what are your thoughts on percentiles?

JustcallmeGG2 · August 2012

Went to pedi today and our little girl is in the 0 percentile. She weighs 7.9 and is 6 weeks old. She is gaining about an ounce a day, which is what they want.

How do you feel about percentiles? What does it mean? Will she ever catch up? Its ok if she is a shortie like mommy

bearfootz · August 2012

Was she premature? If so, they should have given you an adjusted percentile. Subtract the # of weeks early from current age - so if she's 6 weeks now and was 4 weeks early then compare her stats to a 2 week old for adjusted age. I think that's how it works at least.

GypsyEsq · August 2012

The important thing about percentiles is that each LO stays on their growth curve, falling off significantly or getting ahead significantly can both signal different issues. But if it's just a concern that your DD is at the low end of the percentile well as long as she doesn't fall off too much more then she might just be petite, or, as PP suggested, your pedi is not adjusting the percentile appropriately.

macchiatto · August 2012

I think the most important thing is usually how LO does on his or her own growth curve and how big the parents are plays a part too, since some people are destined to be petite.

violaplayer · August 2012

My guys are tall and skinny. So we used to get speeches about their weight versus their height. I was more concerned with whether or not they were growing on their own curve and eating well.

They certainly have done a lot of catching up, they are not destined to be small people (DH and I are both tall and sturdy)

Also, it depends on whether or not they are using adjusted age and which charts they are using? The CDC charts are more for formula fed Americans, who tend to be larger. The WHO charts are more for babies across a bigger spectrum of size.

I wouldn't panic since you said she is gaining 1oz per day as they want. As long as the growth is proceeding well, it may be that she is destined to be small.

JustcallmeGG2 · August 2012

Bearfootz:
Was she premature? If so, they should have given you an adjusted percentile. Subtract the # of weeks early from current age - so if she's 6 weeks now and was 4 weeks early then compare her stats to a 2 week old for adjusted age. I think that's how it works at least.

yup, they were 5 weeks early but my pedi said she doesnt do adjusted percentiles.

TripMomma · August 2012

JustcallmeGG2:
Bearfootz:

Was she premature? If so, they should have given you an adjusted percentile. Subtract the # of weeks early from current age - so if she's 6 weeks now and was 4 weeks early then compare her stats to a 2 week old for adjusted age. I think that's how it works at least.

yup, they were 5 weeks early but my pedi said she doesnt do adjusted percentiles.

That is different, most adjust until the babies catch up or 1 yr, or something. Since they are not adjusting I think it stands to reason that 35 weekers would be low in their %.

kiwi443 · August 2012

JustcallmeGG2:
Bearfootz:

Was she premature? If so, they should have given you an adjusted percentile. Subtract the # of weeks early from current age - so if she's 6 weeks now and was 4 weeks early then compare her stats to a 2 week old for adjusted age. I think that's how it works at least.

yup, they were 5 weeks early but my pedi said she doesnt do adjusted percentiles.

I wonder what her reasoning is. Adjusted age makes a big difference, especially when they are so young.

As others said, I wouldn't worry about the percentiles if she continues to gain steadily. Not every baby is going to be, or should be, at the top of the percentiles.

My girls were about a month early and my smaller baby wasn't on the percentile charts until 4 months. My dr. was not the least bit concerned.

Missa_g · August 2012

Adjusted age matters. Compared to 4 month olds my boys aren't even on the charts. Compared to 7 weekers they're smack dab in the middle.

Mrs. Alice · August 2012

If you go off her adjusted age for prematurity, she is probably right on target. I agree with PP, if she is staying on her on curve, gaining and growing accordingly then she is doing well. One of my boys is still the size of an average 6 month old, but since he grows consistently on his own curve our pedi is fine with it. It can take up to 2 years for preemies to catch up with growth and development of a full term baby.

nghithy · August 2012

I'm not sure how it is being that your child is so young. My friend's son drop off the chart when he was 8 months. He didn't like to eat much. He's two now and barely on the chart. He's perfectly healthy though so the doctor said not to worry.

CER+MEL · August 2012

Mine were born at 37 weeks 4 days and the highest they've been on any growth chart is in the 15th percentile and that was just for Sophie's height one time. The rest of the time they've been in the 5th-10th percentile, and have "fallen off" the growth chart numerous times. The pedi is not at all concerned. The kids are healthy and meeting their milestones, so I try not to let it worry me either (although I do sometimes). A friend on Facebook recently shared this link as well, which helped put things into perspective for me. I did EBF, so that might be part of it as well, as that WSJ video suggested as well.

caden · August 2012

My boys were 35weekers. They weren't even on the growth chart when they were born, they were so small. But every well visit they increased their % and now, at almost 2 years old, they're off the charts (on the tall end) for height and around the 75th% for weight. I think it took around 9 months for the Pedi to think they had caught up in size to their actual age. It could take longer in others, but it will happen eventually. Their natural size might be at the low or high end of the chart. That part doesn't matter, just that the curve is normal.

KarlsSweetie05 · August 2012

strange that pedi does not use the adjusted chart.

without the adjusted chart, my DD wouldn't even be on the chart! At 15 months, she is barely at 5% on the adjusted chart for weight.

I think its important to consider their premature status.

mrsemily08 · August 2012

One of my girls STILL isn't on the weight chart even adjusting for the 5 weeks she was early. don't worry TOO much as long as she is developing!

KDR1979 · August 2012

Our pedi always gives us the percentile on the full term and preterm chart.

Our babies came at 36 wks and weighed 6lbs 9oz (baby and 5lbs (baby A).

@ one month, B was 10th percentile on FT chart, but 50th on pre term, by 2 months, he was 50th on FT chart (he eats and eats and eats)! He came off Similac Neosure at 2 months.

Baby A wasn't even on the FT chart at 1 month, 10th on PT. @ 2 mos, she was 50th on PT and 10th on Ft, by 3 months, she was 50th on PT and 25th on FT! She came of Neosure at 3 months.

I still kinda stress out about percentiles....I think the hospital made me feel like they were "so small" and high risk for jaundice....as long as baby is eating well and gaining weight, I wouldn't stress too much!

I would also insist on the preterm percentiles!!!

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