[arbee]

Little Michael has been home for two months now and is doing great. We had a great holiday with family and friends. Michael is a wonderful boy, very friendly, happy, affectionate, loving and with a good heart. His overnight transition into our family was totally amazing, which was something we did not expect. He is having the time of his young life and enjoying every minute. Everyone who meets him comments on his wonderful personality and intelligence. Sadly, he has lost most of his Spanish and is now totally Americanized. We loved when he used to say Adios and Hola. He is talking up a storm and its all in English, although he still says Si.

Question, does anyone have information on a Guatemalan growth chart? He is 2 ½ years old, 32 inches tall and about 25 lbs. He is very low on the American charts and is small compared to most children his age. We can’t seem to find any charts and it seems that none exist. Does anyone have any information? How about other’s with two year old’s, for a comparison of height and weight. Thanks

[Kesti]

Hi,

I don't have a growth chart either but my baby is 1 year old and weighs 25 lbs and is 30 inches tall. My baby is in the 90% on the american charts.

Kesti

[Bouncing 4 Joy]

According to the american growth chart... it appears that for his weight in relation to his length he appears to be in the 25%. My girl is also very petite. she is now 5 months old and 13lbs 13oz. The guatamalan race is shorter in stature. I am definitely no expert but I think this is very normal.
ps. Would luv to see a pic of your little one

[Chrysanthemum]

Arbee,
Ask your doctor if they can find one for you. Don't worry. I have a friend who brought home a 2 year old and they were tiny as well. It will take time and proper nutrition to allow them to catch up or just keep healthy.

For what it is worth, I have had my daughter since she was 7 months old. She is now 2.4 years , 32 inches and 26lbs. Similar to your son.

[becky]

There isn't anything such as a 'Guatemalan Growth Chart'....typically what you are looking for is a growth chart for 'undernourished populations' or 'indigenous populations'...or something to that affect. I know this has been addressed on the Big List many times...you could check the archives there and probably find a link with a chart you can download.

Good Luck!

[KDhappygal]

Our daughter is also very small. She is now 10 months and approx 16 lbs and about 25-27 inches.

When we were in Guatemala the doctor at our Embassy appointment told us the average Guatemalan woman was 5"1'.

She was not even on the charts at that point! The doctor was very good to explain to us that what really matters is ratio between height, weight and head circumfrance. I don't remember the calculations but he went through the whole thing with us and told us our daughter was small but perfectly proportional, which was more important.

[zanjen02]

Hi! I wouldn't worry too much about his smallness. It is normal for a lot of Guatemalan babies. As long as he is healthy and happy and eating good, he is probably a o.k.! ;-) Our two year old daughter from Guatemala is twenty six pounds and 33 1/2 inches tall and our Guatemalan son who is also two and a half, is twenty nine pounds and 35 inches tall. God Bless!
Jenny

[KENNA'SMOM]

today. She has been home since she was right around 13-14mo old. She as been very tiny. She is in first grade and is much smaller than any of the kids in her class. She is about the size of a 5 year old.

She is 42 in tall and only 38 pounds, which is completely off the charts. We just recently moved and her new Doctor wants to send her to Endocronolgist (?) to be sure it is just her heritage. She is perfectly healthy in every other way but he wants to be sure there isn't something that could easily be corrected.

Kim
Mommy to McKenna and soon to Jacob

[iammonikasmom]

I learned with our daughter from Romania not to compare with the American growth charts. We learned that one needs to really only look at continual growth in both areas, and the ratio of length and weight. That is where you will get a good idea to how he is doing.

[jen]

Mine are both small too. My son is 3 and is 32 lbs and my daughter who is 13 mos weighs 18 lbs and can still even wear some 3-6 month clothes.

[JoelPapi]

There are growth charts for Guatemalan kids out there, I found them once. (Can't find them now tho You might want to check with a clinic specializing in international adoption. I know the University of Minnesota has one.

Joelpapi

[szumbiel]

If you have a copy of the birth mom's cedula, figure her height. It may give you half the picture of what to expect. It is probably in centimeters, so divide that number by 2.54. This will give you inches. I know my bithmom is only about 5 foot one inch. I am not expecting an extremely tall son. However, he has been consistently 40-50% percentile since birth on American charts, so who knows.

Sonya, mom to Marty