Child head size by month: table

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

When a baby is born, every month he is observed by specialists who record height, weight, chest and head volume. All these indicators are recorded by the pediatrician and compared with existing standards. The size of the child's head by months must meet certain standards. According to accepted standards, a child's head should grow by 10 centimeters in a year.

If the child achieves this result, it will be possible to say for sure that he is developing normally. This kind of observation is carried out only up to a year, since the rapid development of body volumes slows down by the year. Such an indicator as the size of a child's head by months becomes irrelevant by the age of two or three.

Head size and shape

At birth and normal development, all babies have almost the same head size. The only thing that can distinguish them is the shape of the head, which was acquired by the child during childbirth. After giving birth, newborns may have this skull shape:

• elongated, oval, vaguely resembling a tower;
• more rounded, with characteristic bumps near the forehead.

Both formsheads are normal. When born, the baby has very fragile bones, so during the process of childbirth under pressure, the head is slightly deformed. A few months after birth, she returns to normal.

What is the difference in head size between girls and boys

Born, boys and girls have almost the same head sizes. On average, this figure is 34-35 centimeters. This head circumference is typical for all babies born on time. But with each month of development, boys' heads get bigger.

Size changes in the first months

A child (1 month old) has a head size of a centimeter and a half more than in the first days after his birth. This is considered a normal indicator of growth. In general, no specialist can say that a child’s head should be exactly that many centimeters, since each child grows and develops according to his own individual indicators.

There are situations when deviations from the norm in the development of a child's head circumference are his individual feature. After all, every organism is unique. Therefore, there may be months in a year when the baby grows a little less or more than the norm suggests. It's not worth worrying about this. The doctor, before talking about a possible deviation from the standard indicators, will first observe for several months.

Therefore, any table with head circumference norms is just a guideline that doctors adhere to, but it’s safe to saythat the baby's head is too big or too small, they can only after appropriate observation. Since if the deviation parameters exceed 2-3 centimeters, then this is already a reason to respond in time.

How baby's head circumference changes

According to generally accepted standards, the size of a child's head by months should increase to one and a half centimeters. Such intensive growth slows down by six months. When a child turns six months old, the doctor observes an increase in head circumference by half a centimeter every month with normal development. By the year, growth slows down significantly, and the doctor will observe changes only once a year.

The growth of the child does not stop, he is periodically examined by a pediatrician, but only once a year, since there will no longer be such a hyperjump as before in the parameters. But if parents are very worried about the child and his development, then they can always take all the necessary measurements on their own.

Table with norms of growth and development

Now, thanks to modern achievements, if desired, any parent can independently control all age norms. If mom and dad once again want to make sure that the baby is growing as expected, then every month before visiting the doctor they can take measurements themselves. Many experts also recommend that parents monitor the development of their child.

For convenience and comparison of the parameters of a particular child with standard indicators, a table was created. It shows the size of the baby's head by month. Tablequite simple and easy to use.

Age, months	Head volume, cm
	Girls	Boys
1	36, 6	37, 3
2	38, 4	39, 2
3	40	40, 9
4	41	41, 9
5	42	43, 2
6	43	44, 2
7	44	44, 8
8	44, 3	45, 4
9	45, 3	46, 3
10	46, 6	46, 3
11	46, 6	46, 9
12	47	47, 2

To take measurements, you will need a special soft tape with markings in centimeters. Measure the baby's head through the eyebrow line, passing the tape to the occipital region.

But if a parent is worried about whether his baby is growing properly, he should first of all consult with a pediatrician. If deviations are detected, only he will be able to detect the cause of abnormal development and prescribe the necessary treatment.

What to look out for

The third and sixth months are considered to be control months. The size of the baby's head (3 months) will increase by an average of 6-8 centimeters compared to the original circumference. For example: average head circumferencea three-month-old child is 40 centimeters. Moreover, a boy's circumference can be 1-2 centimeters larger than a girl's.

The size of the head of a 5-month-old baby will increase by another 1-2 centimeters. For boys it will be about 41.5, and for girls it will be 41 centimeters.

The growth of the head is a very important indicator, as the brain and nervous system are being formed. Therefore, you should remember or write down the parameters of the newborn, so that later you can build on them when observing.

To avoid various deviations, doctors advise every mommy to stick to the regime: take daily walks on the street, breastfeed and create a friendly environment. The child should feel safe, surrounded by love.

Of course, any changes in growth or deviations from generally accepted tables, which indicate the size of a child's head by months, is a reason for concern. But you should not immediately panic. First of all, the specialist observing the child will be convinced of this, then special tests and analyzes will be carried out, and only after that we can talk about violations.