Final answer:
To measure recumbent length in a 14-month-old, position the child on a measuring board with a fixed headpiece and moveable footpiece, straighten the legs, and note the length. This measurement is used with growth charts, like Figure A3, to track the child's development compared to standard growth patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
To measure recumbent length in a 14-month-old child, you must ensure that the child is lying down flat on a solid, stable measuring board with a fixed headpiece and a moveable footpiece. The child's head should be positioned so that the eyes are in line with the ears, and the back of the head is touching the fixed headpiece. Gently extend the child's legs fully, and with the child's feet perpendicular to the legs, slide the footpiece until it gently touches the child's feet. This measurement must be done with precision and care to get an accurate recumbent length, which is crucial for monitoring the child's growth and development.
Measurements such as recumbent length are often plotted on a length-weight relationship chart to assess a child's growth compared to typical growth patterns. For instance, Figure A3 depicts a line graph showing this type of data for American boys and girls from birth to 3 years. At 14 months, the recumbent length can be matched with weight to check for typical development. For example, a boy of 28 inches should weigh approximately 19 pounds according to standards denoted in available data.
Accurate measurement of recumbent length in infants and toddlers is pivotal in tracking and managing overall health and wellbeing, particularly in the first three years of life where rapid and significant growth occurs, as documented in Figure A3 and other pediatric growth charts.