Patient Education
What is Growth?
Physical growth refers to the variations in weight and height that occur as children mature.
What is Normal physical growth
The first year of life is an extremely crucial time for development in which newborns grow 10 inches ie 25 cm in length and triple in weight.
However, after the infancy period new parents tend to get startled if their child does not continue to grow as quickly beyond the first year. However, no child continues to develop at the rate of infancy.
A baby’s length growth decreases significantly after the age of one. By the age of two, height growth normally continues at a fairly consistent pace of around 6 cm each year until puberty.
No child develops at a precisely consistent rate throughout childhood. In most children, weeks or months of significantly slower growth alternate with tiny "growth spurts."
A significant growth spurt occurs throughout puberty, generally between the ages of 8 and 13 for females and 10 to 15 for boys. Puberty lasts between 2 and 5 years. This growth spurt is attributed to sexual development, which includes the emergence of pubic and underarm hair, the growth and development of sex organs, and the onset of menstruation in females.
How can the Parents assist their child's healthy growth?
- Interacting with kids in a predictable manner
- Showing love and warmth
- Having schedules and routines at home
- Talking and sharing books with kids
- Promoting safety, health and good nutrition
- Implementing effective discipline without being harsh
- Ensuring that the child gets at least 10-12 hours of sleep
- Motivating children to adopt outdoor exercises
Why should Parents should talk to their children about growth?
A child feels weird and questions about this growing hair, teeth falling off which may affect his/her self esteem. Parents should very openly talk it out to their children and make them understand that it's a normal process of growth. They shouldn’t compare their child's growth to that of his or her siblings. Bringing up topics like height or weight, for example, can simply make children feel self-conscious about their stature. Encourage your children to embrace their own maturation and progress. They should explain that different children develop and grow at various rates.
When should the parents consult the doctor?
Consult the doctor if you have any concerns. The physician will carefully examine your kid, ask questions about your family history, and, if necessary, prescribe tests to determine whether your child has a medical problem that is impeding his or her growth.