What the chart actually draws
A growth chart compares your child’s measurements with thousands of healthy children of the same age. The lines on the WHO curves are z-scores: line 0 is the median, +2 and -2 mark the range still considered normal, and -3 or +3 mark values that need special attention.
Three indicators are used routinely in Indonesia:
- Weight-for-age answers “is the weight adequate for the age?”. Below -2 is underweight, below -3 severely underweight.
- Length/height-for-age answers “is the child growing in length as expected?”. Below -2 is stunted.
- Head-circumference-for-age tracks brain growth over the first two years.
There is also weight-for-length, the most sensitive short-term nutrition indicator: a child who is thin for their length is wasted, one who is too heavy is overweight.
The trend matters more than any single point
One measurement gives one dot. What carries meaning is the direction of the line. A child who has always hovered around -1 and keeps rising parallel to the curve is growing well. A child who was at +1 last month and drops to -1 this month deserves attention even though both points are “normal”, crossing two lines in a short time is a stronger signal than the line itself.
That is why monthly weighing at the posyandu or the doctor matters: not to chase a number, but to make the direction visible.
Using the Tumbuh tab
Every time you weigh or measure, record it in JejakSiKecil on the measurement date. The app computes z-scores from the WHO tables (up to 5 years) or CDC (beyond) and shows the nutritional-status interpretation. If your child was born preterm, switch on Use Adjusted Age so the age is corrected until 24 months.
If the status changes colour or the line drops steeply, bring the chart to your doctor, a complete record makes the consultation faster and more precise.
This article is general education and does not replace a doctor’s examination. When in doubt, consult a paediatrician.
