Growth and weight standards for children from 0 to 10 years: WHO tables and calculator

In order to determine how well the baby is growing and developing, it is important to know whether its growth and weight correspond to a certain norm. But after all, all children are different, so the reference values ​​of these parameters, which were used earlier, are far from always informative. What will help parents better orient themselves in this question - read in our article.

Source: Shutterstock

This is a convenient calculator, which in three simple steps will show the norms of growth and weight of a baby from 0 to 12 months. All that needs to be done:

• choose the gender of the child
• choose the age of the child

In this article you will find a lot of useful information, including height and weight standards for children from 1 to 10 years old. If the calculator turns out to be useful, write to us in the comments and we will enter into it the height and weight standards of children over one year old.

[calculator]

Every baby develops in its own way. But there are certain norms of growth and weight gain for a child of the first year of life. All parents should know them in order to understand whether the baby is developing correctly and, in case of alarm bells, to seek qualified help from a pediatrician in time.

Weight gain and growth are the main indicators of a child's health. That is why, during the monthly preventive examination, pediatricians record the increase in weight by month, as well as how many centimeters the baby has grown in a month.

You will find information about the dynamics of the child's development and the table of norms for growth and weight of babies in the article:

• What is the height and weight table of the WHO child
• What are the child's height and weight tables for?
• How to measure a child's height at home
• How to measure a child's weight
• WHO tables of height and weight of a child
• Table 1: Weight of girls in the first year of life (in kg)
• Table 2: Growth of girls in the first year of life (in cm)
• Table 3: Weight of boys of the first year of life (in kg)
• Table 4: Growth of boys in the first year of life (in cm)
• Table 5: Correspondence of height and weight in girls up to one year
• Table 6: Correspondence of height and weight in boys up to one year old
• Table 7: Weight of girls by age (in kg)
• Table 8: Growth of girls by age (in cm)
• Table 9: Weight of boys by age (in kg)
• Table 10: Growth of boys by age (in cm)
• Signs of underweight and recommendations for parents

According to WHO, the body weight of a healthy child at birth ranges from 2,8 to 4 kg. It is important to understand that the weight norms of children up to a year also depend on the gender of the child.

It is known that in the first days of life, a child loses about 6-8% of its body weight at birth. The loss of body weight continues for about 3-4 days, and then the weight of the newborn is restored by 7-8 days. Sometimes the recovery process lasts up to two weeks.

The following indicators are used to calculate the weight gain of a newborn in the first year of life:
in the first half of the year, weight increases by 800 g on average every month;
in the second half of the year - by 400 g.

From the 5th to the 12th week, the baby is actively gaining body weight, as the baby can consume up to 250 ml of breast milk per day. A monthly weight gain of up to 600 g to 2 kg is considered normal.

From 6 months, the increase in the child's body weight decreases due to his increased motor activity.

From 6 to 9 months, they usually start giving babies complementary foods (fermented milk products, cereals, vegetables, fruit purees, later meat and vegetables). During this period, weight gain per month reaches from 600 grams to 1,5 kg.

From 10 to 12 months, the increase in body weight fluctuates within the limits of 300-900 grams per month.
It is important to remember that in order for the baby to grow and develop properly, it must be fed on demand, but at least 4 times a day (and at night, if the child is hungry).

Many parents also worry about whether their baby is growing fast enough.
To calculate the indicators of proper growth of children up to one year old, the following average data of body length increase are used:
the first 3 months — 3 cm each,
second 3 months — 2,5 cm each,
third trimester — 2 cm each;
the fourth quarter — 1-1,5 cm each.
In the first hour, the length of the baby's body increases by one and a half times that which was at birth.

Specialists from the World Health Organization decided to review the norms and conducted a global study that lasted about 5 years. Thus, in 2006, updated standards for children's height and weight appeared, which were presented in the form of tables and graphs reflecting the dynamics of children's development.

What is the height and weight table of the WHO child

The WHO norms take into account the parameters of the baby at birth, age and gender. At the same time, there is a certain "fork" of values, deviated from the ideal value, which fit into the norm. Now these tables are used by pediatricians all over the world to monitor the child's development, but it is quite realistic that mothers will master this science as well.

A group of specialists who reviewed the standards recommended an original approach: create a standard, not a standard. Strictly speaking, the benchmark serves as an "anchor" for comparisons, while the standard allows for both comparisons and assessment of growth adequacy. Thus, a new framework is created that describes how children should grow up, not only when they do not have diseases, but also when they are raised using healthy methods, for example, breastfeeding and creating a smoke-free environment.

What are the child's height and weight tables for?

It is clear that it is not at all to proudly tell other mothers or to prove to the grandmother that everything is fine with you and you are a good mother. It makes sense to consult the WHO tables of the child's height and weight in order to understand whether the child has serious deviations that can indicate both the wrong question and any diseases. And also in order to stop worrying that he "doesn't eat anything at all" and to give up food violence.

Source: freepik

Tatyana Volokha

pediatrician at the Ameda Family Clinic

Growth and weight parameters are the main indicators of the baby's physical development. Based on the ratio of height and weight, the pediatrician can identify feeding errors in advance and give parents recommendations on the correct feeding in a timely manner. In older children, the deviation of these indicators from the norm can indicate mainly the wrong mode of rest and physical activity, overeating or unbalanced nutrition, less often the presence of chronic diseases.

It is also necessary to take into account the parameters of both parents, because if dad and mom are below the average height, then the height and weight of the child may be below the indicators of the majority of his peers.

How to measure a child's height at home

A child under the age of 2 should be measured in a lying position. At the same time, you need to choose a time when the baby is not hungry, calm and satisfied with life, you can do this even with a sleeping baby, but very carefully. Place the child on a flat horizontal surface - you can use a table and two supports - for the legs and head (in the doctor's office there are special height meters). After removing the child, measure the distance between the stops, making sure that they do not move. Such measurements are best performed with an assistant or in the doctor's office.

Source: who.int

The height measurement of a child older than 2 years is carried out standing up - the child must be barefoot, with his back against a vertical plane (for example, a wall). The heels and back of the head, buttocks and shoulder blades should touch the wall, the head should be positioned in such a way that the imaginary line from the ear canal to the outer edge of the eye is parallel to the floor (you can hold the child by the chin). If you do not have a height meter like in the medical office, put a book to the child's head so that it is parallel to the floor and draw a line on the wall in the place that reflects the contact of the book with the top of the head. Measure the length from the floor to your mark.

Source: who.int

It's important! There is a difference between a child's height (measured in a vertical position) and body length (in a horizontal position) and it is approximately 0,7 cm. That is, the height in the standing position is less than the length in the lying position. In the WHO tables, body length data is used for children under 2 years of age, and height data is used for older children. This means that if you measure the baby in a different way, adjust the value (add or subtract 0,7 cm from the received value)

Source: Instagram @agu24.ru

How to measure a child's weight

Weight measurement is carried out either with the child completely undressed or with a minimum of clothing (for example, thin panties). You can measure the weight of babies up to a year old on special children's scales. From a year to 2 years old, it is recommended to weigh the child in the mother's arms - first the mother (or another adult) stands on the scale, the scale is zeroed, and then the adult takes the child in his arms. If your scales do not know how to zero, then simply subtract your weight from the total weight of your and the baby.

If an older child can stand on the scales for some time without moving, he can be weighed in exactly the same way as an adult.

WHO tables of height and weight of a child

Table 1: Weight of girls in the first year of life (in kg)

Table 2: Growth of girls in the first year of life (in cm)

Table 3: Weight of boys of the first year of life (in kg)

Table 4: Growth of boys in the first year of life (in cm)

Correspondence of height and weight in girls up to one year

Table 5 *

Correspondence of height and weight in boys up to one year

Table 6 *

* Height in cm in the first column, weight in kg in the others.

Tatyana Volokha

pediatrician at the Ameda Family Clinic

To determine the harmonious development of the child, pediatricians also use sigma and centile tables. At the reception, the pediatrician measures the height and weight of the baby, and in children up to one year, the circumference of the hip, shoulder, and calf is also measured to determine the level of development of subcutaneous fat.

Table 7: Weight of girls by age (in kg.)

Table 8: Growth of girls by age (in cm.)

Table 9: Weight of boys by age (in kg.)

Table 10: Growth of boys by age (in cm.)

Tatyana Volokha

pediatrician at the Ameda Family Clinic

Do not miss scheduled visits to your pediatrician. From the age of 1 month to 6 - monthly, from 6 months to 1 year - twice a month, then at 1,5 years, then at 2 and 3 years. Control of the child's growth and weight indicators and timely elimination of errors in the matter ensure the harmonious development of the child from an early age.

It is also important to understand that there is no point in taking measurements too often — this, most likely, will not be informative, but can turn into an obsession.

Signs of underweight
and recommendations for parents

Knowing the norms of a child's weight gain and growth, every parent will be able to monitor whether the baby is gaining weight, growing and developing properly. It is important to understand that every child develops according to its individual program, in 10% of children the indicators may differ from the generally accepted norms.

But there are cases when there are signs of a clear deficiency in everything.

Hypotrophy — this term designates underweight in infants.

The reason for underweight can be:

• frequent ARVI;
• anemia;
• rickets;
• dysbiosis;
• endocrine dysfunction.

Sharp weight gain or a significant deficiency should be a reason to be alert. It is worth contacting a pediatrician if there are significant deviations from the standard tabular indicators. It is also worth immediately showing the child to a pediatrician if the child has such symptoms.

Symptoms of underweight in a baby:

• the child is restless or, on the contrary, too lethargic;
• bloated stomach;
• violation of stool (delays or too frequent);
• the baby's skin is dry, pale, prone to peeling;
• there are no natural folds on the legs and handles;
• muscle tone is low, the baby holds his head poorly.

What to do in case of underweight? First of all, it is necessary to determine the ego's reasons. Most often, this is connected with the wrong nutrition of the baby.

First of all, it can be due to a lack of breast milk (problems with lactation can occur due to a mother's genetic predisposition to low lactation, stress, and other conditions). To establish lactation, seek help from a breastfeeding specialist.

The child's sucking reflex is poorly manifested if there are conditions that make it difficult to suck (heart defects, neurological diseases). Also, the reason may be the wrong position for feeding: the baby is uncomfortable, he does not eat.

Diseases of the oral cavity in a newborn (aftha, injuries), which cause discomfort, also lead to the fact that the baby does not eat.

Another reason is unbalanced nutrition after half a year or refusal of supplementary food. A child's diet must contain a sufficient amount of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates of plant and animal origin.

The increase in everything by months may be incorrect if the child was born before the due date.
Children who are on artificial feeding are less likely to gain weight.

Insufficiently caloric food (in the mother's diet on HF does not have enough of all the necessary nutrients) also contributes to underweight in the baby.

A metabolic disorder is also possible (the pediatrician will help diagnose it during the consultation and after passing the necessary tests).

Sometimes it happens that the child is simply too active and burns all the calories. Then there is no need to worry, the main thing is that the baby is happy.

To prevent the development of any pathologies in the child's development, timely check the ratio of height and weight of children up to a year old, do not hesitate to ask questions to the pediatrician at the monthly examination.