Growth curves and routine pediatrician checkups

During the first year of life, children must be followed up with close checks to evaluate both the statura-ponteral growth and the cognitive and motor neurological development.

During the first year of life, but not only, routine checks by the pediatrician are frequent. During visits, the doctor evaluates the child’s general health, discusses progress, sleep, nutrition… and takes note of some important measurements that will compile what are called growth curves.

What are they and what are they for? We explain it below thanks to Dr. Fabrizio Ciralli, head of Neonatology and Neonatal Pathology at Humanitas San Pio X in Milan.

What are the main checks by the pediatrician during the first year of life?

During the first year of life, children must be followed up with close checks to evaluate both the statura-ponteral growth and the cognitive and motor neurological development.

During routine checkups, the pediatrician compiles data for growth curves. What is it about?

The growth curves refer to ideal growth measures defined by the WHO, created taking into consideration the growth curves of children , in different parts of the world, raised in ideal conditions, in a favorable environment, breastfed for at least 4 months , and who started weaning between 5-6 months of age.

Graph and percentiles: how should they be read?

When we talk about percentiles we mean a statistical range to evaluate the normal growth in height and weight, and in the first two years also the development of head circumference.

Evaluation by percentiles is a statistical evaluation that the pediatrician needs: within the normal range of percentiles, there will be older or heavier children, but this depends on the family genetic target

Percentiles and growth graph are used to monitor the growth trend of the child during visits.

Slowdowns or variations in growth in the first months of life are normal but must be evaluated by the pediatrician and for this reason outpatient check-ups are important. In fact, a reduction in the growth percentile of a breastfed baby, for example, may be due to a reduction, even transient, of breast milk, or during weaning, to food intolerances.

What are the growth spurts that we often hear about among mothers?

This is a growth higher than its usual trend, which can occur in the first weeks, between 2-3 weeks of life, or at 3 or 6 months of life. The growth spurt is not important and does not happen in all children: instead it is important to observe the growth curve.

What are the signs that should cause concern in the growth of a newborn?

A reduction in growth should not cause concern, but it should not be underestimated.

For the years following the first, why are growth curves still important? And up to what age?

They are always important . Growth curves from 0 to 24 months, but also those from 2 years to 18 years. Any deviations in growth can occur at any time, even in adolescence. The genetic target is important and not to expect impossible growths , despite the fact that children today have more possibilities for adequate growth than in the past, thanks also to nutrition.