Growth Chart
Height and weight
Growth charts are used to compare your child's height, weight, and head
size to children of the same age.
Growth charts can help both you and your health care provider follow your
child as they grow. These charts may provide an early warning that your
child has a medical problem.
Growth charts were developed from information gained by measuring and
weighing thousands of children. From these numbers, the national average
weight and height for each age and sex were established.
The lines or curves on growth charts tell how many other children in the
United States weigh a certain amount at a certain age. For example, the
weight on the 50th percentile line means that one half of the children in the
United States weigh more than that number and one half of the children
weigh less.
WHAT GROWTH CHARTS MEASURE ?
Your child's provider will measure the following during each well-child visit:
Weight (measured in ounces and pounds, or grams and kilograms)
Height (measured while lying down in children under age 3, and while
standing up in children age 3 and older)
Head circumference, a measurement of the head size taken by
wrapping a measuring tape around the back of the head above the
eyebrows
Height and weight
Growth charts are used to compare your child's height, weight, and head
size to children of the same age.
Growth charts can help both you and your health care provider follow your
child as they grow. These charts may provide an early warning that your
child has a medical problem.
Growth charts were developed from information gained by measuring and
weighing thousands of children. From these numbers, the national average
weight and height for each age and sex were established.
The lines or curves on growth charts tell how many other children in the
United States weigh a certain amount at a certain age. For example, the
weight on the 50th percentile line means that one half of the children in the
United States weigh more than that number and one half of the children
weigh less.
WHAT GROWTH CHARTS MEASURE ?
Your child's provider will measure the following during each well-child visit:
Weight (measured in ounces and pounds, or grams and kilograms)
Height (measured while lying down in children under age 3, and while
standing up in children age 3 and older)
Head circumference, a measurement of the head size taken by
wrapping a measuring tape around the back of the head above the
eyebrows
