The baby growth cart shows which percentile your child is in compared with others of the same age and gender. Percentiles are shown as curved lines. For example, if your child is in the 70th percentile for length-for-age, this means 30 percent of babies the same age and gender are longer, and 70 percent are shorter.
But, this one point doesn't provide the complete picture. Your provider will assess several values over time to see the trend of how your child is growing in comparison to the average growth curve shown on the chart. Try not to get too focused on a single number.
When babies have growth spurts also varies. For example, breastfed and formula-fed babies grow in slightly different patterns. Breastfed babies typically put on weight more slowly than formula-fed babies, and formula-fed infants typically go through a growth spurt and gain weight more quickly after 3 months of age.
Your pediatrician is the best person to explain whether your child is on track. As your baby grows, the diaper size that fits her perfectly will change, too. A different growth pattern may not indicate a problem. Your child may simply be experiencing a growth spurt, for example. Another change that may signal a problem is if your child is not getting longer and heavier at a steady rate.
A healthy, well-nourished baby usually grows at a predictable rate. Most children fall between the 3rd and 97th percentiles.
If at any time you're concerned about your baby's weight or growth in general, discuss your worries with your doctor. The doctor also may ask questions about your baby's health and development.
All these things together will help the doctor decide if your baby is growing at an appropriate rate. The doctor may recommend tests if he or she thinks there may be a problem that needs to be addressed. Premature babies may still be behind in size compared with their full-term peers, but they should also be growing steadily at their own rate.
With all the concern about childhood obesity , parents may worry that their baby is getting too fat. A few babies and toddlers are overweight. For these children, advice from the baby's doctor can be useful. Never withhold food from a baby in an attempt to cause weight loss.
To grow and develop as they should, babies need proper nutrition, including fat, in their diet. For the first year, breast milk or formula should continue to be the main source of nourishment. Vaccines protect kids from more diseases than ever before — 14 by the age of 2.
And by keeping your child's immunizations up-to-date, you'll be helping to keep this amazing health care track record going strong. No need to visit the toy store! You can sing along too! The best way to decide how much to pay a babysitter is to ask other moms in your area try the members of your local What to Expect group, along with mom friends what they think is reasonable. Rounding off the current minimum wage in your state is probably a good starting point.
You want to find the best sitter you can, and offering competitive wages is part of the deal. You can also check out babysitting sites like Sittercity. And you may find a terrific or year-old, since many college students love the hours and flexibility of babysitting. Skip the silver spoon Aunt Martha sent; a small plastic-coated model is much easier on tender gums. Count on having several on hand during feedings — one for you, one for your baby — to foster the sense of independence and avoid power struggles yes, those may happen, even at this tender age.
For you, choose a long handle for ultimate maneuverability, and for your baby, a short, curved handle is easier for tiny fingers to grip and will help prevent your baby from getting hurt.
Just before you're ready to start, put a bib on your little eater yours is optional! A word to the wise: Get your baby into the bib habit right from the start or she may resist it later. It can be made of soft plastic, cotton or paper — as long as it's big enough to cover the chest and tummy, you're good to go. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
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Your 5-Month-Old Baby. Your 5-month-old baby's development. See Month 5 Videos. They'll talk to you about how feeding is going, possibly ask to observe a feed if you're breastfeeding, and look at your baby's health in general. Your baby will usually only be weighed more often than this if you ask for it or if there are concerns about their health or growth.
Your child's growth will be recorded on centile charts in their personal child health record PCHR , or red book. These charts show the pattern of growth healthy children usually follow, whether they're breastfed or formula fed, or having a mixture of both. Visit the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website to see some examples of baby weight charts.
Boys and girls have different charts because boys tend to be a little heavier and taller, and their growth pattern is slightly different. The curved lines on the charts are called centile lines.
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