304 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
A typical CHILD HEALTH CHART SHOWING A CHILD’S PROGRESS:
This baby was
healthy and gained
weight well for the
first 6 months of
life, because his
mother breastfed
him.
breast
fed
At 6 months, the mother
became pregnant
again and stopped
breastfeeding him. The
baby was fed little more
than corn and rice. He
stopped gaining weight.
poorly
fed
At 10 months he
developed chronic
diarrhea and began
losing weight. He
became very thin
and sick.
diarrhea
When the child was
13 months old, his mother
learned about ways to give
the child enough good food,
even without a lot of money
or land. He began gaining
weight fast. By age 2 he was
back on the Road to Health.
well
fed
good
weight
gain
poor
weight
gain
weight
loss
good
weight
gain
off breast
diarrhea begins
at 6 months at 10 months
nutritious feeding
begins at 13 months
Child Health Charts are important. When used correctly, they help mothers know
when their children need more nutritious food and special attention. They help
health workers better understand the needs of the child and his family. They also let the
mother know when she is doing a good job.