From March 1, 2023, the latest "Growth Standards for Children Under 7 Years of Age" issued by the National Health Commission will be implemented. The latest standard has significantly increased the height and weight of children compared with 10 years ago, which has also caused anxiety among some parents, because some children are up to the previous standard and may become shorter according to the new standard. On February 23, the reporter learned from professional doctors that spring is the peak period for children's growth, and parents can seize this opportunity to make their children's height grow by leaps and bounds.
New standard: The child's normal height range has increased
The reporter combed and found that the latest standard has significantly increased the height and weight of children compared with 10 years ago, taking the group of 5-5 years old and 6 months old as an example, the average height of boys is 1.7 cm taller than 10 years ago.
Compared with the "Growth Standards for Children Under 7 Years of Age" released in 2021, the normal range value of the new version of the standard has increased. However, as long as the child's height is within the range of -2SD and +2SD, it is normal.
Taking -2SD as an example, the value of the 2021 standard for 1-year-old boys is 71.2 cm, and the new standard value is 71.4 cm; the value of the 2021 version of the standard for 1-year-old girls is 69.7 cm, and the new standard value is 70.1 cm.
For this latest standard table, relevant experts said that if the child's height is less than -2SD, or higher than +2SD, it may indicate that the baby's height is short, or taller than most of her peers, and parents may need to pay attention.
Children grow and develop, and the best season is spring
Spring is the season for the growth of all things, and it is also the best season for the growth and development of children and adolescents.
According to a study by the World Health Organization, children's growth and development have significant seasonality, of which spring (March-May) grows the fastest, and the growth rate of height is 2-2.5 times that of other seasons.
The doctor reminded that if the golden period of growth in the year is missed, it will be difficult for the child to catch up with the missed height in the future, which will affect the child's adult height.
Ideas
These methods can make a child's height "leap and bound"
So, how to help children chase height during the Spring Festival? Xu Xuan, chief physician of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, introduced that spring is the peak period for children's growth, and parents can start from the following aspects to make their children's height "advance by leaps and bounds".
A balanced supplement of multiple nutrients
Xu Xuan said that nutrition is the basis of children's growth and development, parents will often supplement calcium or vitamin D when supplementing their children with "long" nutrition, in fact, there are some unknown but very important elements are ignored.
For example, vitamin A is very important for children's growth and development, and plays an important role in promoting bone growth, cell proliferation and differentiation, maintaining a normal immune system, and protecting eye health.
Vitamin K2 also needs to be supplemented, as this substance is primarily involved in bone metabolism and has a prominent role in supporting bone health and protecting vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 can also better activate osteocalcin, ensure effective deposition and mineralization of calcium in the blood on the bones, which is very important for promoting calcium into the "bone" and enhancing bone density.
In addition, protein and amino acids, zinc, iron and other trace elements should also be supplemented.
Guarantee two optimal sleep spots
Spring sleep is more "golden" for children, only if you sleep enough, the body can secrete more growth hormone to help height growth.
Xu Xuan reminded that it should be noted that there are two best sleep time nodes in the day: one is 21 o'clock - 1 o'clock; One is 5 o'clock to 7 o'clock, these two time periods, the child's body growth hormone secretion is the most vigorous.
Keep your child moving appropriately
Exercise is closely related to height growth, reasonable exercise can enhance body metabolism, accelerate blood circulation throughout the body, and deliver more nutrients to bones; Helps improve sleep quality and promote the secretion of growth hormone. Xu Xuan suggests: "When the weather is good, take your children to do more appropriate sports. ”
For exercises suitable for children, Xu Xuan recommends skipping rope, aerobic exercise, and stretching. Each jump rope should be 20-40 minutes, and warm up before exercise to master the correct jump rope posture; Basketball, running, swimming, cycling, roller skating, badminton and other sports are relatively good aerobic exercises, and it is recommended that each exercise be 30-60 minutes long.
"Stretching can open the bone space and the interosseous tissue, the interosseous tissue recovers the optimal thickness, there is sufficient space between the bones, and the height will increase, so as to achieve the purpose of growing taller." Xu Xuan said.
Stay in a good mood
In addition, studies have found that children are in a state of tension and depression for a long time, which can affect the secretion of growth hormone, which in turn affects height development.
Therefore, in the critical period of growth and development, parents need to care for their children emotionally and create a relaxed environment for the healthy growth of their children, because maintaining a happy mood helps to grow taller.
All Media Reporter Li Qi Video Intern Xie Jiashen Liu Jie Correspondent Li Yanyan
(Sanxiang Metropolitan Daily)