+——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————+ | TABLE OF STANDARDS | +——————+——————+——————+—————————————+—————————————+—————————————+ | Age | | |Circumference|Circumference|Circumference| | in |Weight|Height| of | of | of | |Months| | | Head | Chest | Abdomen | +——————+——————+——————+—————————————+—————————————+—————————————+ | | lbs. | in. | in. | in. | in. | | 1 | 8 |21¾ | 15 | 13½ | 13½ | | 2 |10½ |23¼ | ... | ... | ... | | 3 |12 |24 | ... | ... | ... | | 4 |14 |24¾ | ... | ... | ... | | 5 |14¾ |25¼ | ... | ... | ... | | 6 |17 |27 | 17½ | 17½ | 17½ | | 9 |19 |28 | 18 | 18 | 18 | | 12 |20 |29 | 18½ | 18½ | 18½ | | 16 |23 |30 | 18½ | 18½ | 18½ | | 20 |24 |31 | 18½ | 19½ | 19¼ | | 24 |25 |32 | 19 | 20 | 19½ | | 28 |27 |33½ | 19 | 20 | 19½ | | 32 |29 |35 | 19½ | 20½ | 19½ | | 36 |32 |36½ | 20 | 21 | 20 | +——————+——————+——————+—————————————+—————————————+—————————————+ Very important are the proportions between the circumference of head, chest, and abdomen. When they do not correspond with the measurements given on this standard table there is a reason, and the mother should seek till she finds it. For example, at twelve months, when Baby is cutting many teeth, the head, the chest, and the abdomen should be uniform in circumference. A head two inches larger is out of proportion and usually means trouble for the baby in teething, convulsions, intense nervousness, or brain disorder. Such a child must be carefully watched and screened from shock of any sort. At twenty months the chest should be gaining on the head; and at no time should the baby’s abdomen be larger than the chest. If it is, his diet needs changing. He is being fed too often or too heavily, or there is gas on the stomach. There are times, of course, when even a normal baby does not measure up to these standards. While teething he may lose flesh for a time, then regain it. If attacked by measles, or whooping-cough, or other juvenile ailments, he will lose flesh. If he does not regain flesh when the illness passes he is not convalescing properly. The baby’s mental and developmental growth should correspond with its physical growth. Here are some simple tests which any mother can apply: