Looking for a neonatologist in Salunke Vihar, Kondhwa to keep track of your baby’s growth? At Vertex Clinics, our paediatric and neonatal team follows children from the first days of life through the school years, measuring growth, watching milestones and answering the questions that arise at every stage: Is my baby gaining enough? Is the head size normal? Why is my child shorter than classmates? We use standard growth charts, careful examination and your own observations to give you a clear, honest picture.
It is the regular measurement of a child’s body size and the review of their skills and behaviour, to confirm they are progressing well for their age and to spot concerns early.
Growth is about the body getting bigger: weight, height and head size. Development is about what a child can do: moving, talking, playing, learning and relating to others. Both are watched together, because a problem in one often affects the other.
We measure weight, length or height, head circumference and BMI, and plot them on standard growth charts to see how your child is progressing over time.
| Measurement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Weight | Shows whether nutrition and general health are on track |
| Length (lying) or height (standing) | Reflects long-term nourishment and growth potential |
| Head circumference | Reflects brain growth in the first years |
| Weight-for-length or BMI | Shows whether weight is proportionate to height |
| Growth velocity | How fast your child is growing between visits |
A single reading tells us little. The line over several visits tells us much more.
A growth chart compares your child with thousands of healthy children of the same age and sex, so we can see where your child sits and whether the pattern is steady.
Most healthy children follow a curve, which may be high or low on the chart. What we look for is a child who stays near their own curve. A sudden drop, flattening or sharp climb across the lines deserves a closer look. For young children, we use the WHO growth standards, and for older children, charts recommended for Indian children.
Babies grow fastest in the first year, then growth slows to a steadier pace through childhood until the pubertal growth spurt.
These are broad patterns. Children differ, and family height also plays a role.
They are monitored more closely, with growth and milestones judged by corrected age, which subtracts the weeks they were born early.
Premature babies often need extra attention to feeding, weight gain, iron and vitamin levels, hearing, vision and neurodevelopment. Many show “catch-up growth” in the first two years, while a small number need extra support. Babies who were small for their gestational age also need careful monitoring, since both undernutrition and rapid overfeeding matter.
Dr. Vishal J. Kole, our paediatrician and neonatologist, trained at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol, UK, and has experience caring for extremely premature babies from 22 weeks onwards. His approach to high-risk follow-up focuses on growth and neurodevelopment, so concerns can be picked up early.
A neonatologist is a paediatrician with specialised training in newborn medicine, which is especially valuable when a baby was premature, small, unwell at birth or needed intensive care.
Parents often search for a Neonatologist in Kondhwa after leaving the hospital, hoping to find someone who understands their baby’s early history. Such a doctor can connect what happened at birth with how the baby is growing now, and can plan follow-up accordingly.
Healthy babies are usually seen at birth, at one to two weeks, at six, ten and fourteen weeks with vaccines, at around six, nine, twelve, fifteen and eighteen months, at two years and then at least yearly.
Premature, small or unwell babies are seen more often. We can combine growth checks with vaccination visits, so you do not need extra trips.
Growth is a concern if weight stops rising, a child drops across major lines on the chart, height is far below the family pattern, head size is growing too fast or too slowly, or a child is gaining weight much faster than height.
Concerns we investigate include:
Most children who look small or big are healthy, so a careful look gives clarity.
Breast development before 8 years in girls or testicular enlargement before 9 in boys may be early puberty, while no breast development by 13 or testicular growth by 14 may be late puberty.
Girls who have not started periods by about 15 also deserve a check. Our team assesses these situations carefully and refers you onward when specialised hormone evaluation is needed.
At each visit, we ask about and observe movement, speech, play, social behaviour and learning, and use screening checklists suited to the child’s age.
| Around this age | Skills we look for |
|---|---|
| 2 months | Social smile, follows faces, coos |
| 6 months | Rolls, sits with support, laughs, reaches for toys |
| 12 months | Pulls to stand, babbles, responds to name, waves |
| 18 months | Walks, says several words, points to show things |
| 3 years | Runs, speaks in short sentences, plays with others |
| 5 years | Hops, draws shapes, tells simple stories, ready for school |
If we notice a delay, we discuss the next steps, which may include our Developmental & Behavioural Assessment service.
Good nutrition, enough sleep, daily physical activity and limited screen time all support healthy growth and brain development.
We give age-appropriate guidance on feeds, family meals, bedtime routines and play. For detailed advice, see our Nutrition & Feeding Guidance page.
Home weighing is not very accurate, and growth is best measured with proper equipment at regular visits. You can, however, keep a record and share it.
Useful habits include noting your child’s feeding pattern and energy, keeping vaccine and health records together, and avoiding comparisons with other children, since each child grows at their own pace.
Choose a doctor who measures carefully, explains the charts clearly, treats the trend rather than a single number and has experience with children born early or small.
Many parents compare the Best Neonatologist doctors by asking whether the specialist remains involved after the first hospital stay. Those searching for the Best Neonatologist Doctors in Kondhwa often want local, continuing care for a baby who was born early or needed special care. Other families look for the Best pediatrician in Salunke Vihar, Kondhwa so that growth, vaccines, illness and development are all followed by one trusted doctor. Dr. Vishal J. Kole (MBBS, DCh, DNB Paediatrics, MRCPCH, Fellowship in Neonatology) has more than 13 years of experience and speaks Marathi, Hindi, English and Telugu, so that families can ask their questions comfortably.
Bring your child’s growth and vaccination records, birth and discharge summaries, any previous charts or reports, and a short note of feeding, sleep and any concerns.
For premature babies, please bring the hospital discharge summary, since it helps us plan follow-up.
Not necessarily. A child who stays on a steady curve and is active, well and developing normally is often perfectly healthy.
Not always. We look at the growth pattern, and your doctor will advise if further assessment is needed.
Healthy children rarely need them. Ask us before giving any supplement.
Many do, especially in the first two years. We follow their progress and support them as needed.
Girls usually finish growing a few years after periods begin, and boys continue into their late teens.
Yes. Please tell us when booking so we can plan the time.
Every child grows in their own way, and regular measurements turn worry into clear information. With careful tracking, honest explanations and timely advice, we help you support your child’s health at every stage. If you are looking for a caring neonatologist in Salunke Vihar, Kondhwa, Vertex Clinics is ready to welcome your family. Call +91 97303 44558 or book your appointment today.