Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I just use them as a guide

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

IMO, they are told to us for a reason, so yes, I do pay attention to them

I was told from the beginning that as long as the percentiles are similar, that DD is doing well (for example height and weight both at 25% or both at 75% is acceptable - height at 25% and weight at 90% MAY be a cause for concern)

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

personally i think the whole percentile thing is ridiculous...yes, THEY use them as a guideline for your childs growth, they dont really give them to you for the same purpose..i think most parents ask for them or get told them because obviouosly, theyre our kids, so we wanna know every single thing about them..but really..there is NOTHING you can do EVER to change growth..so, i mean if your dc is in the 90% for weight but the 25% for height, are you gonna stretch them out?? Or starve them? Id like to say for myself, and in my case, i feed my ds very healthy food, i dont buy soda, and he doesnt even like it to drink it out much..he eats only chicken and fish hardly any red meat..and he is overweight...not because of his percentiles, because hes ALWAYS been built this way..95% weight 95 height..its genetic...COMPLETELY, this kid came out at over 10 lbs, it wasnt like he was ever gonna be small..i was obese for years, as a child, and as a young adult, and didnt lose my weight until i was 21..and my ex husband was also heavy as a child..as were my parents when they were kids..
my dd on the other hand, since ive lost the weight was born at 6lbs, shes the tiniest baby ever to be born in our family..and shes STILL very small to us..meanwhile according to the dr she is 50% height and 45 weight..

it just is what it is..i think alot of parents get too caught up in it, as if they did something wrong or right to make their children to be a certain percentile.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I'm confused why you think that the 50th percentile is small. By definition the 50th percentile is average. Do you mean she is "thin" because she is in a higher percentile for her height than weight?

Either way, to answer your question - I only cared when my son was almost off the charts thin - in the 5th percentile - while he was above average for height (85th percentile). I was more concerned that he was gaining weight consistently than where he fell on the charts, but since he had previously always been in the 20th percentile and then fell it made me . I don't think that you should really care where they fall but that they continue on the same trajectory.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Message edited 3/19/2009 8:47:10 AM.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Not going to lie. Jacen is a peanut.

I like to know the percentiles because he's always been small. 10% for height and 20% for weight.

It does worry me a little bit, but as long as he's growing... i don't stress over it.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

i didnt say they mean nothing i said they are charted for the drs purpose.

and when my son was your dd's age he was 95 for both height and weight too..hes now 10, and off the charts for both...so percentile means nothing now...which is what im saying...they are a guidline, for drs, that should be along the same track..i dont really think anyones dr would say,,,"oh, your dc is in the 25th for height? Make them grow!"
its just an idea of where they are headed..
and to be honest, average is much different now a days then it was years ago...according to most kids in my sons peer group, he is FINE..because children have over the years gotten very heavy..
so i wouldnt care what percentile his dr told me he was in, i can see for myself that he needs to always be conscious of what hes eating

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I think percentiles are BS..my DD was born really long but not heavy...now she's long and heavy great...she's 3 months old I am not going to change anything that I'm doing unless my dr tells me to, I think they def use it for consistency that there is no huge drop or increase...

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

DS has consistantly been in the 50th percentile. I know that he is growing well, so I know they are a guildline to let you know if something is wrong.

Now, a story. My friend recently had a baby, who was born weighing less than DS, but 1 inch longer.

I went over to see the baby, her mil and fil were over, and they remarked how big DS looked. I said, "Not really, he is only in the 50th percentile." Well, they kept insisting, and I go, well compared to the 2 week old you are holding, yes he is big.

Then my friend points to her DC and in a bragging whisper says, "95 percentile". I was like 'uh huh'. It's not like her kid got a 95 on a test and is a genius, it just means he was born long. The difference between 20 and 21 inches is 50-95%

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I think the consistency is key. My DD was always in the 10th percentile through her 6 month checkup. The doctor said there was no issue as long as she didn't drop below that, she wanted to see her growing consistently. Since her 6 month I've stopped b/f and gone to formula and she now eats solids and at her 9 month appt she was in the 75th percentile! She had a growth spurt for sure!

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I wouldn't say percentiles are *important* to me necessarily - but I do record them and I do ask the doctor to verify that the growth shown is normal.

I also appreciate knowing where my kid falls in range. For example.. I know Noah is small by looking at him.. but I'd like to know HOW small relevant to the norm. No.. I can't change it but I still want to know.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

As long as DS is consistant and stays on the curve I am fine. If the Dr. is happy and pleased with DS's progress so am I

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I don't even listen when my ped says - if he says, which he rarely does!!!

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I have never been told their percentiles. Out of curiosity, I plugged in their 2 month stats on a website and they came back at less than 5 percent... I know my babies are small, I get comments about it ALL the time. At their 2 month visit, they weighed less than a lot of babies weigh when they are born. However, they ARE gaining weight, and the pediatrician is happy with the way they are growing - and to me, that is the most important thing, not how big they are compared to other babies their age. I know they will catch up eventually. For now they are my little peanuts.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

Im so with you..

If you quizzed me on percentages right now. I'd fail. I have no idea and frankly i dont care.

My kid is happy and healthy and really at the end of the day isn't that ALL that truly matters?

I think for some hearing those numbers makes them feel better, more informed, calmer or other things. Frankly good for them. Its not like it HURTS to have the knowledge. its just not for me.

I look at AJ and I see her smiling face and I dont think I could care that she's 75% of anything.. she's 100% beautiful and 100% mine!

Re: How important are percentiles to you?

I find them interesting, but not indicative of her health.

DD is in the 25% for weight and even though she is small, I don't care. She's growing and that's all that matters.

Re: How important are percentiles to you?