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If you have questions about this change, you're in the right place. Our editors, experts, and community of change optimists have answers!

bstarr

Question:How important are growth percentiles?

Asked by bstarr on 3/18/08 1 Answer»
greenpig

Answer:

My son is on the smaller side, and his first pediatrician hassled me about it all the time. Wanted me to add cream and butter to his food, wanted me to stop breastfeeding, and even wanted to do invasive testing. I knew he was fine, and told her that my husband's side of the family tend to be on the smaller side. She didn't want to listen. I got a second opinion before agreeing to testing. My new pediatrician took one look at my son and said he is fine. "His hair is shiny, his eyes are bright, his skin and nails are healthy. Those are the first things to go if a child is malnourished." This new ped doesn't even use growth charts because he doesn't believe in them--believes in just assessing the overall health of the individual child. That has been such a relief for me!

Answered by: greenpig on 1/10/09
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