That the baby have a Height and weight within normal percentiles is one of the greatest concerns of mothers, especially gilts. We are going to explain what percentiles are, what are the guidelines that pediatricians consider normal and some other issues.
Today, trying to make children have a weight above the percentile curve is not only unnecessary, but also encourages the development of obesity. This is one, if not the main nutritional problem in our society today.
What are the weight and height percentiles?
One of the biggest concerns of mothers is knowing if their child is growing properly. Percentiles are used for these normality criteria. Are the growth curves, both for height and weight, that are used in pediatrics to control and track the weight and height of the baby and child. The value of the percentiles ranges from 0 to 100. For you to understand better, a baby with a 60 percentile weight means that, out of 100 babies of the same age and gender, 40 will be above it in weight and 60 under.
Pediatricians weigh and measure the newborn to check that the evolution of its weight and height is correct. A full-term newborn, that is, one that has not been premature, and healthy weighs between 2.500 and 4.000 grams, its average length is 50 centimeters, and the average head circumference is 34 centimeters.
In First 3 months the baby gains from 150 to 200 grams per week. From the third month the weight slows down, it is between 100 and 150 grams a week. And from the sixth month there are great variations, they increase between 50 and 100 grams per week, some weeks they do not gain weight, and suddenly they increase 200 grams.
Factors that affect the height and weight of children
Genetics, diet, hormones, lack of affection ... are factors that influence the height and weight of a boy or girl, and there are few real problems associated with serious pathologies. If the baby does not increase in weight and height according to age, it will be the pediatrician who will determine the causes. There's a lot food allergies that do not allow this development of normal height and weight.
The tables are guidance tools, which serve to alert to the possible appearance of allergies or intolerances, but If a child is healthy, even if it is below average, nothing happens. It does not mean that the baby or the child with the highest percentile is better, but rather the one who remains stable at the same percentile throughout their development.
If the percentile decrease of the baby or child is continuous, that is, it does not remain in the same percentile, but rather it decreases, it does not mean that they lose weight or height, because this is not possible. It may be that he is gaining weight and height, but not as he would be depending on his age. All pediatricians maintain that although the growth graphs are more or less linear, in reality the children grow to peaks.
Do babies gain weight and height in summer?
There are times in the life of a baby, for example during the first two years, that their physical development is much more pronounced. This also occurs in shorter periods of time, there are months in which the baby barely grows and others in which his size increases a lot.
Curiously in summer thanks to the sunlight, which helps to synthesize vitamin D, essential in the development of bones, growth hormone secretion is stimulated. So do not be surprised if your son or daughter, for whom you are consulting this article, gives a stretch this summer.
In addition, we must bear in mind that other growth hormone stimuli are exercise and sleep, and the season of the year is approaching when, even though they are babies, when they are already walking, they have more intense physical activity and sleep better.