Evening star., 1938-05-13
OF
Growth Not
.Infallible
Measuring a Child
By yHimself Alone
Is Best Practice.
By ANGELO PATRI,

\ IL babies are attractive, and they
= are all unusually bright to their
fathers and mothers. He is the smart
est little thing" says mother enthu-
siastically. He reaches for the leg
Of the chair and pulls himself up and
takes the teddy bear off the seat.
Imagine that"
But is this thing that he does unu-
sual in child of l8 months? The
answer is no, it is not unusual. 1t
is what the child could be expected
to do.
A baby boy 10 months old has not
yet begun to talk His sister could
say several words at that age. Is the
boy backward? Again the answer
Is no. Little boys are often slower
than little girls In talking Most
children begin to say words about the
end Of the first year. but it takes an
other year before they string words in
phrases and short sentences. Don't
be alarmed if your child is not talking
clearly when 2 years of age. II he
says no word at all. if he makes no
effort to talk. then consult your physi-
clan. But remember, children vary in
Development Some are faster than
others If your child is thriving. eat
ing, playing; if he is showing interest
in what is going on, give him time
and he will arrive
Some children begin to walk by the
time they are year old, but have
known perfectly healthy. highly in
telligent children who have not walked
until after the second year. OF course
these children were exceptions, but
the exceptions tell us not to worry
but to wait in patience.
Don't force q child to sit up or
stand or walk Give him a chance
to help himself and he will Don't
run in fear and pick him up when
he falls. He is learning. Look the
other way encourage him by saying
"Upsie. John. Try again." Let him
roll over and get back on his feet
without your help. You will know by
the quality Of his cry whether he is
really hurt, whether he needs help and
comfort.
Teeth begin coming in at the age Of
months. or 8 months, or maybe
later. We watch for signs of teeth at
6 months, but We are not surprised if
they don't show until the ninth
month. When no teeth appear at the
end Of the year. take the child to
the expert baby doctor.
When the baby is born there is a
soft place in his skull where the bones
have not yet grown together They
will in time. usually by the end of the
first year. They should be closed by
the end of 18 months If not, it is
time to call the physician in charge
Of the child.
There are charts that set forth the
proper weight and height for babies
These charts are for the imaginary,
normal child. They give you gen.
eral idea Of what to expect. If your
baby's weight varies from that on the
chart don't worry until you have de-
cided about the characteristics of your
own child. Once I was very troubled
because a child in my school was so
tiny and SO light. He was much
smaller and much lighter than the
charts called for. Then I saw his
father and his mother. They were
no bigger than an 8year-old boy. I
knew then that the child was right
for him. That's why say study the
characteristics Of your own child. Do
not measure him by any other child in
tn, family or the neighborhood Chill
dren come by ones. Charts and tests
are helpful, but only in general way.
They give you q hint. Your own
child, as he Is. gives you the true
story. Study him. His way Is right
for him.
(Copyrisht. 1881