Growth and development of children.

By growth and development of the child, we generally understand the changes in weight and height from the birth of the child until the end of the growth process, necessarily accompanied by the perfection of the function of the organs of the growing child.

The development of a child depends on the weight and height he has at a certain age, on the right proportion between different parts of the body, on the size of the perimeter of the head, chest, abdomen and the protrusion of the teeth. These data give us the opportunity to judge on the development of the child’s body according to his age.

In addition, we will look and evaluate the child’s nervous development, the development of the brain, which is presented with the ability he has to know, to understand, to connect with people and things around him, to speak , to ask questions and to express opinions.

Periods of a child’s life can be classified:

– Neonatal period from birth to 28 days.

– First childhood from 28 days to 1 year.

– Second childhood from 2-6 years old.

– The third childhood from 6 years to 8-12 years, ie until the appearance of the first signs of puberty.

– Adolescence from 12 years to 18 years (according to American authors for men up to 20 years) until the total completion of statural growth.

WEIGHT

Normal weight development in intrauterine life speaks to the possibility of an increase in normal development in extra uterine life.
The average weight of a newborn baby is about 3000-3300 gr.
Every child should be weighed periodically at least once a month for the first 6 months of life, once every 3 months for the next 6 months, twice a year for the next 3 years and once a year from that time and onwards.
In the first days of life the newborn baby experiences a weight loss of 5-10% of birth weight, or approximately 150-300 gr, which is considered physiological weight loss. After this period the baby gains weight regularly.
The weight gain throughout the first month is about 600 grams.
From 1-2 months the baby adds 800-900 grams.
After the second month the monthly allowances are slightly reduced.
So from 5/6 month adds about 500 grams per month, while from the 10th and 12th month adds about 300 grams per month.

LENGTH

The normal height of a newborn baby is about 50 cm, reaches 70-75 cm at the age of 1 year, doubles around the age of 4 years and triples at the age of 12-13 years. In latent, these measurements are performed by holding the baby in a supine position.

Growth rates are as follows:

From 2-3 years old = 7-8 cm per year

4-6 years = 7 cm per year

6-8 years = 6 cm per year

8-10 years = 5 cm per year

Generally the birth weight doubles around the 5th or 6th month and triples at the end of the first year.
An acute weight loss indicates the presence of an acute illness, dehydration or malnutrition, while a chronic weight loss suggests the presence of a chronic illness.
A sudden increase in weight may indicate a hyperhydration or the appearance of an edema, but generally indicates an overeating.