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Behaviour/development

Large head on a small body

9 replies

Patopopo · 19/08/2011 00:29

DD had her 8 week checkup today and the doctor took some measurements. She was born on term but was quite small then. She was around 5% in both weight and length and has maintained that average ever since. However her head size is now above the 80% range. I'm wondering if this is unusual? Small body-large head. Can anyone knowledgeable on the subject offer some wisdom?

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Taranta · 19/08/2011 06:33

Not officially knowledgeable, but I don't think I would be too concerned at this stage with those centiles Patopopo. My DS measured 50 for weight and 98 for head circumference at 8 weeks, and now at 12 this week they're just checking its on the same trajectory, which it is. I know it seems odd to have such diff centiles, but I do think it just reflects that we are all different physiologically right from the start. Did you ask your GP avout it? I remember mentioning it to mine when he plotted it in the red book and she was unconcerned...but if you are worried you could always ask. DD is obviously storing a lot of grey matter in there!

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LargeGlassofRed · 19/08/2011 06:52

HV in my area don't even measure heads, as very inaccurate, I really wouldn't worry.

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Patopopo · 19/08/2011 14:22

Thanks Taranta. I only realized the head size after we got home from the GP. I wouldn't be so alarmed with a +80% head circumference if her body and weight was also around the same ratio but her body size is small compared to the average. It just seems weird to be so wildly different. And when I look at her she does look like a baby with a huge head on a small body. Kind of cute but it must be harder for her to lift that large melon off the mattress :)

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nenevomito · 19/08/2011 14:31

Both of my DCs heads are on the 98th and 94th centiles (my chuff bears testament to pushing them out). DD was on the 12th centile for weight and DS on the 50th. They both look in proportion, its more to do with head shape than anything else.

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Taranta · 19/08/2011 16:46

I know what you mean about looking a little disproportionate - DH 'affectionately' calls DS 'the mekon' (see cartoon on wiki page) which I concede is indeed scarily representative of DS's giant cranium. DS is not green, however.

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doityourway · 19/08/2011 17:24

My DS was on 0.4 percentile when he came out. He was just really small at birth, possibly slight IUGR. Then he got sick so at 6 weeks had barely put on a pound. Then he was fine...and at 16 weeks he was on 9th for weight and height and a staggering 91st for head. No one else noticed except me. The doc sent me to a paeds consultant for reassurance - because of the rapidity in growth, not the size - and although they did an ultrasound (to check for pressure, to absolutely be on the safe side) the consultant was very unconcerned. As it turns out she was right. He's just got a big head. that said, we went for out follow up at 8 months and he's gone to 50th for height and weight and still on 91 for head so he's catching up. He obviously just went through a weird growth spurt.

You would never really think anything of it when you see him. He is beautiful and chunky and anyway, big heads run in my DH family (though you'd never really know it if you looked at them). And I think it is shape as someone else pointed out - he's got a protruding brow.

He's never had any problems lifting head (I did lots of tummy time), he's strong and he spends a lot of time rolling and sitting up. He's yet to crawl but everything else is spot on.

The red book and its chart will fuck with your head if you let it!

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mum2JRC · 19/08/2011 21:32

I do not wnat to worry you but I would only be concerned if their birth check in hospital their head circumference was on a lower centile ( like 25th centile) and now increasing. You could see your health visitor to check how it is growing and to check it is not too rapid.

I presume the GP was otherwise happy? and checked eyes (like fix and following), checked fontanelle ( soft spot top of head) etc. And you as a parent feel that your daughter is happy and developmentally thirving?

Also there will be some genetic factor in a babies head size. So if your or her dad have a bigger head she is more likely to!

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Pamplemoussse · 20/08/2011 11:27

DS2 has an enormous head, he looked for a good while like a boiled egg on legs; we had to always buy v neck tops as round necks just not big enough

he is 9 now and its not so obvious now

GP was never bothered although I was because he looked so blimmin odd (no hair to speak of til about age 2, so bald boiled egg har har)