GROWTH (II)

Infant size at birth determined by size of

the mother
1st 3 months ---- hereditary factors
Child stature between parents
Some; grandparents or remote family
member
To distinguish from disease G charts
necessary
G charts helpful in discussion with parents
 WEIGHT
½ kg /month ----- 1st 3/12 of life
¼ kg / month ----- 2nd 3/12 of life
At 6/12 ---- doubles B. wt.
At 1 year ---- trebbles B. wt.
At 2 years ---- quadriples B.wt.
After 2 years increases at rate of 2.25 -
2.75 kg/yr
At adolescence 16 – 20 kg gained in 2
years
 HEIGHT
x length at birth 50 cm
1st year length increases by 25 – 30
cm
2nd year length increases by 12 –
13 cm
2+ years length increases by 5 - 6
cm
At adolescence 16 cms (girls) , 20
cms (boys) in 2 years
 HEAD CIRCUMFRENCE
Used as reference measurement only for
comparison with weight
Valuable only in the 1st 2 years of life
Skull size reflects growth & size of brain
Head circumference essential in early
detection of hydrocephalus
Wt. & head circumference should
correspond
to their percentile placing
 HEAD CIRCUMFRENCE
-Short gestation baby has a relatively
large head
-Head circumference measured round
occipito-Frontal
-H.C. at birth 35 cms. Then ½ inch
(1m)/month for 5 months
then slows to ¼ inch (½cm)/mon.
For the rest of the year
 COMMON CAUSES OF
UNUSUALLY SMALL HEAD FOR
AGE

Small baby
Familial feature
Mental subnormality
Craniostenosis
 COMMON CAUSES OF
UNUSUALLY LARGE HEAD FOR
AGE
Large baby
Familial feature
Hydrocephalus
Meganencephaly

* An older child (9 – 12 months) with

failure to thrive syndrome has a
relatively large head