This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by resident Doctor Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. Doctor has 09 years of experience in the field of Pediatrics.The head circumference of infants and young children is a measure of the child's growth and development. Therefore, parents need to check periodically, especially in the first years of life to have appropriate treatment.
1. What is head circumference?
With babies, measuring the baby's head circumference is a very important factor besides height and weight. This is one of the important parameters to assess the baby's brain development at each month.Head circumference, also known as occipital circumference is a measurement of a child's head by measuring across the front eyebrow, on the sides of the ears and across the posterior occipital ridge. Based on the development of the infant's head circumference, parents can know what level of development their child is in.
Với trẻ sơ sinh, đo chu vi vòng đầu cho bé là yếu tố rất quan trọng bên cạnh chiều cao và cân nặng
The process of measuring the circumference of the newborn's head is often difficult because the baby cries a lot and refuses to keep his head still. But when there is the most accurate measurement of the baby's head circumference, it should be compared with the standard growth chart to determine the baby's growth rate by month and gender.
When measuring the baby's head circumference at home, parents can measure the baby's head circumference by using an elastic band wrapped around the widest part of the baby's forehead, just above the ear and the middle of the back head. It is recommended to measure regularly once a month on a fixed day to see how fast your baby is growing.
Trắc nghiệm: các chỉ số cần chú ý về sự phát triển thể chất của trẻ
Chiều cao, cân nặng của bé ở từng giai đoạn nên là bao nhiêu là bình thường, bao nhiêu là bất thường? Cùng ThS.BS Ma Văn Thấm điểm lại xem bạn đã nắm được các chỉ số phát triển thể chất của bé chưa nhé!The following content is prepared under supervision of Thạc sĩ, Bác sĩ y khoa, Ma Văn Thấm , Nhi , Phòng khám Đa khoa Quốc tế Vinmec Dương Đông(Phú Quốc)
2. Infant head circumference growth milestones
The growth rate of the infant's head circumference is usually very fast. From the 20th week of pregnancy until the baby is 3 years old is the period when the baby's brain will begin to develop strongly. During the first 6 months of life, the circumference of the baby's head will be about 2cm larger than the chest. But from 6 months to 2 years old, your baby's chest and head measurements will be the same. However, from 2 years old and up, the baby's body size will grow faster than the head circumference.To know if the average head circumference size of a baby from 0 - 33 months old is growing at the right rate, parents can refer to the information below to check and track:
Head circumference at birth is 34.8 cm; Head circumference of a 3-month-old baby is 40 cm A 6-month-old baby is 42.4 cm Head circumference of an 8-month-old baby is between 43 and 44 cm 12-month-old baby's head circumference is 45 cm head circumference of baby at 15 months is 45.8 cm Head circumference of baby at 18 months is 46.5 cm Head circumference of baby at 21 months is 47 cm Circumference of baby's head at 24 months is 47.5 cm head circumference of baby at 27 months is 47.8 cm Head circumference of baby at 30 months is 48.2 cm Head circumference of baby at 33 months is 48.4 cm.
Tốc độ phát triển chu vi vòng đầu trẻ sơ sinh thường rất nhanh
3. Unusual signs with newborn baby's head circumference
Abnormally growing baby's head circumference is when it is observed that the baby's head is not growing rapidly or when the head circumference measurement is not within the safe range. A much larger or smaller head circumference is a sign of abnormality. Specifically:The child's head circumference is abnormally large: This case may be due to congenital large oil or hydrocephalus, leading to the baby's eyes rolling backwards, growth retardation... Head circumference of a small child: It is possible that the brain does not. grow well or stop growing. Small head circumference is often due to brain abnormalities, brain sequelae... Measuring head circumference is a method of checking the health of the baby's development. Therefore, parents should measure the baby's head circumference regularly until the baby is 3 years old.
Besides, parents also need to supplement their children with essential micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1, ... to fully meet the nutritional needs of children. The addition of these essential vitamins also supports digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, improves anorexia, and helps children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. Combining many types of functional foods at the same time or changing many types in a short time can make the baby's digestive system unable to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.
