Delayed growth
Key points
- Delayed growth involves poor or abnormally slow gain in weight or height, or both, in a child younger than 5 years old.
- Delayed or slower than expected growth can be caused by many conditions, most of which can be corrected if the problem is recognized and the intervention is timely.
- The term "failure to thrive" means only that an infant or young child is not growing and developing as expected.
- Follow the health care provider's instructions for care.
Alternative names
Growth - slow (child 0-5 years); Weight gain - slow (child 0-5 years); Slow rate of growth; Retarded growth and development
Definition
Delayed growth involves poor or abnormally slow gain in weight or height, or both, in a child younger than 5 years old.
Considerations
Delayed or slower than expected growth can be caused by many conditions, most of which can be corrected if the problem is recognized and the intervention is timely. Failure to thrive may be accompanied by withdrawn personality and slow mental, physical, and emotional development. Genetic diseases and chronic illness are less common causes of failure to thrive in the U.S. Social and educational causes for failure to thrive are more common.
Often, problems with infants can be prevented or modified with parental education. Expectant parents should arrange for parenting classes. Also, a child should be taken in to see the health care provider on a regular basis for well-baby checkups.
See the following for more information:
- Infant - newborn development
o Developmental milestones record - 2 months
o Developmental milestones record - 4 months
o Developmental milestones record - 6 months
o Developmental milestones record - 9 months
o Developmental milestones record - 12 months - Toddler development
o Developmental milestones record - 18 months
o Developmental milestones record - 2 years
o Developmental milestones record - 3 years
o Developmental milestones record - 4 years
o Developmental milestones record - 5 years
Common Causes
The term "failure to thrive" means only that an infant or young child is not growing and developing as expected. Failure to thrive is often divided into two main categories: psychosocial and organic.
Psychosocial causes include problems relating to poverty, educational level, malnourishment, and environmental factors (such as abuse or neglect, maternal depression, or a parent's substance abuse). Psychosocial causes for failure to thrive include the following:
- Parental inexperience or lack of appropriate education, such as
o Inadequate nourishment from a feeding schedule that is rigid or allows little sucking time - for infants less than 1 year being breast-fed
o Too much water added to powdered formula, or water added to ready-to-feed formula - for infants less than 1 year being bottle-fed
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.