Growth charts are used when assessing physical growth. Growth curves created by periodic anthropometric measurements of healthy children enable the evaluation of children in terms of weight gain, height increase and increase in head circumference both compared to the general population, and problems in height growth rate, weight gain rate and head circumference increase rate can be detected early in measurements made at regular intervals. For example, if the last measurement values of a child whose weight measurements are constantly on the 50th growth line, then decrease to the 25th and then the 10th growth line, this may be an infection disease, nutritional problem, etc. indicates the presence of a problem affecting weight gain. Height growth is not affected in weight gain problems that are detected and intervened early. But if it is delayed, height growth is also affected and the child cannot reach his genetic height potential. Head circumference measurements, especially in the first 18 months, indirectly give us an idea about brain growth. The fact that the head circumference curve first reaches 50, 75 in the next measurement, and 90th in the next measurement indicates that the head circumference grows faster than normal; This suggests that risk factors such as hydrocephalus and vitamin D deficiency should be investigated.
Do you have your baby’s routine doctor check-ups?
It is also very important to evaluate and support the physical health of our children. Evaluation of physical development is done with follow-up and scans. Monitoring is an ongoing process. Evaluating growth and development at appropriate periods makes it possible to detect risky situations early and develop appropriate approaches.