Every parent wants their little one to thrive. But with all the talk of percentiles, growth charts and healthy development, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of confusing information. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Dr. Natasha Shur, a pediatric geneticist at Children’s National Hospital, tackles your most common questions about baby growth, deciphering the mysteries of charts and percentiles.

What does my baby’s weight and height percentile mean?

Percentiles simply compare your baby’s weight and height to other babies of the same age and sex, based on World Health Organization standards. So, if your baby falls in the 10th percentile for weight, it means roughly 90% of babies their age weigh more, and 10% weigh less.

Babies can be healthy across different percentiles, and often the weight and length are based on genetics. It is only if a baby’s weight and height are outside of the typically expected range or the expected pattern changes suddenly that pediatricians will want to take a closer look and make sure that the baby is healthy.

What are growth charts and how often should I expect my baby’s growth to be measured?

Growth charts are just a way of tracking a baby’s development, tracking head circumference, length and weight. These charts help pediatricians monitor your baby’s progress and ensure they’re growing at a healthy rate. Babies grow fastest in the first six months, and good nutrition, medical health and a loving environment are key ingredients for their success.

A growth chart offers great reassurance when a baby is growing as expected. On the other hand, if the pattern is different than expected for the baby, it is time to take a closer look and make sure that there is not a medical or other problem preventing optimal growth. Some problems that cause a change in the growth pattern, such as low thyroid or growth hormone deficiency, are treatable, and identifying conditions that can affect growth early can make a lifelong difference by getting early intervention. It’s important to look at both the overall pattern along with the baby to get the best overall picture.

How do growth charts differ for premature babies?

Babies that are born premature are expected to take extra time to catch up. For example, if a baby is born ten weeks early (at 30 weeks), they are given ten weeks to catch up and in effect plotted as a newborn when they reach what would have been the 40 week full-term date. They continue to be plotted on a regular growth curve but with ten weeks subtracted as a correction for gestational age until about age 2. Most premature babies catch up more quickly than expected, especially when given extra care during the early months.

What factors influence my baby’s growth rate?

As mentioned, a baby’s growth is the fastest in the first six months of life, so all of those sleepless nights of extra feeds are worth it. It’s important to provide proper nourishment with the essential fats and proteins that serve as building blocks for growth. While alternative milks like almond milk are healthy options for adults, these same alternative milks may not contain adequate proteins for growing children.

Early exposure to lots of words, songs and happy interactions in a loving home help form connections and optimizes growth. Of course, sometimes, there are genetic or other conditions that affect growth, and babies may be naturally smaller due to their conditions.

Remember, every baby and family is unique. By understanding growth percentiles, charts and consulting your pediatrician, you can ensure your little one thrives and reaches their full potential!