Understanding and Assessing 'Failure' to Thrive

What is this article about?

Failure to thrive (FTT), also known as faltering growth or poor growth, describes a pattern of poor weight gain in children. Generally, this term applies to children under the age of two whose weight, or rate of weight gain, is considerably lower than what is expected for other children of the same age and gender. It is normal for children to experience periods of no growth. However, a child who is consistently falling behind what is considered typical may be failing to thrive. While there is currently no singular accepted measure of FTT, the best indicator is weight and length trending downwards accompanied by the age growth charts. FTT is an umbrella term that describes a growth pattern - it is not a condition that is diagnosed.