Child Growth Chart (Interactive) Please Login (A modified interactive Growth & Development Chart from) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

• Introduction
• About Birth Defects
• Childhood Checkups
• Childhood Vaccines
• About Child's Fever
• About Child's Teeth
• About Child's Behavior
• Blood Pressure & Anemia in Child
• Down Syndrome in Child
• Thrive
• Toilet Training
• Hearing Development
• Healthy Diet
• Development Rate

Failure To Thrive

• failure to thrive
• causes failure to thrive
• Who is at risk?
• diagnoses for "Failure to Thrive"
• the effects of Failure To Thrive
• The treatments offailure to thrive
• When should I call the doctor?

Failure to Thrive:

• Not all children grow at the same rate. There is a wide range of growth that is considered normal.
• Children who fail to thrive grow at a rate below this normal range.
• Even small children can grow at a normal rate.
• There is a problem when your child suddenly stops growing or she begins growing at a much slower rate than she had been.

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Causes Failure to Thrive:

• A child who fails to thrive may not be getting enough nutrition for normal growth and development.
• The child may have a problem absorbing nutrients from food.
• The child may not be getting enough food.
• The child may have little appetite, especially if she is depressed or has other social problems. Children who aren't getting enough attention often have poor eating habits.
• Children with medical or social problems may not grow well.
• Often there are several causes at once.

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Who is at risk?

• Failure to thrive usually affects young children, especially under the age of 2.

Diagnoses for "Failure to Thrive"

• Infants and toddlers are weighed and measured during their well-child exams.
• The doctor compares the child's growth to standard height-weight charts.
• The doctor checks to see that your child is growing at an acceptable rate. Even small children grow at acceptable rates, but the doctor may take more tests or ask you questions to find out why the child is small.
• The parents' size or rate of growth can often explain the child's size. For example, a daughter may be short because her mom is short.
• Premature babies are often compared to a different chart since they were born early.
• Children with specific medical problems are compared on special charts.

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The Effects of Failure to Thrive:

• Poor physical growth can lead to other developmental problems.
• The type and severity of the problems vary among children.
• It can lead to poor brain growth, especially in children under 1 year old.
• Poor brain growth can make it difficult for your child to succeed at the same things in school as other kids her age. It can also put her behind socially.
• Her verbal skills (speaking) may be below average.
• She may have eating problems, such as being a slow eater or a picky eater.

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The Treatments of Failure to Thrive:

• The doctor tries to find out why the child isn't getting enough nutrients.
• Any condition that is affecting the child's growth is treated.
• In some cases, a social service agency is called to help.

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When should I call the doctor?

• Call the doctor to schedule regular well-child exams where your child's height and weight can be measured.
• Call the doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate or if her rate of growth suddenly changes (gets slower or stops).
• Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's condition.

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Quick Answers

• Children who fail to thrive grow at a rate below the normal range.
• A child who fails to thrive is not getting enough nutrition for normal growth and development.
• Failure to thrive usually affects young children, especially under the age of 2.
• Infants and toddlers are weighed and measured during their well-child exams so the doctor can compare the child's growth to standard height-weight charts.
• Poor physical growth can lead to other developmental problems.
• The doctor tries to find out why the child isn't getting enough nutrients and treats the problem or problems.
• Call the doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate.

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