Milestones
Developmental milestones represent useful markers that medical professionals and families can use to determine the developmental stage of a growing child. The following table contains examples of typical milestones achieved at each time point across al four domains:Pediatric growth
Pediatric growth is measured in height or length, head circumference (used from 0–2 years of age), weight, and BMI (used starting at 2 years of age). It is determined by multiple factors including genetic, environmental, hormonal, nutritional and psychosocial factors. Some factors, such as maternal nutrition and alcohol, tobacco and drug exposure affect size at birth while other factors, such as genetic syndromes and family members heights have a later influence on size. In addition, different endocrine factors or hormones like growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors, thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and reproductive hormones contribute to normal growth.Normal physical parameters and ranges
Percentile growth charts, such as the figures created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shown on this page, are used to track growth by comparing children of similar age and sex. The major percentile lines are the 95th, 90th, 75th, 50th, 25th, 10th, and 5th percentiles. The CDC growth reference charts define the normal range of growth as between the 5th and 95th percentiles. While it is common for babies to shift percentiles during the first 2 years of life due to shifting from an intrauterine environment to one outside the uterus, shifting percentiles after 2 years of age may be the first sign of an underlying problem. Babies experience the greatest height velocity, or speed of growth, during the first 2 years of life. In addition, the mid parental height (MPH) is used to calculate the expected height potential and interpret the growth curve of a child. The following calculations are used for males and females respectively: Male = (father’s height + mother’s height + 13 cm)/2 Female = (father’s height-13 cm + mother’s height)/2.Abnormal/delayed development
Developmental delay occurs when children fail to develop milestones compared to their peers in the population. It is more of a descriptive term of a broad set of physical and psychosocial qualities than a diagnosis.Growth delay
Children should be evaluated for abnormal linear growth when their charted growth crosses at least 2 percentiles beyond first 2 years of life, being born small for gestational age without signs of catching up to normal size, or abnormal height velocity for a child’s age. In addition, if the child’s height is more or less than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the average height for the child’s age or 2 SD below the MPH, then they should be evaluated forDevelopment delay
Developmental delay is divided intoReferences
{{Human development, state=expanded Child development