Contents:
- Medical Video: Pediatric Growth: Weight and Length/Height
- Children's weight and height vary
- What is the ideal weight and height of the child?
- Fulfill child nutrition to support its growth
Medical Video: Pediatric Growth: Weight and Length/Height
After toddlers, the growth of children still continues to adulthood. Age 6-12 years is the age of school children, where the child's time will be spent in school much more than at home. However, this is not a reason not to monitor children's nutritional status. Children must still be given good nutrition to support the growth of the child's weight and height. Then, is your child's weight and height normal? What is the ideal weight and height of the child?
Children's weight and height vary
The growth of each child is different. There are children who may have fast growth and some who are slower. Generally, the growth of children aged 6-12 years is stable, not as fast as in infancy and adolescence. So, the child's weight gain and height at this time goes slowly. On average, the child's weight will increase by 3-3.5 kilograms (kg) per year and the child's height increases by about 6 centimeters (cm) per year at this age.
Many factors that affect a child's growth, so that children's growth must be different. Some of the factors that influence it are nutritional factors (eating habits), diseases, hormones, and hereditary factors.
Not to forget, past factors such as nutrition given at birth, birth weight, and length of birth also affect the child's current nutritional status, especially his height. This is because height obtained from accumulations from previous years. Meanwhile, body weight is more dynamic or can change in a short period of time.
What is the ideal weight and height of the child?
Keep in mind, the ideal weight and height between boys and girls is different. According to the CDC (equivalent to the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control in the United States), the ideal weight and height of boys and girls aged 6-12 years are as follows.
However, don't worry if your child does not have the weight and height as above. Not necessarily your child's nutritional status is problematic. Children with small bodies may not be normal. Vice versa, children with very large bodies are not necessarily normal. Then how do you know the nutritional status of a normal child or not?
You can find out whether the nutritional status of a child is normal or not by calculating the child's Body Mass Index (BMI or in English abbreviated as BMI) first. Calculate the formula below:
After calculating your BMI, you can find out your child's nutritional status is normal or not based on the table below. If the BMI value is still in the range of values as in the column, it means that the child has a normal nutritional status. If a child's BMI exceeds the value below, it means that the child is overweight and if it means less the child has a thin body.
Fulfill child nutrition to support its growth
At the age of 6-12 years, children (especially girls) will enter the period puberty. So, many nutrients must be fulfilled in preparation for puberty. At puberty, the child's growth will run faster. You could say, puberty is the second chance for children (after infancy) to improve their nutritional status, including their height.
For that, make sure children get a variety of nutritious foods. For example meat, fish, eggs, milk, tofu, tempeh, vegetables, and fruits. Don't just look at the portion of food the child eats, but also look at the types and variations of the food.
Is the food eaten by the child healthy and has sufficient nutritional needs? The portion of a large meal will only encourage children to become obese, but seeing the nutritional value contained in children's food can help encourage their growth. Make sure children eat foods that contain carbohydrates, protein, and fat, as well as vegetables and fruits at each meal time.
You also should routinely measure and ensure the ideal weight and height of children in their infancy. If you suspect a problem in your child's growth, immediately consult with a pediatrician.
