HC measurements changing on growth charts?

[Fleur]

DD2 (almost 7mths) had her weigh & measures done yesterday.
The nurse took her head measurements & she has moved from the 75th percentile to the 97th.
Her weight & length remain at 75%.
We are to go back in a month to have it measured again. She was kind of vague about what it could be...she said it could just be that her head has grown a bit more than the rest of her, she also mentioned fluid.

Anyone have any experiences or stories to share?

I have a tendency to freak out over little things although so far I am doing quite well I think

[Mad Scientist]

My dd1 went from 50th to 95th at her six month check up. Now she's off the charts!!! My mchn said to ask my gp about it only because they are supposed to if there is a two percentile jump but she wasn't worried at all because her development was perfectly normal. My gp didn't even bat a eyelid when I asked him about it. He just said she's got a big head! Lol. She doesn't look out of proportion though so I'm not worried at all. She's way off the charts now but her development is still perfectly fine. I was told that if there are no developmental delays it is probably just familial hope that helps

[Curly]

Look, I don't want to alarm you at all but the reason they take note of a sudden jump in percentile bands for head circumference is in case of something going on in the brain, like fluid or a tumour. If it jumps again they MIGHT send her off for a CAT scan. A friend of mine had her MCHN send her DD off for a scan after her DD's head circumference suddenly went off the charts - but she was absolutely fine, just had a big head and a growth spurt.

That anything is "wrong" is HIGHLY unlikely though - both of my kids' heads jumped percentile bands, from 75th to 97th. But DH's family all have massive heads, it is far more likely there is a genetic component involved and you just have a nice healthy big bub. This would be why the MCHN was so vague, a problem would be very rare and she wouldn't have wanted you freaking out unnecessarily.

My DS in particular grew all out of proportion, at some checks his length really increased, other times his weight increased without him growing much lengthways. He even went down percentile bands for his weight.

[Trillian]

I really doubt that there would be an issue. I've seen some kids with massive heads - you could orbit sputnik around them ROFL, but they grow into their heads kwim? Does she look in proportion to you though? If she does then I would say it's fine, she has just had a bit of a growth spurt and her body will catch up. Mind you your MCHN could have measured her head in a slightly different spot to last time too, or the shape of her head could have changed slightly and that could possibly give her a measurement that is vastly different to last time.

[Nai]

DD1 went from 50th to 95th percentile at around 6 months and has stayed there. The MHCN didn't seem to think it was an issue, she just has a big head. DP and I have big heads so it's not surprising however she looked pretty funny at 12m when she was 95th for head, 50th for height and 3rd for weight - like a little lollypop

[Mad Scientist]

It's more common than I thought. Must be a head growth spurt for some kids from 4-6 months!