Charting Your Child’s Growth at Home
In this final article in the Child Growth Chart series, I talk about ways that you can track your child’s growth yourself.
Every visit to your child’s doctor involves taking height and weight measurements. These measurements are used to plot a child’s growth over time and see where they fall relative to other children of their same age and gender and to make sure that they are growing as expected.
What to Track
The easiest way to track your child’s growth is simply to record the date that your doctor takes your child’s measurements and what those measurements are. A simple notebook or sheet of paper is all you need. I’ve attached a Growth_Chart_Tracking_Sheet (PDF) that you can download and use to track these measurements easily.
If you prefer to take measurements yourself, here are some tips for doing so:
How to take measurements
For children aged 0 to 3 years, you typically measure a child’s weight, length measured with your child lying down, and head circumference.
Once a child can solidly stand on their own – typically after 24 months, you can use standing height and weight.
For tips on taking measurements yourself, see: Measuring Your Child’s Growth at Home.
Keep in mind that certain things may cause your child’s weight to seem higher or lower than it should. Be consistent in when and how you measure your child each time, and, whenever possible, make sure that you measure them:
- at a similar time of day, such as 1 hour before mealtime;
- while they are wearing similar clothing – close-fitting and light-weight are recommended; and,
- when their health is normal (for them).
How often to measure
Health experts recommend that children be weighed and measured:
- Within the first two weeks of being born.
- Up to once a month during the first six months of life while your baby is growing quickly – your child’s health care provider will typically take measurements at one, two, four, and six month well-baby check-ups.
- No more than every three months between 9 months and 2 years – your child’s health care provider will typically take measurements at the nine, 12, 18 and 24 month check-ups.
- Yearly up to age six, and then every two years up to age 18 is sufficient.
Measuring your child more often than this is not necessary, unless your child’s growth pattern seems unusual or your health care provider has recommended more-frequent health monitoring. It is best to speak with your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about their growth and development.
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