Death to Growth Charts

So the cub had his 18 month check up recently. I'm always excited to go to these check ups and see how the cub is progressing and nag my pediatrician with my myriad of questions. The cub is a true trooper and is never irritable from the shots, so all in all it's a positive experience. Well, here is where I flashback for a quick moment. Over the past six months my cub has not gained any weight and his height barely increased. I haven't fretted over it too tough because he looks healthy and nothing else has been wrong. You don't really notice it until you dress him and realize he can still wear his 9-12 months clothes. Seriously, my 18 month old can not wear pants for 12-18 months kids. They literally fall off his waist. I've been waiting for him to catch up or grow into his 12-18 months clothes, which he finally is, but now he should be transitioning into his 18-24 months clothes. This is what prompted me to bring up the weight concerns to the doctor during this last visit.

The doctor agreed that he looks fine and completely healthy, but after taking all his measurements and then charting them she too became a little concerned. His growth has definitely plateaued. Seeing the chart totally put a damper on my spirits. These charts illustrate more than just a slowing down but almost a complete halt  in his growth. The doctor now wants to see him in three months for just a growth check up. She tries to reassure me that there isn't anything to fret over and that we just want to monitor his growth. I don't know what to make of this except now I HATE growth charts.

I was that parent bragging about my cub's percentiles and I admit that it felt real good to see how he measured up to other kids his age. That is when the numbers were good. I've spent the last few days reassuring myself that my cub is happy and healthy, reassurance that I didn't need prior to those stupid growth charts. I think I am most mad because I didn't realize how I'd let the growth charts influence me. I didn't realize that I was using my cub's development as a type of competition if you will. I'll try to explain better. You ever been to a mommy and me group where somewhere along the conversation you realize each mommy is just trying to one up the next mommy. Here is a typical conversation:

Mommy 1: Jane started sleeping through the night at 2 months. We really used the self soothing method and stuck to a strict schedule.
Mommy 2: Well we used the musical stimulus method and Jack started sleeping through the night at 2 weeks old.

OK so these methods and time frames are completely exaggerated but hopefully you get the point. Those mommy communities can be brutal and more destructive than helpful.   Each parent and each child is different thus the journey is different. All this competition and bragging between parents is unhealthy. This is the source of my frustration with the growth chart because I feel I allowed a similar toxic situation as the mommy and me groups to occur. I just want my son happy and healthy. At the moment my mommy senses are telling me to let it go. I mean he definitely seems happy to me.