It’s not the percentile that I’m most concerned with

Just about every time you take your kiddo to their PCP (or other specialist) they’ll be asked to hop on the scale.  Usually the nurse or medical assistant will report the number (such as 22 lbs. 4 oz.) and the percentile (like 42nd%).  

As a dietitian I like more information about your kiddo’s growth.  I’m not concerned only with the percentile. Depending on the date of their last measurements, I might ask them to hop on my scale and stand against the wall for a height measure. 

Together we may review their growth charts–both weight and length/height, and sometimes BMI (although BMI is somewhat controversial right now). Your kiddo’s growth chart shows a series of dots, each representing a measurement, that tell a story.  Ideally, your kiddo’s measurements will fall around the same percentile over time.  I like to see a kiddo “pick a lane & stick with it”.  By that I mean I like to see measurements follow the curve of the growth chart (that wave shape).  Irrespective of the actual percentile, following the curve consistently tells me that your kiddo is growing according to their genetic makeup . 

Line ‘Em Up

Imagine 100 kiddos, exactly your child’s age, lined up lightest weight to heaviest weight or shortest to tallest.  Your kiddo will likely be around the same position year after year.  The goal is not for your kid to be “average”, aka 50th%.  Not everybody can be 50th in line! Even if your kid is 3rd in line (meaning they’re at the 3rd%), as long as they continue to stay close to that position, that’s just fine. 

Dropping off their growth curve (“shifting from their usual lane/position”) is something to investigate.  A steep increase in growth percentiles is also something to look closer at.  

For babies and toddlers, I also calculate grams per day (g/day) and centimeters per month (cm/mo.). They are growing more rapidly and it can be helpful to get more information (measurement, percentile and actual gains) to be able to see the trends. 

For kiddos who are >99th% or <1st %, I like to track a z-score as well.  This score tells me how much they are moving within that percentile range.

Childhood is a time of rapid growth and growth charts give us valuable information about your kiddo’s health.   

Snack Idea:

Mini bagel with nut butter and fresh peach slices

Reach out at Karen@CoastalFamilyNutrition.com or call the office at 603-674-2479.

Please feel free to share this with someone who may like to learn more about feeding kiddos!