The child is growing rapidly: reasons for what to do

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

Parents are always touched when a child grows fast. They prophesy him a career as a basketball player and watch with pride how he stands out from his peers. However, many do not even suspect that such a feature can be dangerous for the he alth of the baby. If the child's skeleton is rapidly increasing in size, then the internal organs may not have time to form at the same rate. This leads to numerous problems.

Therefore, you should not be glad that the child is growing very fast. You need to understand if this is the norm and how to act if such changes can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Normal growth rate

The first 12 months of a baby's life are considered the period of the most intensive growth. At this time, it can increase in size by 20-25 cm. In this case, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. This is the norm.

If we talk about how fast a child grows after a year, then it should begin to increase twice as slowly. That is, an average of 10-15 cm per year. Starting from a two-yearage, the height of the child increases with the same indicators. By the age of three, the average baby increases by only 6 cm. After that, growth gradually begins to slow down. But the baby is still growing.

What factors can change these values

Speaking about why a child is growing rapidly, it is worth considering that from birth, the baby first of all needs proper balanced nutrition. For example, if the baby received milk from his mother, then, surprisingly, he will grow a little slower than his peers who have already switched to artificial mixtures. The quality of breast milk largely depends on what the mother eats. If she does not follow her diet, then this will slow down the growth of the baby. But usually these babies grow up quickly in subsequent years.

In turn, babies who switched to formulas at an earlier age begin to increase in size more rapidly. This is due to the fact that the composition of such nutrition includes vitamins and all the supplements necessary for growth.

If we are talking about a baby who is already six months old, then the reasons for the fact that the child is growing rapidly may be different.

Heredity

If one or both parents are quite impressive in growth, then there is nothing to be surprised that the baby is already much taller than their peers. Gradually, the increase in its dimensions will slow down. If the parents of the baby do not reach 165 cm, then you should pay attention to the grandparents. They may have passed on the gene for being tall.

Genetic predisposition

This is a more difficult situation. If a child has a genetic predisposition to chromosomal abnormalities, pituitary tumors, or endocrine disorders, growth may be a symptom of just such problems.

Vitamin D

It's called a "growth activator" for a reason. If the baby gets too much of this vitamin, then perhaps it was he who caused such growth spurts. It is worth reviewing the diet of your beloved child again.

Many mothers are afraid that due to the lack of this component, the child will develop rickets. Therefore, they begin to literally stuff the baby with vitamin supplements.

Early puberty

If we are talking about the fact that the child is growing rapidly at a later age, then it is quite possible that the reason lies precisely in this. Girls especially often face this problem. Doctors note that in some of them the first menstruation begins at the age of 9. If this happens, then also do not worry. After a few years, the hormonal background in the child's body stabilizes, and growth will begin to slow down. This doesn't happen often, but it's still not something to rule out.

Children's growth rate

As a rule, a newborn baby rarely exceeds 51 cm. In one month, his height increases to 55 cm. By two months, this figure is approximately 59 cm. Up to six months, the child's height increases by 2 cm monthly. After that, more happensslowdown.

If we talk about how quickly a child grows up to a year, then by 12 months, as a rule, the height of a boy is 76 cm. By 1.5 years, it increases to 82 cm. The average height of a ten-year-old boy is 138 cm During the formation of the child's body, jumps can be observed. If growth slows down, then becomes more intense, then there is usually nothing to worry about. However, regardless of the reasons for such uneven changes, it is best to consult a pediatrician periodically.

What are the dangers of growth spurts

If the development of the child is too rapid, then in this case the baby's body may begin to experience a lack of calcium. This component is very important. If the child is growing rapidly, then in this case the bone tissue lacks the number of building elements. Bones become more fragile and weakened.

In order to timely detect a lack of calcium in a child's body, you should pay attention to the condition of his teeth. If small white dots appear on them, then this is the first sign that the enamel is not strong enough. She lacks calcium. This means that the whole body experiences a similar deficiency.

In such a situation, you need to pay increased attention to the hygiene of the baby's oral cavity. He needs to brush his teeth for at least 3 minutes. It is also worth visiting the dentist. He needs to be told that the child is growing faster than his peers. If this is not done, then the destruction of the enamel will lead to a fairly rapid development of caries.

Improper muscle development

If the bones grow much faster than them, then the child may begin to suffer from sprains. The child will constantly complain that he has cramps and tingles in his limbs. A similar symptom appears due to a lack of potassium, calcium or water in the body. The last point is also important. The fact is that a growing body needs 30% more fluid. Therefore, a child should drink water much more often than an adult.

If in such a case we are talking about a teenager, then it is worth completely banning him from drinking soda. Drinks of this type only contribute to a greater excretion of calcium from the body. If after a while the problems do not stop, you should consult a doctor who will give a direction to the pool. Water procedures help to relax the muscles, and the child experiences relief.

Frequent headaches

If a child's eyesight is affected due to rapid growth, it is quite possible that he will begin to complain of a similar symptom. In this case, it is recommended to visit an optometrist first. The problem is that the child himself may not notice any changes in the quality of vision. However, a specialist will be able to identify such a problem at the initial stage of its development.

Otherwise, headaches can turn into migraines. If the child began to complain of nausea, increased sensitivity to sounds and bright light, then a neurologist will help in this case. It is dangerous to self-medicate in this situation.

When you must visitdoctor

Of course, you should not delay if the child is suffering from pain or other unpleasant symptoms. If it is only that he is taller than his peers, then you need to understand whether this is a deviation from the norm.

Knowing how quickly children grow up makes it much easier to assess the situation. Concern is justified if the dimensions of the baby exceed the norm by 15-20%. In all other cases, most often we are talking about individual physiological characteristics. However, regardless of this, it is recommended to visit a pediatric endocrinologist who will conduct standard tests and diagnostics. Also, every baby must be examined by a pediatrician. He must be aware of all changes in the he alth of the child. If you ignore the growth problems of the baby and do not take timely measures, then this can adversely affect the quality of his whole life. For example, a heart defect or problems with blood pressure may develop. Therefore, it is better not to delay and always note any deviations in the formation of the child.