Growth Charts - Clinical Growth Charts (2024)

The clinical growth charts reflect modifications in the format of the individual charts, whereby two individual charts appear on a single page, and data entry tables have been added. The clinical charts have the grids scaled to metric units (kg, cm), with English units (lb, in) as the secondary scale. Clinical charts are available for boys and for girls. The available clinical charts include the following:

Infants, birth to 36 months:

Length-for-age and Weight-for-age
Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length

Children and adolescents, 2 to 20 years

Stature-for-age and Weight-for-age
BMI-for-age

Preschoolers, 2 to 5 years

Weight-for-stature

The clinical charts for infants and older children were published in two sets.

Set 1 contains 10 charts (5 for boys and 5 for girls), with the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th smoothed percentile lines for all charts, and the 85th percentile for BMI-for-age and weight-for-stature.
Set 2 contains 10 charts (5 for boys and 5 for girls), with the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th smoothed percentile lines for all charts, and the 85th percentile for BMI-for-age and weight-for-stature.

Set 1 has the outer limits of the curves at the 5th and 95th percentiles. These are the charts that most users in the United States will find useful for the majority of routine clinical assessments. Set 2 has the outer limits of the curves at the 3rd and 97th percentiles for selected applications. Pediatric endocrinologists and others who assess the growth of children with special health care requirements may wish to use the format in set 2 for selected applications.

Two summary files, each with all 10 clinical charts in set 1 or set 2 are also available. These summary files contain the clinical charts from either set 1 or set 2 as described above.

Infants (birth to 24 months) must be measured for length, and the sex appropriate length-for-age or weight-for-length charts for infants, birth to 36 months must be used to plot the measurements. At age 24 months and older, if children can stand unassisted and follow directions, stature should be measured and plotted on the stature-for-age chart for children (2 to 20 years). Otherwise, between 24 and 36 months, length can be used in place of stature.

To view, print, and reproduce clinical growth charts

All clinical growth charts may be viewed, downloaded, and printed in Adobe Acrobat. For routine viewing on a computer monitor and printing on a laser printer, the individual charts are available as PDF files (Black and White). All clinical charts have been colorized for viewing and printing. When routed to a color printer, the clinical charts for boys will print in blue and the clinical charts for girls will print in red. Otherwise, these same charts can be routed to a black-and-white printer, and will print in black-and-white. Higher resolution PDF files (Color) are available to provide the highest resolution and are intended to be used as a high quality print master for quantity production when using the services of a commercial printing facility. The recommended ink colors for printing are Pantone 206 red (for girls) and Pantone 286 blue (for boys). The recommended paper weight is 80#. Charts should be printed as two-sided copies, in the following combinations for each sex:

Infants, birth to 36 months:

Side 1: Length for age + Weight-for-age
Side 2: Head circumference-for-age + Weight-for-length

Children and adolescents, 2 to 20 years:

Side 1: Stature-for-age + Weight-for-length
Side 2: BMI-for-age or
Weight-for-stature (age 2 to 5 years only)

Set 1: Clinical charts with 5th and 95th percentiles

Birth to 36 months (5th-95th percentile)

Boys Length-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 4/20/01
Color [PDF – 44 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 44 KB] Modified 4/20/01
French Version, Color [PDF – 44 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 200 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Length-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Boys Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 48 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version Color [PDF – 52 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version Color [PDF – 56 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 236 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Head circumference-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-length charts

Girls Length-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 4/20/01
Color [PDF – 40 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 50 KB] Modified 4/20/01
French Version, Color [PDF – 44 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 401 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Length-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Girls Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 55 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 60 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 55 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 440 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Head circumference-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-length charts

Children 2 to 20 years (5th-95th percentile)

Boys Stature-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 11/21/00
Color [PDF – 77 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 63 KB] Modified 11/21/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 78 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 260 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Stature-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Boys BMI-for-age

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 61 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 50 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 64 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 183 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of BMI-for-age charts

Girls Stature-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 11/21/00
Color [PDF – 77 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 62 KB] Modified 11/21/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 79 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 499 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Stature-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Girls BMI-for-age

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 61 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 51 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 64 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 339 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of BMI-for-age charts

Optional Chart (5th-95th percentile)

Boys Weight-for-stature

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 41 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 180 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Weight-for-stature charts

Girls Weight-for-stature

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 41 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 334 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Weight-for-stature charts

Set 2: Clinical charts with 3rd and 97th percentiles

Birth to 36 months (3rd -97th percentile)

Boys Length-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 4/20/01
Color [PDF – 47 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 47 KB] Modified 4/20/01
French Version, Color [PDF – 44 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 201 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Length-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Boys Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 52 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 53 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 51 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 223 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Head circumference-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-length charts

Girls Length-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 4/20/01
Color [PDF – 48 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 48 KB] Modified 4/20/01
French Version, Color [PDF – 45 KB] Modified 4/20/01
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 390 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Length-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Girls Head circumference-for-age and Weight-for-length

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 53 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 54 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 52 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 434 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Head circumference-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-length charts

Children 2 to 20 years (3rd-97th percentile)

Boys Stature-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 11/21/00
Color [PDF – 83 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 61 KB] Modified 11/21/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 79 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-ready [PDF – 250 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Stature-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Boys BMI-for-age

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 68 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 52 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 66 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 173 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of BMI-for-age charts

Girls Stature-for-age and Weight-for-age

Modified 11/21/00
Color [PDF – 84 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 62 KB] Modified 11/21/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 81 KB] Modified 11/21/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 488 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Stature-for-age charts
Data table of Weight-for-age charts

Girls BMI-for-age

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 58 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Spanish Version, Color [PDF – 52 KB] Modified 10/16/00
French Version, Color [PDF – 67 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 334 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of BMI-for-age charts

Optional Chart (3rd-97th percentile)

Boys Weight-for-stature

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 34 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 168 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Weight-for-stature charts

Girls Weight-for-stature

Modified 10/16/00
Color [PDF – 46 KB] Modified 10/16/00
Modified 9/15/05
Color Press-Ready [PDF – 323 KB] Modified 9/15/05
Data table of Weight-for-stature charts

Growth Charts - Clinical Growth Charts (2024)

FAQs

What is considered normal on a growth chart? ›

What is considered a normal growth rate?

Age	Height - Females (in inches)	Height - Males (in inches)
1	27 to 31	28 to 32
2	31.5 to 36	32 to 37
3	34.5 to 40	35.5 to 40.5
4	37 to 42.5	37.5 to 43

7 more rows

Keep Reading ›

Should I use CDC or Who growth charts? ›

Recommendation. CDC recommends that health care providers: Use the WHO growth charts to monitor growth for infants and children ages 0 to 2 years of age in the U.S. Use the CDC growth charts to monitor growth for children age 2 years and older in the U.S.

Are growth charts always accurate? ›

Not necessarily. Doctors consider the growth charts along with a child's overall well-being, environment, and genetic background. For example: Is the child meeting other developmental milestones?

Tell Me More ›

What does 92 percentile mean for weight? ›

Anyone who falls between the 5th percentile and the 85th percentile is a healthy weight. If someone is at or above the 85th percentile line on the chart (but less than the 95th percentile) is overweight. A BMI measurement at or over the 95th percentile line on the chart puts someone in the obese range.

Show Me More ›

What growth percentile is concerning? ›

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends cutoff values of +2 standard deviations, which correspond to the 2.3rd and 97.7th percentiles, to define abnormal growth.

See Details ›

When should parents worry with regards to growth charts? ›

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.

What are the disadvantages of growth charts? ›

Growth and size are not equivalent. Whether or not the individual is growing normally is more complicated and not part of the information content that a growth chart aims to provide. This is not always appreciated by the manner in which growth charts are employed.

Get More Info ›

What age do growth charts stop? ›

When a child reaches age 24 months, health care providers need to switch from using the WHO growth standards charts to using the CDC growth reference charts for children ages 2 years up through 19 years.

Read On ›

Which growth chart is best? ›

CDC recommends that the BMI-for-age charts be used to screen for underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity in all children and teens.

View Details ›

Do low percentile babies catch up? ›

If there are no other complications, most babies born with a low birth weight eventually 'catch up' to their peers. In later life, however, people who were born smaller than average may be more likely to develop health problems such as: diabetes. obesity.

Learn More Now ›

What is the 99th percentile baby? ›

Below the 3rd percentile is at risk for underweight. In the 3rd percentile to below the 85th percentile is at a healthy weight. In the 85th percentile to the 97th percentile is at risk for overweight. Above the 97th percentile to the 99.9th percentile is overweight. Above the 99th percentile is obese.

Know More ›

Do growth charts predict final height? ›

In routine clinical practice, height is assessed by using normative data based on growth charts and operationalized through percentiles. However, the cross-sectional nature of existing growth curves causes low accuracy in the prediction of final height, particularly during puberty.

See Details ›

What percentile does a baby's head circumference drop? ›

Head circumference

Very rapid head growth with upward centile crossing can be a sign of hydrocephalus or other problems while slowing of head growth, with a fall down the centiles may also be a sign of underlying problems of brain or skull growth and development.

Tell Me More ›

What percentile should my baby be at 22 weeks? ›

their 18-22 week anatomy US are likely to either have a subsequent EFW or birth weight >10th percentile.

Get More Info ›

What weight percentile is too low? ›

Here's how BMI percentiles correspond to weight for children age 24 months and older, according to the CDC: 4th percentile or lower: underweight. 5th to 84th percentile: healthy weight. 85th to 94th percentile: overweight.

Know More ›

What is considered a normal growth rate? ›

Children during the first year of life should grow 7-10 inches. During the second year growth slows to an average of 5 inches /year. During the third year growth averages 3 inches/year. From age 4 years until puberty, growth should be at least 2 inches per year.

Learn More Now ›

What is considered a good growth rate? ›

Ideal business growth rates vary by the type of business and industry as well as the stage that the business is at in its development. In general, however, a healthy growth rate should be sustainable for the company. In most cases, an ideal growth rate will be around 15 and 25% annually.

Discover More Details ›

What is the normal range for growth factor? ›

The normal range for GH level is typically: For adult males -- 0.05 to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) For adult females -- 0.05 to 8 ng/mL. For children -- varies with age and gender, ask your provider what is normal for your child.

What is the normal growth profile? ›

Common variants of normal growth

Expect a normal bone age and a trajectory that is on track for the target height. Constitutional growth delay: Benign variant of normal height growth due to a delay in the onset of puberty. Expect a delayed bone age and a trajectory that is not on track for the target height.

Read On ›