How to Make a Baby Growth Score

Growth scores can be made with your child's weight, length and head measurements.

Knowing your child's growth score is important to help you determine if your child's physical size is within the normal range compared to children the same age. Periodically charting scores will help you create an overall growth curve impression and denote any areas of slowed physical growth that would require investigation by your child's pediatrician.

Things You'll Need

• Weight scale
• Tape measure

Instructions

Instructions

1. 

   You can use a floor scale or a home pediatric scale to weigh your baby.

   Remove the baby's clothes and diaper. Place the child on a weight scale in the sitting position. If the baby is unable to sit, weigh yourself and the baby at the same time. Next, weigh yourself to determine your body weight. Subtract the combined weight from your body weight to determine the child's mass.

2. 

   Use a soft measuring tape to increase measuring accuracy.

   Lay the baby down on a flat surface. Measure the baby's length by placing the end of the measuring tape on the top of the child's head and extending it vertically to the heel.

3. 

   Measure the head circumference around the largest part of the skull.

   Measure the circumference of the baby's head by placing the measuring tape around the largest area of the head, usually just above the eyebrows, and continuing around the back of the skull.

4. 

   Use a calculator for quick number conversions.

   Convert your measurements into metric numbers. Multiply your child's weight in pounds by 0.45359237 to obtain a weight measurement in kilograms. To convert the baby's length and head circumference from inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54.

5. 

   Download the Z-score data files to determine your child's growth score.

   Download the age-appropriate Z-score data files, titled "weight-for-age," "length-for-age" and "head circumference-for-age" from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website.

6. 

   Z-score date files are prepared in spreadsheet format.

   Locate column A of the spreadsheet, titled "Sex." The left-hand column of the chart indicates a value of 1 for boys and a value of 2 for girls. Find your child's age to the closest half-month in column B, titled "Agemos." Follow the appropriate line over to find the metric measurement that matches your child's height or weight depending on which chart you downloaded. Follow the column up to the top to find the child's score. Z-scores are listed horizontally at the top of the spreadsheet and range in value from -2 to +2.

7. 

   Note that some children are smaller in stature due to genetic inheritance.

   Compare your score to the national average of "0." Scores closest to "0" indicate average growth. Scores in the plus (+) range indicate above average growth. Scores in the minus (-) range indicate below average growth.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using a home pediatric scale to weigh your child, prevent accidental falling by never leaving your child unattended.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Z-score Data Files
• Health At OZ: How to Find Your Infant's Height
• Calulator Pro: Pounds to Kilograms Formula
• Manuel's Web: Formula

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Z-score Data Files