Delayed growth

• developmental milestones record
• infant - newborn development
  • developmental milestones record - 2 months
  • developmental milestones record - 4 months
  • developmental milestones record - 6 months
  • developmental milestones record - 9 months
  • developmental milestones record - 12 months
• toddler development
  • developmental milestones record - 18 months
  • developmental milestones record - 2 years
  • developmental milestones record - 3 years
• preschooler development
  • developmental milestones record - 4 years
  • developmental milestones record - 5 years

Common Causes:

• failure to thrive
  • an effect of abuse, neglect, or chronic illness often accompanied by withdrawn personality and slow mental, physical, and emotional development
• genetic causes with no underlying disorder
  • If a parent is smaller than average, the birth weight was less than 5.5 pounds, and the child is otherwise healthy, be patient. Consult your doctor if worried.
• inadequate nourishment from a feeding schedule that is rigid or allows little sucking time (for infants less than 1 year being breast-fed)
• too much water added to powdered formula, or water added to ready-to-feed formula (for infants less than 1 year being bottle-fed)
• parental inexperience
• chronic disease such as kidney failure or chronic infection
• Down syndrome or other genetic disorder
• endocrine diseases, including thyroid, pituitary ( pituitary dwarfism ), adrenal, pancreas and sexual gland disorders
• celiac disease or lactose intolerance (digestive disorders often accompanied by loose, pale, bulky, and bad-smelling stools)
• adverse reaction or side effect of a drug (particularly cortisone drugs)
• Hirschsprung's disease
• fetal alcohol syndrome
• multiple lentigines syndrome
• Russell-Silver syndrome
• hydrocephalus
• gastroesophageal reflux in infants
• biliary atresia
• celiac disease (sprue)
• lactose intolerance
• rickets
• Tay-sachs disease
• tetralogy of Fallot

Note: There may be other causes of delayed growth. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for delayed growth, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
For slow weight gain in a child caused by inadequate nourishment, try feeding the child on demand and increasing the sucking time. Also, prepare formula exactly according to directions. Do not dilute ready-to-feed formula, and try increasing the amount offered to the child.

Provide as much love and support as possible for the child. Examine feelings and behavior toward the child. If feelings toward the child are not what they should be, arrange for psychological counseling.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

• there is vomiting in an infant (0 to 6 months) after feedings or the weight gain is slow.
• there is any concern about whether the child is growing and gaining weight properly.

What to Expect:
A history will be obtained from the parents, and a physical examination of the child will be performed.

Medical history questions documenting delayed growth in detail may include:

• Has the child always been on the low end of the growth charts?
• Was the child growing normally and then the growth slowed down?
• Is the child developing normal social skills and physical skills?
• Does the child eat well?
• Is the infant fed by breast or bottle?
  • If breast fed, what kind of schedule is used?
  • If bottle fed, what kind of schedule is used?
  • If bottle fed, what kind of formula is used?
  • How is the formula mixed?
• What kinds of food is the child eating (toddlers)?
• What medications does the child take?
• If breast feeding, what medications does the mother take?
• What other symptoms are also present?
• There may also be questions about parenting habits, social interaction with the child, and similar questions.

Repeated measurements of height, weight, and head circumference will be performed.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• blood tests (such as a CBC or blood differential )
• hormone studies
• X-rays of the hands (as a measure of growth)

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of your child's slow growth, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record. You may also want to keep your own record of measurements of height, weight, and head circumference.