Head circumference of the child by months - the criterion of mental and physical health

The birth of a baby is connected not only with unspeakable joy for every woman. Usually, the mother begins to worry about his health from the very birth of his child. Is the baby developing physically? How to track his mental development? Here are the most frequently asked questions for young parents.

Head circumference of a child

To determine the physical development of children, weighed and measured the growth. Psychic development is determined by the presence of reflexes, acquired skills and measurement of the circumference of the head. Along with the weight and height that are communicated to the mother at the birth of the child, the doctors measure the circumference of the head. This important criterion speaks of the development of the baby's brain. The circumference of the baby's head varies by the same month. For this, there are special tables on which you can check the data of your crumbs with the norms. However, more on this later.

How to measure the circumference of a head

To begin with, we learn to correctly measure the circumference of the head. Zero mark of tape centimeter is applied to the most prominent occipital part. Next, the tape is carried over the auricles, along the superciliary arches and notice the digit of the joint with the beginning of the tape.

Dimensions of the head circumference of the child by months

The circumference of a child's head by months is important not only as an absolute magnitude. Doctors pay attention to the rate of its growth. Of course, for each baby such parameters are individual, they are influenced by genetic predisposition. However, a certain pattern of development of the head applies to all children. Below is a table of the head circumference in children.

These data are a guideline approved by WHO. Parents who record the head circumference of the child by months, can independently make such a schedule. As can be seen from the table, the baby's head grows most in the first six months. Then the rate of its growth is reduced. Indicators below and above the average (green and yellow lines) may be regarded as quite normal. But the zones "high / very high" and "low / very low" (black and red lines) are a serious signal to call a specialist. The dimensions of the head circumference in children differ depending on the sex of the baby. The parameters of the boys (blue table) are on average 1 cm more than the girls' parameters (red table).

Child head circumference

Often, doctors also make up a graphical table. The circumference of the child's head by month is marked on the graph, and then a smooth line is drawn.

Sharp oscillations of the lines down or up also indicate a disruption in the development of the baby's brain. It is by their nature that a doctor can suspect a particular disease and prescribe an appropriate examination. Deviations in the schedule allow to determine the disease at the initial stage, and therefore, and in time to begin treatment.

If the growth of the head of your baby a little deviated from the norm, do not worry much. It is possible that in the next month everything will fall into place. However, serious or systematic deviations from the prescribed parameters should alert the mother.