Average baby growth charts

The First 24 Months| Pampers

Children come in all shapes and sizes, and all babies grow at their own pace. At your child’s regular health checkups, your little one’s healthcare provider will plot certain measurements on a baby growth chart to make sure they’re on the right track. The chart might look daunting, but your provider can help you understand this useful tool and what the results mean for your child. To make it easier, we'll show you how to read a baby growth chart and interpret the results.

What Are Baby Growth Charts?

Baby growth charts are important tools healthcare providers use to check your little one’s overall health. The charts assess how your baby is growing compared with other children of the same age and gender, and to see how your child is developing over time. Growth standards used for babies under 24 months old are based on the following:

• Head circumference. This is the distance around the largest part of the head and indicates how your baby’s brain is growing.

• Weight-for-length. This measures your baby’s weight along with their length (height).

• Weight-for-age. This measurement tracks your baby’s weight at a particular age.

• Length-for-age. This measures your baby’s length (height) at a particular age.

Your child’s healthcare provider will use different growth charts for baby boys and girls, and different charts for babies younger than 24 months and for those 2 years and older.

It's helpful to know that these charts offer information that your provider can assess in the context of other baby developmental milestones and genetic factors. You can find and download the charts below.

Baby Boys Growth Chart: Birth to 24 Months

• Boys weight-for-length and head circumference-for-age

• Boys length-for-age and weight-for-age

Baby Girls Growth Chart: Birth to 24 Months

• Girls weight-for-length and head circumference-for-age

• Girls length-for-age and weight-for-age

When and How Is Your Baby Measured?

You probably chose your child’s healthcare provider while pregnant, and your baby’s initial office visit will be within a few days of their birth or shortly after you leave the hospital. Starting with this first appointment, checking your baby’s growth will become a routine part of each visit, whether your little one is 1 month or 1 year. Initially, your baby's checkups will take place every few weeks, and then every few months until your baby turns 1. Your provider will let you know if you need to visit more often and when to schedule future appointments. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have about your baby’s health and development—your child’s healthcare provider is your partner and can reassure you that you’re doing a great job and help you resolve any issues that pop up! Here’s how babies are usually weighed and measured:

• Head circumference: The healthcare provider will wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your baby’s head, from above the eyebrows, passing above the ears, to the back of the head.

• Length: Measuring the length (a.k.a. height) of a wriggly baby may be tricky, but your provider is an expert at this! As your little one lies on a flat table, the provider will gently stretch out your baby’s legs to get an accurate measurement from the top of their head to the soles of their feet.

• Weight: With your baby undressed, your child’s provider will likely use a baby scale to get the most accurate reading.

You might be wondering what else to expect at some of your baby’s regular health checkups. The following links will help you prepare for each individual visit, from month 1 to year 2, and provide information about upcoming immunizations:

You can also use our baby growth chart tool to help you better understand your little one’s development!

How to Read a Baby Growth Chart

Once you have your measurements, you might look at a baby growth chart and wonder how you are supposed to make sense of it. Your baby’s healthcare provider can help you understand your child’s results and plot them on the chart at the health checkup, but in the meantime here’s a quick guide on how to read these charts. Remember, it’s important to use the baby boy growth charts if you have a boy and the baby girl growth charts if you have a girl.

Head Circumference Percentile

Although these charts look like something only Einstein could figure out, they’re actually fairly simple to read once you get the hang of it. To find your baby’s head circumference percentile in the growth chart linked above, following these steps:

1. Find your baby’s age in months at the top of the chart. Only some months are numbered, but each month is represented by a vertical line.

2. Find your baby’s head circumference measurement on the left side (measurements are provided in both inches and centimeters).

3. Follow these horizontal and vertical lines until they intersect. In most cases, they will intersect on a curved line.

4. Follow the curved line to the right until it ends, and here you’ll see a number on a white background. This number indicates your baby’s head circumference percentile on the growth chart.

Weight-for-Length Percentile

Now that you’ve found your baby’s head circumference percentile on the growth chart, it will be easier to do the same for their weight. Follow the steps below:

1. Find your child’s length in inches or centimeters at the bottom of the grid.

2. Find your child’s weight (in pounds or kilograms) on the left side of the grid.

3. Follow the horizontal and vertical lines of these two measurements until they intersect on the growth curve.

4. Follow the curved line until the end to find your baby’s weight-for-length percentile on the growth chart.

Length-for-Age Percentile

To determine your baby’s length-for-age (height) percentile on the growth chart, follow the steps below:

1. Find your baby’s length (in inches or centimeters) on the left side of the grid.

2. Find your child’s age in months at the bottom of the chart.

3. Track these horizontal and vertical lines until they intersect on the growth curve.

4. Follow that curve until the end, where the percentiles are written on a white, shaded background.

Weight-for-Age Percentile

Lastly, use the baby growth chart to track your little one’s percentile for weight using the following steps:

1. Find your baby’s weight (pounds or kilograms) on the right side of the grid.

2. Find your child’s age in months at the top of the chart.

3. Follow these horizontal and vertical lines until they intersect on the curved line.

4. Follow that curved line until the end, where the percentiles are written on a white, shaded background.

How to Interpret Baby Growth Chart Percentiles

Your child’s healthcare provider is the best person to explain these results to you. Remember, the charts show the typical growth patterns for baby boys and girls, and there is a wide range of healthy results. There’s no ideal result when viewed individually, but, ideally, your child would follow along the same growth pattern (the curved line) over time. As a result, their height and weight would grow in proportion to one another.

What Are the Percentiles?

But, this one point doesn't show the complete picture. Your child’s provider will assess several values over time to determine the trend of how your baby is growing compared to the average growth curve on the chart. Try not to become too focused on a single number. There is a wide range of healthy sizes and lengths, and many factors influence your child’s growth, including genetics, environmental factors, nutrition, activity levels, and health conditions. Another thing to consider is when babies have growth spurts, which can vary from child to child. For example, breastfed and formula-fed babies grow in slightly different patterns. Breastfed babies typically put on weight more slowly than formula-fed babies, and formula-fed infants typically go through a growth spurt and gain weight more quickly after 3 months of age.

With all these different factors at play, it’s important to assess these percentiles over time and with your child’s provider.

What Happens if My Baby’s Growth Pattern Changes?

A different growth pattern doesn’t always indicate a problem. Your child may simply be experiencing a growth spurt, which is partly why it’s so important to look at these percentiles over time. However, your child’s healthcare provider will also investigate a growth pattern change to rule out any issues. Typically, a healthy, well-nourished baby grows at a fairly predictable rate. Any change in this rate can help your baby’s provider detect and address any feeding, developmental, or medical issues.

What Happens if My Baby Is Above or Below the Average?

Most children fall between the 3rd and 97th percentiles on baby growth charts for head circumference, weight, and length (height). But if your child does not, know that there are many factors at play, and that your child’s provider will consider other developmental milestones and family genetics. Baby growth chart percentiles aren’t like an algebra exam. Just because your little one is in the 50th percentile doesn’t mean there’s a problem! In fact, that figure means your baby is right in the middle of the average. What’s more important is how your child grows over time. Plus, some families might have fast-growing babies, while others have slow and steady gainers. Regardless of what you see on your baby’s growth chart, try not to worry, and keep these individual differences in mind as you follow your child's development. If the healthcare provider determines that your baby is overweight, underweight, growing too fast, or growing too slowly, trust that your little one is in good care, and follow the provider’s recommendations.

The Bottom Line

Baby growth charts, whether for boys or girls, can be confusing at first glance. In the end, it’s always best to look at your baby’s growth chart percentiles together with their healthcare provider over time, and to avoid comparing your child to others. Instead, focus on all of the growing your little one is doing! And, if your baby’s healthcare provider says they’re on the right track, you can take pride in your little one’s progress regardless of the value on the chart. In fact, you’ll probably be delighted (and maybe even a little surprised) when you see how big your baby is now compared to the day they were born. Your little one is a moving, grooving, and growing machine, and there’s so much to look forward to, such as watching them start to crawl and walk, hearing those first laughs, and helping them develop those fine motor skills. As your baby hits milestone after milestone, reward yourself for all your hard work by earning rewards with our Pampers Club App.

Well Baby Visit: 1-Year Checkup

It's the 1-year checkup! Your baby will be more wiggly and worried about being examined than ever before, but don't worry — it's expected. Your healthcare provider's office no doubt has lots of interesting toys for children to play with, but don't be surprised if your little one wants to keep close to you when your provider comes closer.

Immunizations

Your baby will be getting quite a few shots at this visit. It doesn't help much to warn a baby this young about having shots, as her sense of time and her comprehension is limited. She'll pick up any apprehension in your voice or manner. Be there to hold your baby and distract her with a song or a game. If you stay calm and supportive, your baby won't get so upset.

• Since she'll be getting several shots at this visit, consider giving your baby a little acetaminophen for the pain. Check with your doctor first.

At This Visit, Your Provider Will Probably:

• Weigh and measure your baby. Her rate of growth will start to slow now. Click here to see our growth chart.

• Give your baby her next round of immunizations.

• Answer any questions you may have about vitamins, supplements, and your baby's diet.

• Address any concerns about your baby's growth or weight. By 1 year, she'll have about tripled her birth weight. Your baby will be growing more slowly, but steadily, in this second year.

• If your baby is too chubby, she may be drinking too much milk. Your healthcare provider will let you know if your baby's weight is out of proportion to her height and whether you should change what she's eating. Babies don't need "diets," just a healthier menu.

• Discuss juice, as many nutritional problems stem from a baby having become a juice “addict.”

What Your Healthcare Provider Will Want To Know

Every baby is different and reaches developmental milestones at unique times. Still, it's good to talk about your baby's individual development with your provider.

• Has your baby seen another healthcare provider since the last visit? If so, why? What was the outcome of that visit, and were any medications or treatments prescribed?

• Does your baby have any teeth yet? If so, how many?

• Can she pull herself to a standing position and move away from whatever is supporting her? Can she get from one place to another somehow?

• Is she walking on her own or with her hand held?

• Can she say more than "Mama" and "Dada"? If so, what?

• Does she use nonsense words and listen to conversations? Can she imitate somewhat?

• Does she turn to the sound of her name and the names of familiar objects?

• Point with her finger at things she wants or at things she wants you to notice?

• Play games like "peekaboo," and "So Big," or do gestures to favorite songs?

• Play with objects using both hands working together?

• Feed herself with her hands or drink from a cup?

• Try to imitate familiar tasks like sweeping the floor or washing her face?

• Can she look for hidden objects?

Talk It Over

• Lead testing. This may be a mandatory or an optional blood test. Discuss possible lead exposures. Many healthcare providers have a checklist to assess you child's risk for lead poisoning. If your baby lives in a house built before 1972, he'll probably need the test.

• Follow-up tests. If your baby had a previous hearing test or eye exam because of some special concern, remind your healthcare provider. It may be a good time for follow-up tests.

• Contagious diseases. If someone in your household or in frequent contact with your baby has a serious infectious disease such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, or meningitis, your baby may need to be tested.

• Recent illnesses, medications, or emergencies . If your child is taking any medication or has visited an emergency room for any reason since the last visit, let your provider know. Bring the records or medicine with you.

• Discipline. Your healthcare provider can help you with discipline, an issue on most parents' minds at this age. It's good to get some advice now because your toddler's behavior is likely to get more challenging. Get everyone in the household in on this discussion with your provider, if possible.

• Family issues. If there's been a big change in your family, such as job switch or loss, a death, a divorce, or anything that might be causing stress in the family, let your provider know. This will affect your baby, and you'll want to learn ways to help him deal with it.

• Health insurance. If you no longer have health insurance for your child, say so. There are programs available to get that coverage.

Speak Up!

There may be some issues of special concern to you or your health care provider. Let your provider know if your child:

• Can't or won't bear his weight on his legs.

• Has one or both eyes crossed, even part of the time.

• Doesn't use both hands equally.

• Doesn't use any real words, doesn't know his name, and /or doesn't babble or talk gibberish.

• Isn't crawling or moving forward in some way.

• Doesn't seem curious, exuberant, or happy most of the time, or doesn't seek out social interaction with familiar people.

• Has no fear of strangers or anxiety at separations. (Fear and anxiety in these situations are normal at this age.)

• Doesn't point at things.

• Seems to have problems with his vision or hearing.

• Has lost an ability he had before.

• Is not feeding himself.

• Chokes or gags frequently, drools, or has a hard time swallowing liquids.

Child Growth Charts | Bebbo

Submitted by useradmin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 21:24

Children's height is an indicator of their general health and nutrition.

All babies and children grow at a different pace, and "normal" is not an exact value, but rather a wide range. Your child is unique and grows at the pace and schedule that suits them.

Spending time with your baby, you will see him growing better than anyone else. You will notice that his clothes, cradles, baby bath, or other things that seemed huge when he was just born are getting small.

Growth charts are used by healthcare professionals and parents to track the growth and development of a child in the first years of life. The child's growth dynamics is calculated based on the World Health Organization growth standards. These standards best describe the physiological development of children from birth to five years of age and are based on observational data from 8500 children from all over the world, including Europe. The Z score, or standard deviation score, is a measure of children's height. It indicates where your child's height is relative to the average.

Growth charts are charts that show your child's length or height, weight and head circumference at a given age. Your pediatrician or nurse regularly measures your child and plots the measurements on a chart. It is best to enter the results of these measurements into the mobile phone application so that your child's growth charts are always at hand and available to you.