Height
- it is good determination of health and normal nutrition as weight
-male infant is an average of 2-3cm longer than of female at birth
-During first year of the life the infant HT should increase by 25-30 cm
- by age 2 yrs , the child will be an average of 12.5 cm taller most toddlers have reached approximately 1\2 of their adult height.
-AT birth: 46-56cm , average( 50cm)
Weight:
Average newborn boy weight=3400g, and girl=
3200g
- infant lose 5-10% of birth weight at age 3-4 days to gain it back in 2 weeks with a steady growth rate.
infant double birth Wight by 6 month
they triple the body weight by 12 month= 10 kg.
head circumference and chest circumference :
• Measure at birth and routinely until age 3 yrs.
• HC measures directly skeletal growth (skull), and indirectly cerebral growth.
• Measurement at birth = 33-35 cm
•
Chest circumference : CC = 31-33 cm at birth
•
Ratio of head to chest circumference:

•
birth : HC is larger than CC2 cm
•
1 yrs-18 month : HC=CC
•
2-3 yrs HC slightly smaller than CC
•
> 3 yrs :HC is smaller than CC by 5-7 cm
•
Scars
•
Bruises or unusual marks
•
Birthmarks of any type are recorded. (May change as child grows older.)
•
Dark skinned children may have Mongolian spots at the base of spine or elsewhere.
• milia.
• The skin of neonates will still be covered with vernix caseosa, the oily material that covers the fetus's body while in uterus.
Hair :
*Nail beds should be pink, nails convex
* Neonate: Normally varies from no hair to a thick bush. Infant: Consists of lanugo, a soft, downy covering commonly seen over the shoulders, back, arms, face, and sacral area, especially in darkskinned children; lanugo is present for the first 1 to
2 months, after which it disappears
Head :
Anterior fontanel :
Located between the frontal and 2 parital bones
Diamond- shaped , shape
-
2-3 cm (length) x 3-4cm( width)
Closed between 18 month ,
-
-
Posterior fontanel:

Located between the occipital and parital bones
Triangular shape
-
1cm( length ) x 1cm ( width)
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Closed between 4-8 month , and may closed at
-
birth.
VITAL SIGNS
• Obtain temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure as often as necessary, based on the child's condition.
Temperature:
Oral : :
Rectal (36.1°-37.8° C) contraindicated in child with anal surgery, diarrhea, or rectal irritation
Axillary :
:
Check with hospital policy .
-Obtain apical pulse rate on an infant or small child ( under 2 yrs ; radial, temporal, or carotid pulse may be measured on an older child. Pulse may be counted for 30 seconds and multiplied by 2 or for full 1 min
it increase with( crying, anxiety, fever, and pain).
*to accurate assessment of the respiratory rate in infant or small child wait until they are sleep or resting quietly, DOING IT BEFORE INVASIVE EXAM

Blood pressure
*Obtain blood pressure by auscultators method, rather than palpation method, whenever possible. Make sure the cuff covers no less than A½ and no more than 2/3 the length of the upper arm or leg( SHOULD ENCIRCLE 100% OF THE
AEM WITHOUT OVERLAP
* crying can cause inaccurate blood pressure reading
*consider norms for age .