Height and weight chart

Growth chart

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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.

Threre is a wide range for what is considered "normal." Just because your child is in the 15th percentile for weight (meaning 85 out of 100 children weigh more), this number rarely means your child is sick, you're not feeding your child enough, or your breast milk is not enough for your baby.

Your child's measurements do not predict whether he or she will be tall, short, fat, or skinny as an adult.

Some changes to your child's growth chart may worry your health care provider more than others:

When one of your child's measurements stays below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile for his or her age.

If the head is growing too slowly or too quickly when measured over time.

When your child's measurement does not stay close to one line on the graph. For example, a health care provider may worry if a 6-month-old was in the 75th percentile, but then moved to the 25th percentile at 9 months, and dropped even lower at 12 months.

Abonormal growth on the growth charts is only a sign of a possible problem. Your doctor will determine whether it is an actual medical problem, or whether your child's growth just needs to be watched carefully.