Is My Child Growing Well?

Children come in different sizes and shapes. Though your child may be taller or shorter, heavier or lighter than other children the same age, changes in height and weight generally follow a regular pattern that is right for your child. Babies also grow at different rates — for example, breastfed babies tend to grow more quickly than non-breastfed babies in the first 6 months, and more slowly in the second 6 months.

Why keep track of my child's growth?

The way your child grows says a lot about her health — growing too fast or too slowly can be a sign of possible problems with health or nutrition. From birth, your child's weight and length/height should be measured regularly to see how he's growing over time; babies and toddlers should also have their head circumference measured.

How often should my child be weighed and measured?

Your child should be weighed and measured at all regularly scheduled well-child visits and/or when ill. Typical well-child visits occur within one to two weeks of birth, at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months, and once per year for children over two and for adolescents.

How is my child's growth tracked?

A growth chart is a graph used to track your child's growth pattern — each time your child is measured, the new weight and length/height are marked on the chart, showing whether your child is growing in a healthy way. Your child's growth chart is kept as part of her health record into adulthood, and you can ask to see it at each visit. The WHO Growth Charts are the recommended tool for tracking a healthy term infant, child or teen's growth, and are used in many countries around the world.

How do I know if my child is growing well?

Many things affect a child's growth, including eating and physical activity habits, environment, and parents' height. If your child is growing well, his head circumference, weight and length/height will follow (or "track") along the same growth lines over time. Remember, all children have a pattern of growth that's natural for them — regular measurements over time will show your child's own special growth pattern.