From day one, children are constantly being measured. Height, weight, and head circumference are important measurements used to monitor a child’s growth until the age of two. At the age of two, a child’s height and weight are used to determine his or her Body Mass Index, or BMI.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. The test screens for overweight and obese children, as well as other underlying factors during the development process.
At each well child visit, your child’s height and weight is plotted on a growth chart to obtain a BMI number and weight status. The number relates to a percentile score that indicates the status of your child, based on national standards across the United States with children of the same age and sex. At Children’s National Medical Center, each measurement is input into a system which automatically determines the child’s BMI.
Healthcare providers measure children at every visit. It is important that healthcare providers monitor and assess the height and weight development of your child in order to gauge his or her overall well-being.
Children’s National’s Clinical Manager Teresa Graves, BSN, RN, suggests involving your child in his or her personal growth. By engaging your child in a fun and interactive way, you can ensure that his or her personal growth will become an integral part of their life. This involvement, and the healthy habits surrounding it, will educate your child and allow them to carry this awareness with them through adulthood.
“We rely a lot on the families,” said Teresa Graves, BSN, RN. “Height and weight measurements are taken overtime; they’re not a one or two time thing. It is something that we have to follow gradually to determine how the child is developing.”
Height and weight tips for parents to consider:
- During infancy and childhood, boys and girls grow similarly. Differences in growth begin to occur during puberty.
- Height and weight standards are generally explained in terms of BMI percentiles. It is important to understand the percentile reading from your healthcare provider.
- It is best to have a growth chart for each child, started at the time he or she is born. Remember to bring it to every appointment so that the healthcare providers can monitor your child’s growth between visits.
- When measuring at home, be sure the floor is not carpeted and that all body parts are touching the wall. Measure to the nearest 1/8th inch or 0.1 centimeter.
