Head Circumference

[Louise1970]

My friend has asked me to post this as she does not have a computer.

She has a dd2 of 6 months and her hv is concerned as her head circumference has dropped off the line it was following (in the red book). And was advised that she should have weaned her at 4 months not 6 months. (personally i think this is rubbish and did indicate this) but she needs more info from you guys. Is there a web site where i can find out more for her.

I have to go now, but will log on tomorrow, sometime..

Is she otherwise healthy ? tbh the difference between one line and another is so marginal in mm that I wonder how meaningful a comparison it is, as it could easily have been measured slightly differently before. Is she is proportion to length/weight (ie have they "slowed" too ? ) Doubt weaning later would have really made so much of an impact - milk has more calories compared to the amount in the food an earlier weaned baby might be getting.

My dd2 had this, with weight and with head circ. She went from 98th centile at birth to below 9th centile, where she still is. Developmentally she's fine, just small for her age, for no real reason anyone can find. GP reckons some babies can be so well-nourished in the womb that their birthweight is above their 'natural' weight IYSWIM, so they will drop down the centiles till the find the level that's right for them.

HVs are often to be found talking a lot of rubbish, so HV's opinion alone is never a cause for panic. Bit bloody pointless telling your friend after the event that she should have weaned her dd earlier, and wrong as well. Kellymom is an American website which has the sanest and most detailed info on weaning that I've ever come across, including a detailed explanation of exactly what the potential problems are with early weaning.

Your friend should go to a sensible and experienced GP and ask if there is any real reason for concern wrt her dd2. In truth, if the child is feeding well, is not skinny (look for little rolls at tops of thighs), has plenty of wet and dirty nappies, seems well in herself and is within the normal range for developmental milestones, it's probably just one of those things.

hth

Hv's think they know everything! Most times with my dd, they have been wrong!Funny enough, most have never had kids themselves!!!!!

well i think head circumference is so easy to get wrong!
you only need to alter the angle slightly and you get a completely different reading

when ds was born they measured his at 36, but a couple of days later measured it at 34! i don't think his head lost 2cm in about 3 days!!!

I was shocked to hear that a HV suggested this.

It's not particularly unusual for babies to jump around within centiles.

Measured wrong, is the most likely.

I thought the norm was that generally us mums can't wait to get them on solids and Hv's trying to make us wait. I've heard it all now !!!

In many areas HVs don't actually measure head circumference any more - measuring is such an inexact science it's not actually very helpful. Unless baby's head looks way out of proportion with her body, it's probably just an inaccurate measurement. Most other HVs wouldn't even be measuring it, let alone trying to worry someone unecessarily. Sadly many HVs haven't kept up with the research (or for some reason known only to themselves, have decided to pretend it doesn't exist). Ignore!