What are the growth characteristics of infants aged 0 to 6 months?
0 to 6 months of age is the fastest period of growth and development in a person's life. In the transition process from the intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment, the baby may have physiological weight loss within one week of birth, often 3 to 4 days after birth, but the weight is basically restored to the birth weight after one week. Since then, the average weight has increased by 0.6 to 0.7 kg per month, and the weight has reached twice the birth weight at about 4 months of age. Since babies cannot stand, the length from the top of their head to their heels when they are lying flat needs to be measured. The average monthly increase in body length is about 2.5 cm. The head circumference indirectly reflects the development of the baby's brain, which grows by about 1.5 cm per month. Male infants are more likely to weigh, length and head circumference than female babies. Infant movement, sensation, and language develop gradually, and infants can look up at 2 months, babies can try to turn over at 4 months, and they can sit alone at 6 months. Movement development ranges from thick to thin, and the drum can be held in the hand at 4 months of age, and the toy is not taken away at 6 months of age.
224. How to evaluate the growth status of infants aged 0 to 6 months
Due to the rapid growth of infants aged 0 to 6 months, it is best to monitor the growth status of infants up to 6 months of age once a month. Evaluation of infant growth status is best done by a professional in a professional child health facility, and if conditions do not permit, self-evaluation can be carried out at home.
The most commonly used evaluation indicators include weight, length, and head circumference. Weight measurements should be performed on an empty stomach, with all clothing (including diapers) removed as much as possible. When measuring length, the infant lies facing upwards, with the body in a straight line, knees together, legs parallel and straight, and heels perpendicular to the plane on which they lie. The assay results are then compared with the reference population growth criteria. At present, the commonly used reference values in China include the World Health Organization's growth and development standards for children aged 0 to 5 years and the reference standards for the growth and development of children aged 0 to 7 years old in China, which are very close. The statistical indicators of the review are percentiles and Z-scores.
Low weight:
The age-specific weight Z score is below 2 or the age-specific weight is below the 3rd percentile.
For example, baby boy Wang Xiaotao, 3 months old, weighs 4.7 kg. Compared with the Z score of 0-6 months old boys (arrow indication), Wang Xiaotao's age-specific weight Z score was less than 2, which was low weight.
Growth retardation:
The Z-score for age-specific length (high) is below 2 or the age-specific length (high) is below the 3rd percentile.
For example, baby girl Li Xiaomeng, 3 months old, is 55 cm long. According to the Z score of the 0-6 month-old girl's age-specific length (arrow indication), Li Xiaomeng's age-specific length Z score is lower than 2, and she belongs to the growth retardation.
Thin:
Height (long) weight Z score below 2 or height (long) weight below 3rd percentile.
For example, baby boy Tang Xiaoliang, 4 months old, has a length of 65 centimeters and a weight of 6 kilograms. According to the Z score of the 0-6 month-old boy's body length and weight (indicated by the arrow), Tang Xiaoliang's length-specific weight Z score was less than 2, and he belonged to emaciation.
overweight:
Height (long) weight Z score greater than 2 or height (long) weight above 97th percentile. Overweight is often considered overweight if the age-specific BMI Z score is greater than 2 or if the age-specific BMI is above the 97th percentile.