

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

Just for giggles I plugged katies numbers into the charts and she is indeed off the charts at 95% in both categories. And those are the current charts. You just have an overacheiver :)

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

Be assured, this ability is GENETIC and is the first superpower children develop. And guess what? They do not lose this ability until they move out of the house.. so you've got 18 years of this or so.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Seems like a lot of kids are "off the charts" these days. I think you're right, they need new charts. In these days of generally excellent prenatal care including the emphasis on mom's health during pregnancy, and the good nutrition afterwards, kids are just bigger than they used to be.

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

I think that doctors also don't want to update that chart. It's much more fun to tell their patients that Baby X is at the top of the chart, than in the middle or (horrors) near the bottom. I suspect the chart was based on births in about 1940, myself. That way, most modern babies will be in the top half, and few moms will hear that their child is 'below average'.

The key factor, really, is whether the height and weight are consistent. Is the baby overweight for the height, or underweight, or are they both about the same? If they're both about the same, no problem. If the baby is over- or underweight for their size, it's a clue to a larger problem, and the kid could have a metabolic disorder. With my kids, Greg is eternally underweight (having a wheat allergy will do that for you) while Kevin is bigger than average, and his weight is consistent. I suspect his high school football coach is going to be distressed that he doesn't like contact sports...so it goes.

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

The charts that I've seen used online and by my pediatrician were last updated in 2000 by the CDC and NCHS, so they're fairly current... but they do still factor in the population as a whole. And while prenatal care is generally pretty good in this country there are still large numbers of people who either can't or don't avail themselves.

But yeah you're right... as long as the kiddo is in the top percentages on both charts it's all good medical wise. You've just got an over acheiver on your hands. :)

I've seen some stories of doctors abandoning the charts altogether because there are some parents who... with a little information... become overly paranoid and worrisome.

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

"Mom, you're supposed to be talking to *me*!!!" :-)

Are there still babies as small as I was lowering the Average?

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

I wonder if they're still averaging in any recent babies with my old problem? I was a full-term baby only as big as an 8-month preemie, and went home from the hospital long after my mother did, because I had to gain weight until I reached 5 pounds.

There was no cause atributed at the time, but 20-20 hindsight ascribes it to second-hand cigarette smoke: my nonsmoking mother had recently acclimated to my father's family, with lots of men who all smoked heavily.

Childhood development

[(Anonymous)]

I'm thrilled that she flourishes. My son Grog was always off the top of the charts, and my daughters always at the bottom.

the pediatrician at his first postnatal visit: "I know what your kids look like. Where did you get this cinderblock?"

When Katie reaches the lower grades, you may find her expected to act her size rather than her age.

"He's ('Your little terror' understood) acting like a six-year-old!"
"Good. He's five."

and

"She's a genius! Reading and conversing at that level, and she can't be more than four years old!"
"Thanks. She's six."

Oh, and Bill, please share my joy - Grog has graduated, and has a job interview lined up.

A toast, then, for the new year:
To the presence of friends
To the absence of pain
To the sleeping winter and the early spring;
Gods bless us, every one


Anne Passovoy