Babies develop at an astoundingly fast pace. Just ask any parent how difficult it is to cycle through all those adorable newborn outfits before their child outgrows them. Infant development happens at a predictable rate, and when you come in for well-baby visits, tracking that development is a central focus.
At Hubbard Pediatric Group, LLC, we’re here to provide guidance and reassurance to new parents. Letting you know where your child falls on the developmental charts is part of that process. When she talks about infant development, Holly Hubbard, MD, often refers to percentiles. So let’s delve into what that means and how it applies to your new baby.
The way we track infant development is by collecting data on a large number of babies of various ages. By measuring their development in terms of things like length, weight, and head circumference, we can easily begin to see what “normal” development looks like for a baby’s sex and age.
That data gets compiled into software programs, which create charts. These charts are broken down into percentile lines. When you bring your baby in for well-baby visits, Dr. Hubbard records their length, weight, and head circumference and checks that data against the charts created from data gathered from thousands of other babies that share your little one’s age.
That allows Dr. Hubbard to see where your baby falls within the data. If you’re told that your baby’s weight is at the 60th percentile, that means that out of 100 children his weight, he is bigger than 60 of those babies and smaller than 40 others.
Babies go through so many developmental phases in the first two years of life. They’re not only growing physically, but also developing cognitive skills that help them process sensory data and understand the world around them.
When it comes to physical development, new parents are often worried about whether their child is on track. Bringing your baby in for routine infant care visits is the best way to understand your baby’s health and development as well as to determine if any adjustments need to be made.
It’s important to understand that there is a wide range of what is considered “normal” in terms of a baby’s length and weight. Plenty of babies fall at either end of the range and are perfectly healthy. So if your little one comes in at the 30th percentile for weight, that doesn’t mean he or she isn’t growing fast enough.
That said, percentiles give Dr. Hubbard a tool to identify potential areas of concern. If your little one is tracking well outside the “normal” range, Dr. Hubbard can use this information, along with her training and expertise in infant care, to determine if additional screening or treatment is needed.
New parents have enough to worry about; percentiles shouldn’t be one of them. Our office carefully tracks your baby’s development at each well-baby visit. We’ll let you know if there is cause for concern.
In most cases, babies move through developmental phases without significant issues. So don’t let yourself get too wound up about percentiles and what they might mean for your child. We’re here to answer any questions that arise, and to provide guidance on how you can look after your newest family member and help them thrive.
When the time comes to set up your infant care visits with Hubbard Pediatric Group, you have access to simple and straightforward online booking. We’re also happy to speak with you by phone to find a time that aligns with your busy schedule.
