When you have a child, you might be surprised to see how many measurements doctors and nurses take of your little one each time they work with a medical provider. Although you may wonder why all of this data is measured, properly tracking the weight and height of your child could help to spot issues with their health. Here is a little more information about your child’s growth curve, how it’s calculated, and how it relates to pediatric care. 

What Is A Growth Curve?

A growth curve is a collection of data from children around the country, which is then aggregated and applied to the average curve for children in your area. Growth charts are available for height, weight, head circumference, and stature, in which this information is rated based on percentiles.

As your child is measured, their information will be tracked alongside the standard curve, which lets you know whether or not their growth is on track. Each time you visit the pediatric care office with your child for a wellness check, they will measure your little one’s height, weight, and head circumference, and then discuss your child’s growth with you. 

How Can An Understanding Of A Growth Curve Help?  

Growth goes hand in hand with a child’s overall development, and can be used to spot issues with your child’s wellness. While growing too quickly could indicate problems with your child’s growth hormone, growing too slowly could also indicate metabolic problems. This could also point to other issues, such as nutritional deficiencies, liver disease, or problems with the gastrointestinal tract. 

After your child is measured, their pediatric care provider will tell you where your child’s individual growth chart falls. Kids who have a growth curve above 50% are larger on average in that given measurement, while kids under that percentile are smaller than average. 

Knowing where your child’s growth is at could help the doctors to zero in on specific issues with your little one. For instance, if they aren’t growing, your pediatric care provider could analyze their daily eating habits to recommend changes that could help them to grow. 

Whether your child is due for a wellness check or you’re concerned about their growth rate, turn to Leitchfield Pediatrics in Kentucky. Since their inception in 1976, these pediatric care professionals have been helping families with everything from routine vaccinations and check-ups to managing acute injuries and ongoing illnesses. To find out more about how they can help you, visit their website or give their office a call at (270) 259-5641.