Monitoring infant weight gain: advice for practitioners.
It is current practice in the UK to include growth reference charts in the Personal Child Health Records. This has the potential to lead to frequent measurement of weight. While this can reassure parents and professionals alike, it can also lead to stress and anxiety if the child is not perceived to be gaining weight. 'Health for all Children' states that the 'interpretation of growth measurements requires skill and judgement, and is easier when several measurements are taken over a period of time'. This article aims to give healthcare professionals the information to be able to do this. It outlines best practice for weight monitoring of babies in the first year of life, according to current evidence, and offers a flowchart detailing the points to consider when assessing infant weight gain.
Freeman
Jenny V
JV
University of Sheffield.
Cole
Tim J
TJ
Wales
Jerry Kh
JKh
Cooke
Jo
J
D002657:Child Development; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015430:Weight Gain