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From the moment parents bring their new baby home from the hospital, they watch their baby's progress, anticipating every inch of growth and each new developmental milestone along the way. But what exactly are they watching for and how do parents know if their child is growing properly? Growth is the various physical and developmental milestones that most children reach during each age level. Physical growth, which is generally measured in terms of height, weight and head growth, is also monitored carefully. This includes increases in height and weight as well as development in cognitive, language, and social skills.
Hair grows; teeth come in, come out, and come in again; and eventually puberty hits. It's all part of the growth process. The first year of an infant's life is a time of astonishing change. During this time, a baby will grow rapidly and achieve major developmental milestones, such as taking first steps or maybe even saying a few first words.
On average, babies grow 10 inches in height while tripling birth weight by their first birthday. Beginning in infancy, a child will visit a doctor for regular checkups. At each of these visits, the doctor will record the child's height and weight on a growth chart. This chart shows the doctor and parents how the child's height and weight compare to that of other children the same age. This can help your child's doctor determine whether your child is growing at an appropriate rate or whether there might be any problems. After age 1, a baby's growth in length slows considerably, and by 2 years, growth in height usually continues at a fairly steady rate of approximately 2 1 / 2 inches per year until adolescence.
No child grows at a perfectly steady rate throughout this period of childhood, however. Weeks or months of slightly slower growth alternate with mini growth spurts in normal children. Kids actually tend to grow a bit faster in the spring than during other times of the year. A major growth spurt occurs at the time of puberty. Around ages 8 to 13 in girls and 10 to 15 in boys, kids enter puberty, which lasts from about 2 to 5 years. By the time girls reach age 15 and boys reach age 16 or 17, the growth associated with puberty will have ended for most teens and they will have reached physical maturity.
There are plenty of things you can do to help your child grow and develop normally. Adequate rest, proper nutrition, and adequate exercise are critical to overall health and wellness, and a balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals will help ensure that your child will reach his full growth potential. Sleep patterns vary by age and individual child, but most kids need an average of 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Sleep gives growing bodies the rest they need to continue growing properly. It's important to stress how children differ in growth and development during childhood. Some kids are taller or shorter.
Generally girls hit puberty earlier than boys, although some girls might lag behind their peers in breast development and the onset of menstruation. All of this is usually completely normal. Try to avoid comparing growth among siblings or other children. Drawing attention to a child's height, for example, will only make him feel self-conscious about his size. Encourage your child to accept his own growth and development.
Explain that some children grow and develop at different rates - and late bloomers generally will eventually catch up. It is good to initiate conversations about growth and help your child understand the many changes he's facing. If you are uncomfortable discussing these topics or avoid the subjects altogether, your child may interpret that to mean that there's something shameful about the changes he's going through and he may be less likely to talk to you about any concerns he has. It's important to try to understand your child's feelings and to keep the lines of communication open.
Emphasize special talents or individual qualities, such as musical aptitude or a love of literature. Studies have shown that in healthy full-term children, developmental milestones are generally always achieved within certain age ranges. An important part of the general pediatric check up is to make sure that your child is reaching these milestones within the appropriate age range. Because growth and development are key / telling signs of a childs health, and because changes occur so rapidly during the first 18 months, check-ups need to be organized on a frequent, regular basis during this important period of your childs life.
As children get older, check-ups to assess growth and development are generally only necessary every 6 months, or once a year. It's important to bear in mind that no matter what your child's rate of development and growth, a loving and supportive environment are crucial to his or her happiness and self-esteem. Avoid comparing your child too much to other children. If you have a concern about your childs rate of growth or development, discuss it with your doctor.
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