
Growth Chart Calculator for Children
It's natural to be curious (and sometimes a bit anxious!) about your child's height and weight. Fortunately, a growth chart can help answer your questions or ease any worries. But do work with your pediatrician when assessing your child's milestones to make informed decisions.
Keep reading to understand how this tool and ParenTeam's easy-to-use growth calculator can help give your child the healthiest possible start.
What Are Growth Charts?
A growth chart helps your doctor monitor your child's physical development. It tracks weight, height (or length for kids under 2), and head circumference, especially during infancy. The head size, usually measured until your child is 3 years old, tells your doctor if your child’s brain is growing normally.
Doctors usually use the World Health Organization's (WHO) Growth Charts, which show the typical growth patterns of children aged 0-3 years. WHO provides standard growth charts for girls and boys until 5 years.
Interpreting Percentiles in Growth Charts
When your doctor plots your child’s measurements on a growth chart, they'll see where your child's percentile falls on the standardized curve based on data collected from thousands of children of the same age and sex.
Since your pediatrician tracks your child's growth during each wellness checkup, they look at the patterns that emerge (not a single number) from your child's records. The percentile shows how your child fares against the average over time and flags your pediatrician that something may be off.
A child who's always been in the 10th percentile for height and continues along that curve is often growing just fine. However, if they suddenly drop from the 50th to the 10th percentile, that’s something your pediatrician may want to investigate further.
Growth Milestones by Age

Some kids sprout early, others take their time, and both can be perfectly normal.
Every kid develops differently. Many factors can influence growth, including genetics, nutrition, and overall health. What matters most is consistency, not hitting a particular number at any given age. Here’s what pediatricians generally expect during each stage:
Middle childhood years (6–10 years)
Between ages 6 to 10 years, a child will grow at a steady pace. A final growth spurt begins at puberty, sometime between ages 9 to 15.
Preschool years (1–5 years)
Once your child hits their first birthday, growth slows down.
- Between ages 1 and 2, toddlers typically gain about 5 pounds (2.2 kg). From ages 2 to 5, weight gain continues at roughly the same yearly rate.
- By age 5, children are usually about twice their birth height.
- Most boys reach half their adult height by age 2, while girls tend to reach that point slightly earlier, around 19 months.
- A kid's brain reaches 75% of its adult size by age 1. By age 5, it grows to 80%; by age 7, it reaches about 90% of its adult size.
Infancy (0–12 months)
Your child grows rapidly in their first year of life.
- Children between 1 and 4 months old typically gain 1.5 to 2 pounds (0.7 to 0.9 kg) per month and grow about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) in length.
- By 4 to 6 months, a child’s weight is usually double their birth weight. By their first birthday, many little ones will have tripled their birth weight.
- The head circumference may measure about 14 inches (about 35 cm). A child's brain is about 25% of its future adult size at birth.
How to Accurately Measure Your Child's Growth
After birth, your doctor will use scales to weigh your child and a tape measure or measuring bed to record their length. Your doctor will measure head circumference from above the eyebrows and ears and around the back of the head.
While you can take measurements of your child's growth at home, let healthcare professionals do it (and spare you the stress). They have the training and will know better what the numbers mean for your child's health. And if you ever have questions between checkups, you’re always welcome to ask.
After your child's pediatrician's visit, you can use ParenTeam's growth calculator, which uses WHO's length/height-for-age standards, to plug in their latest measurements so you can track their development.
Add your child’s weight and height in the growth calculator below:
Weight curve
Height curve
Add the Growth tracker to your profile and start tracking your baby growth
Frequently Asked Questions About Children’s Growth Chart
Just remember: kids come in all shapes and sizes and grow at different rates. Growth charts don't predict how tall or how much they "should" weigh. They give you and your doctor a head start in figuring out why. Let's answer some of your frequently asked questions.
What is the normal growth rate for children?
The normal growth rate for children varies, but on average, they tend to double their birth weight by around 6 months and triple it by their first birthday. Height also increases during the first year, with steady growth typically observed.
However, every child is unique, and growth patterns can differ. If you are tracking your child's growth, make sure you're using a growth chart for children and consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and interpretation of the growth charts.
What is a good percentile for child's growth?
The percentile helps your doctor check your child's growth pattern over time.
Growth charts use 'percentiles' to represent growth trajectories of different groups of children.
Growth charts use 'percentiles' to represent growth trajectories of different groups of children.
There is no specific "good" percentile, as growth patterns vary between children. As long as your child steadily follows their growth curve, whether on the 10th or 90th percentile, it is considered normal and healthy. Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and to ensure your child's growth is on track.
Are children’s growth charts accurate?
Growth charts for children are valuable tools healthcare professionals use to monitor a child’s growth and development. Using these growth charts, a trained healthcare professional can accurately interpret and assess your kid's health.
However, these percentile growth charts are only one way to measure whether your child is growing healthily. Growth charts offer a general guideline, but individual factors such as genetics and health can influence a child's growth.
When should I worry about my child's growth?
If you notice a significant deviation from your child’s growth chart, such as a sudden drop or plateau in weight or height, it may be a good idea to talk to your healthcare professional about it. Additionally, if your child consistently falls below the 5th percentile or above the 95th percentile. Every child is different, so it may not be a cause for worry, but it’s worth getting checked out by a healthcare professional for further evaluation and guidance.
What's your child’s latest growth milestone? Share this exciting time with fellow moms-to-be at ParenTeam's Facebook group!
References
Graber, Evan G. “Physical Growth of Infants and Children.” MSD Manual Consumer Version, January 17, 2025. https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/growth-and-development/physical-growth-of-infants-and-children#Length-and-Height_v8953338.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “Normal Growth,” n.d. “Normal Growth and Development: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia,” n.d. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002456.htm.
“Normal Growth and Development: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia,” n.d. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002456.htm.
HealthyChildren.org. “Your Baby’s Physical Appearance & Growth: 1 to 4 Months,” n.d. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Physical-Appearance-and-Growth-1-To-3-Months.aspx.
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