Growth chart how tall

Doctors could see that by looking at a growth chart. Not necessarily. Doctors consider the growth charts along with a child's overall well-being, environment, and genetic background. For example:.

Girls and boys are measured on different growth charts because they grow in different patterns and at different rates. And one set of charts is used for babies, from birth to 36 months. Another set is used for kids and teens ages 2—20 years old. Also, special growth charts can be used for children with certain conditions, such as Down syndrome , or who were born early. Until babies are 36 months old, doctors measure weight, length, and head circumference distance around the largest part of the head.

With older kids, doctors measure weight, height, and body mass index BMI. It's important to look at and compare weight and height measurements to get a full picture of a child's growth. In babies, head circumference can give clues about brain development. If a baby's head is bigger or smaller than most other kids' or the head stops growing or grows too quickly, it may mean there is a problem.

For example, an unusually large head may be a sign of hydrocephalus , a buildup of fluid inside the brain. A head that's smaller than average may be a sign that the brain is not developing properly or has stopped growing.

Percentiles are measurements that show where a child is compared with other kids. On the growth charts, the percentiles are shown as lines drawn in curved patterns. When doctors plot a child's weight and height on the chart, they see which percentile line those measurements land on:.

Being in a high or a low percentile doesn't necessarily mean that a child is healthier or has a growth or weight problem. Let's say that the 4-year-old boy who is in the 10th percentile for weight is also in the 10th percentile for height. That just shows that he's smaller than average, which usually doesn't mean there is a problem. Normal and aberrant growth in children. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology.

La Charite J. Nutrition and growth. The Harriet Lane Handbook. Updated by: Neil K. Editorial team. Growth chart. Learning a few important facts can make it easier for parents to understand what different measurements mean: Mistakes in measurement can happen, for example if the baby squirms on the scale. One measurement may not represent the big picture. For example, a toddler may lose weight after a bout of diarrhea, but will likely regain the weight after the illness is gone.

There is a wide range for what is considered "normal. Your child's measurements do not predict whether they will be tall, short, fat, or skinny as an adult. Some changes to your child's growth chart may worry your provider more than others: When one of your child's measurements stays below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile for their age. If the head is growing too slowly or too quickly when measured over time. Growth charts are not intended to be used as a sole diagnostic instrument.

Instead, growth charts are tools that contribute to forming an overall clinical impression for the child being measured. National Center for Health Statistics. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.