Is your child growing normally ?

Growth is the progressive increase in the size of a kid or parts of a child. Development is a term of progressive acquisition of different types of skills, abilities those are as following head support, speaking, learning, expressing the feelings and relating with other people. Growth and development are go together but at involves in different rates.

Importance of the child growth and development

The assessment of growth and development is very helpful in finding out the state of Child health and nutrition of a child. Normal growth of a child and development indicate a good state of health and nutrition of a child. Abnormal growth or growth failure is a symptom of illness or disease. so the measurement of growth is an essential component of the physical examination.

Some of the Factors affecting growth and development are as following

Each child’s path or pattern of growth and development is differ compared to one to another it will be based on genetic and environmental factors The genetic factors mostly determines the potential and limitations of growth and development. If favourable the environmental factors, such as adequate nutrition facilitate the achievement of the genetic potential of growth and development. Unfavourable factors, acting singly feeling  or in combination, slow or stop growth and development Some of the unfavourable factors are low nutrition  infections  congenital malformations, hormonal disturbances, disability, less  emotional support, lack of interest to  play and lack of language training To promote optimum growth  these environmental factors can be removed or minimized. Once they are removed there follows a period of catching  up growth During this period the growth rate is greater than normal This growth rate continues until the previous growth pattern is reached Then the growth rate is reduced to the normal rate determined by the individual’s genetic factors A child genetically determined to be tall grows slightly more rapidly than a child genetically determined to be short Similarly  a child genetically determined to be clever develops their intellect more  than a child genetically determined to be less intelligent.

Foods which are helpful in child growth :

Dairy Products, Eggs, Chicken, Soybean, Banana, Oatmeal, Nuts and seeds, Leafy green vegetables, Fruits, Fish, Carrots, whole grains, Turnips, Beans

Foods to avoid:

While the above foods help increase height in children there are some which are detrimental to growth as well. The intake of excessive sugar, salts, coffee, fat and aerated drinks should be curbed. This is because these foods are known as calcium inhibitors, which can impact the absorption of calcium in the body in a negative way. Smoking and consumption of drugs in your child’s growing years can also stunt growth and take a negative toll on health. Children with poor eating habits can also develop health complications like obesity, heart disease, type 1 diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis, in the long run