Child Growth Chart Calculator - Muhamad Nawfal Aisy

What can my toddler's growth chart tell me?

Your child's growth chart can give you a general picture of how your toddler is developing physically. By comparing your child's measurements — weight, length, and head circumference — to national averages for children of the same age and sex, and to measurements from previous checkups, the doctor can determine whether your toddler is following a healthy overall growth pattern.

Don't get too hung up on your child's percentiles, though. While the current growth charts (released in November 2000 and based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Public Health Service) are a vast improvement over earlier charts, they're not the last word on how your child is doing. The most important thing is that your toddler is growing at a steady, appropriate rate, not that he's hit some magic number.

What does "percentile" mean?

It's easiest to explain this by example. If your 18-month-old son is in the 40th percentile for weight and the 80th for height, for instance, that means 40 percent of 18-month-old boys in the United States weigh the same as or less than your child and 60 percent weigh more. Similarly, 80 percent of boys his age are the same length as or shorter than your child and 20 percent are longer. To chart your toddler's growth at home, try our growth percentile calculator.

My toddler is only in the 25th percentile. Isn't that small?

If your toddler has always hovered around the 25th percentile in both height and weight, your doctor won't be concerned that 75 percent of boys his age are bigger than he is. What's important to remember is that your doctor is watching how your child grows, not just how much.

Keep in mind that toddlers tend to go through rapid growth spurts as well as slow periods. The doctor will note individual peaks and valleys, but she'll be more concerned with the overall pattern.

When should I worry?

You should be concerned if your toddler's percentile changes significantly. For instance, if he's consistently been around the 50th percentile for weight and then down into the 15th, your doctor will want to figure out why. She'll consider whether there could be a serious medical reason for the change that needs further evaluation. Of course, a minor illness or a change in your toddler's eating patterns might result in a smaller drop, in which case the doctor may just want to follow your child's growth more closely for a while.

If your toddler hasn't been sick but his weight gain is slowing relative to the curve he's been on, the doctor may suggest increasing his food intake at meals and snacks. You may be asked to come in for more frequent visits to make sure that your toddler starts gaining weight again.

Of course, there are times when gaining or losing faster than usual is a good thing. If your toddler was underweight, for example, it may be great that he's increased his usual curve, and if he was overweight, a drop in his curve in response to efforts to head off obesity would also be very positive.

Generally, doctors will look more closely at children who fall in the extreme percentile ranges — above 95 percent and below 5 percent — in any area. Sometimes extreme measurements are no cause for concern.

If your toddler is very short and both of his parents are unusually short, for example, then it may be perfectly appropriate for him to fall in the lowest 5 percent range. But if your child is very short and both of his parents are of average height or taller, or if he's very slender and both his parents are of average or larger than average weight, then the doctor will want to make sure that there's no problem with his growth (like a hormone deficiency or genetic problem).

On the other hand, if your toddler is in the highest 5 percent range, the doctor will watch his growth to make sure he isn't headed for obesity. She may counsel you about his diet and make sure that there isn't a condition (like a thyroid problem) that's contributing to the extra weight.

If your toddler's head measurement is much smaller than average, the doctor will want to make sure that his brain is growing and developing normally, since your child's brain growth is reflected in the size of his skull. If his head circumference is much larger than average, she'll further evaluate him to make sure that he isn't suffering from a dangerous condition called hydrocephalus (excess fluid in the brain).

Can I tell from my toddler's size now how big he'll be as an adult?

Not with any certainty. Petite toddlers sometimes grow to be strapping adults and large toddlers can become slender over the years. A child's parents are the best indicator — are they tall, short, or average? Slender, heavy, or medium? Chances are the toddler will be similarly built as an adult.

Based on the data you submitted, your child falls into the following percentiles:
Length = between percentile 75 and 90
Weight = between percentile 25 and 50
Head Circumference = above percentile 95