Mum shares the vital reason why you should measure your child’s height every three months
ONE Mum and blogger has revealed the reasons why you should always keep an eye on your child’s height, and it’s not just for sentimental reasons.
As many parents have a designated wall in their homes to keep up to date with their child’s growth spurts, many do not realise that this can be an indicator of their child’s wellbeing.
Mum-of-two and author of Muminthemadhouse Jen Walshaw, alongside More Than My Height, have posted about the importance of keeping up to date with your child’s growth at home.
Jen said: “Parents of children in the UK will remember their baby and toddlers red book where health visitors recorded our children’s weight and height and plotted it on a graph.”
She added: “It wasn’t the specific height and weight they focussed on but their percentile and how it changed. This was an indication of their general health and wellbeing.”
Jen says that measuring your child’s height on regular basis will help you be on the lookout for a growth order deficiency allowing for early intervention.
More Than My Height has provided a child height calculator that can help you keep a record of the child’s height.
In her post, Jen suggests that to accurately measure your child’s height, you want to stick to the same place, that has a straight wall and uncarpeted floor.
“Stand your child with their feet (no shoes) flat, together, and against a wall. Making sure their legs are straight and their arms are at their sides” recommends Jen.
“Encourage your child to look straight ahead with their heels, bottom and shoulders against the wall” she added.
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The mum says to use any flat object, such as a ruler or a hardback book to rest on the child’s head but emphasises the importance of keeping this at a right angle to the wall, while you mark the wall with a pencil.
Then simply use a non-stretching metal tape to measure the distance from the floor to the mark on the wall.
Explaining what is classed as slow growth, the mum said: “Less than 3.5 cm a year after your child third birthday is classed as slow growth.”
She also adds if you have any concerns about your child’s growth or development, you should visit your GP.
“Your GP or nurse will be able to complete some measurements and investigate further if needed, potentially referring you to a specialist.”
For more on children’s size see…WALK OF SHAME Mum slams ‘humiliating’ water park rules for ‘body shaming’ teen daughter.
And for more on parenting, see… I’m a mum-of-12 at 32, I’ve only had two years where I wasn’t pregnant since I was 15 – I feel so old.
Also...My son was born HANDS first, he was shaking doctors’ hands as they tried to deliver him.
