>I have always considered growth charts to have no use whatsoever.< >I need to get dug out but there was a presentation at ILCA ( great conference) showing the incredible differnce in plotting on who charts vs the "standard"... < Patricia, I would also be most interested in knowing the references for this talk, and I am sure that there will be a difference in showing a baby's weight plotted on a conventional growth chart (esp the US one) and a chart based on breastfed babies. However, I think seeing a difference doesn't tell us whether one is more helpful or 'valid' in a meaningful way...... I think plotted weights have some use, but I don't think we have the measure of what they mean or can tell us.... I think they are a sort of proxy measure for growth and development. Imagine if we were dolphins, we might use the displacment of our babies in a measured quantity of water to get a different proxy of the same thing. Here in the UK there are also head circumference and length measures taken for the same reason. I am sure these all have some relationship to development, health and growth, but I have not yet found anything to convince me that the relationship is linear, straightforward or simple. Magda Sachs Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK (frankly, water displacement sounds more fun, anyway!) *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html