Anonymous wrote:The growth curves are artificial lines. The scientists did not measure kids over time and create a curve for each kid. They plotted every the data points for every kid at every age, and created lines connecting the 95th percentile weight at every age group, whether it belonged to kid A, B, C at age 2 or kid X, Y, or Z at age 3. These curves are the bane of the existence of pediatricians who understand this, and are misinterpreted by pediatricians who don’t.

So how should we be tracking our child's growth trajectory?

Anonymous wrote:The growth curves are artificial lines. The scientists did not measure kids over time and create a curve for each kid. They plotted every the data points for every kid at every age, and created lines connecting the 95th percentile weight at every age group, whether it belonged to kid A, B, C at age 2 or kid X, Y, or Z at age 3. These curves are the bane of the existence of pediatricians who understand this, and are misinterpreted by pediatricians who don’t.

+10

I find these growth discussions very interesting. I have 2 young adult sons and I don’t remember ever hearing about height percentiles and due to city moves, I had a few pediatricians along the way. Maybe the doctor gave up this info and I don’t remember??

Anonymous wrote:It will change during puberty unless they are right in the middle with timing. They may go up in percentile if they start puberty early, or lose % if they are late bloomers. percentiles don’t mean much around puberty because of growth spurts…

We follow an endocrinologist for one of our kids and this is right. They don’t look at growth percentages at all (like literally not an iota), only familial puberty history and bone scans.

It will change during puberty unless they are right in the middle with timing. They may go up in percentile if they start puberty early, or lose % if they are late bloomers. percentiles don’t mean much around puberty because of growth spurts…

The growth curves are artificial lines. The scientists did not measure kids over time and create a curve for each kid. They plotted every the data points for every kid at every age, and created lines connecting the 95th percentile weight at every age group, whether it belonged to kid A, B, C at age 2 or kid X, Y, or Z at age 3. These curves are the bane of the existence of pediatricians who understand this, and are misinterpreted by pediatricians who don’t.

My kid was on track to be 5'10 percentile wise. Then he started puberty on the early side and became 5'6. I'm 5'2 and most of the men on my paternal side are 5'6-5'7. Going back 100 years as I found out from genealogy (WW1 draft cards).

He reached final height during the pandemic. Don't know if there were environmental factors.

Yes, both of mine have. DD started out at the 10th percentile for height and eventually rose to around the 25th percentile and has stayed there at 18.

DS was 75th percentile and rose to between 90-95th percentile and is probably about done growing at 16.

My DD stayed about the same, which was 50-70th percentile. My son was around 20-25th percentile until around 11, then increased every year and steadied around 50-60th in his teens.

Ours have never been consistent. There are definite "growth spurts" with more rapid growth and also periods of little growth. Which percentile keeps changing.

Mine has always been right around the 50th.

One of mine did. Two did not.

One (a DS) was always very average sized for both height & weight and ended up average sized. Correct for that one, I guess?

One (also a DS) was tall as a child, dropped waaaay down in percentiles approaching puberty age (had to have testing done), then after puberty ended up tall again. Just a really late bloomer.

One (a DD) was consistently low for height and weight as a child (like 25th percentile for height, barely on the charts for weight), ended up tall & skinny. Grew a ton right before she started her period.

No, they don’t all stay at the exact percentile. Simple.

My son was 99th until 6th grade. Dropped to 85th when he stalled. Then shot back up in 8th. He’s back at 99th percentile. Usually around 75th for weight. Lean, 6’4” freshman.

Did your kids stay on the same growth percentiles after the age of 4ish? Is that when it levels out and kids typically stay consistent?

DS is in the 99th percentile for height and weight - has not deviated since he was born. He is now 6. Should we expect him to stay on this same percentile as long as nutrition, sleep, etc remain consistent until adulthood? DH is average height and I am tall-ish.