[momofMikhail]

I've been concerned about my ds's head circumference for awhile now. Our ped. doesn't seem concerned, but he has not dealt with many internationally adopted children either. Ds's head circumference was 14 inches when we came home a year ago. It has grown to 18 inches since then, but he still can only wear an infant size hat. He loves baseball caps, so we have alot of them, but all are 0-12 month caps. Has anyone else has any issues with head circumference? I'm thinking of getting a second opinion, but want to hear your responses first.

oh and he's stayed under the 5th percentile since coming home. The medical report we recieved from Russia claims there was water on the brain, but we were told by our IA Dr. that this was common on Russian reports and not to be concerned. Developmentally he is on track. He was just reevaluated today for his speech thereapy, and when broken into three catagories he was ranging from 2 years to 3.6 years (ds is 2 1/2 years old).

[Kasey]

My oldest son (now 5, adopted at 5 1/2 months) had a small head circ comin home, he was 2 STD below normal. I will have to look at his measurements once home, but I can say it took around 6-8 months home for his head to get on the charts. Since he was so young we did a CT scan and all was normal in terms of structures. He always met his developmental milestones, many times ahead of the game, his head grew slowly. He has an oval shaped head, much like my DH's. We went in monthly to our ped for measurements. Celebrated when he got to the 10th percentile. Our IA doc once joked, while looking at DH that if they measured circum back when he was young he would have had small numbers. My son's numbers have always leaned towards long and lean and that included his head then: (ht: 90%, wt 15%, head 2STD below normal) now: (ht 90%, wt 30%, head 30%) At 5 he is developmentally on track and ahead in several areas. He will be starting kindy in fall, he is athletic and bright.
I always believe second opinions are a good thing, especially if you feel your gut is telling you something else.
The fact he is meeting his developmental milestones and there doesn't seem to be any other issues occuring is a good thing.
Good luck and definitely seek out another opinion if you are worried.

[Sally26]

My dd also has a small head and wore infant hats and caps as well. Because she was developmentally on track/ahead our Pediatrician was also not worried and quit measuring her head at one year old check up. I learned not to be concerned. She only last year got to just below the 24% for weight that we were able to quit giving her pediasure (she was 50% for height). She is now 5 but small-wears 4T, but is proportioned and a little athelete. I would be super encouraged by his 4" growth. I know her head grew those first 6 mths. home but never a jump like that!

[angelkisses0102]

My DD was well below the charts for everything when she came home at 11 months old. I mean way below...you should see her growth chart. Her head was always her best measurement of the three however. It took her almost three years home to get on the charts and now she is almost 8 and is only at about the 10th percentile for height and weight...no idea on her head we stopped checking that years ago. (She is just teeny tiny...including her head.)

She has always been developmentally advanced...in verbal skills (highly verbal) as well as fine and gross motor skills. She is considered 'gifted' at school and not surprisingly...she is also ADHD (the two often go hand in hand.)

All that being said...if you would feel better...I certainly would get a second opinion. That can never hurt.

Good luck!