Growth charts
Pediatric growth charts are a standard part of any checkup. They have been used by health care providers and parents to track the growth of infants, children, and adolescents in the United States since 1977. They show us how kids are growing compared with other kids of the same age and sex. They also show a pattern of height and weight gain over time, and whether they’re developing proportionately. Girls and boys are measured on different growth charts because they grow in different patterns and at different rates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has growth charts available on their website. They are not meant to be used as the only diagnostic tool for evaluating a childs’ health. Instead, growth charts are intended to help form an overall impression. If you have any questions about your child’s growth (or growth charts) speak to your health care provider.
Click here to view Birth to 36 months: Boys Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentiles
Click here to view Birth to 36 months: Girls Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentiles
Tags: boys, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, check-ups, girls, growth charts, health care provider, height, Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentiles, pediatrician, pediatrics, weight
November 1st, 2009 at 12:14 am
It’s worth noting that the CDC growth charts are based on representative population samples for the U.S. which are predominantly formula fed, rather than breastfed. The WHO’s growth charts are based on breastfeeding growth averages. Breastfeed babies tend to put on more weight faster in the first 4 months of life, then slow down relative to formula fed babies and those that start solids earlier.
For exclusively breastfeed infants and toddlers, the WHO charts will usually be a better guideline.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am
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November 1st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Last year, at 3-years-old, we finally broke the 50/50 mark - 50th percentile in height and 60th percentile in weight!
November 4th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Hi Cara,
Sounds like your little one is doing just fine. Thanks for sharing : )
November 4th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Thanks for pointing that out Melissa! Here’s a link to The WHO Child Growth Standards if anyone’s interested.
http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/