Charts of growth, weight and other important indicators of child development according to WHO

Parents frequently question whether their child’s development is proceeding as it should. Numerous critical metrics, ranging from weight to height, can provide information about a child’s health and wellbeing.

Detailed growth charts are available from the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist in monitoring these significant anniversaries. These charts can be used as a reference to compare a child’s development to international norms, providing parents with early warning of potential issues or reassurance.

Gaining an understanding of these growth charts will enable you to monitor your child’s development and make sure they are developing robustly and healthily at every stage.

Age (Years)	Average Weight (kg)	Average Height (cm)	Head Circumference (cm)
0-1	3.5-10	50-75	34-47
1-2	10-13	75-90	47-50
2-3	13-16	90-98	50-51
3-5	16-20	98-110	51-52
5-7	20-25	110-125	52-53

Based on what data are tables and graphs built?

WHO standards up until 1997 merely documented the parameters of children’s growth. The majority of tables, though, were made using data on kids who were receiving artificial feeding. All standards have since been updated and are now based on indicators of breastfed children. In addition to demonstrating how children should develop, standards aid in determining whether an intervention is necessary to promote a child’s healthy growth and development.

The health of children from various nations around the world was taken into consideration when developing the current standards. When health professionals compare a child’s physical development indicators with these standards, they can quickly identify signs such as excessive or insufficient weight gain.

• The green line on the graphs can be called the golden mean, this indicator is typical for most children and is considered optimal.
• Black lines are the boundaries of the normal set of indicators, but approaching it should not worry.
• If the weight goes beyond the black lines, you should consult with specialists.

World Health Organization (WHO) charts are vital resources for monitoring a child’s weight, height, and general development. Parents and medical professionals can use these charts to monitor whether a child’s physical development is in line with international standards because they offer clear benchmarks. You can quickly identify any deviations from normal growth patterns by comparing a child’s measurements to these charts and, if necessary, taking appropriate action.

Norms and measurements

Height

The length of a baby’s body can be measured using a centimeter tape. With his head resting on the side, the infant is placed on a table or bed. Once the infant’s legs are straight, measure the distance from the side to the line that has been marked beneath the heels. An older child’s height is measured with a stadiometer.

Girls’ heights from birth to age five:

Girls aged 5 to 19 in height:

Boys’ birthweight from birth to age five:

Boys aged 5 to 19 years old’s height:

Weight

Newborns and young children up to a year old are weighed using special children’s scales. The child must be undressed in order to ensure reliability, and the indicator is obtained after deducting the weight of the diaper from the scale.

Girls’ weight from birth to age five:

Weight of girls aged five to ten:

Boys’ weight from birth to age five:

Weight of boys aged five to ten:

Head circumference

The measurement tool is a 150 cm long tape measure with millimeter divisions. The most convex portion of the forehead, above the eyebrows, is where the tape (its zero division) is applied from the front. The head must then be wrapped around it, beginning at the right temporal region. Next, it should touch the forehead from behind, proceed to the left temporal region, and then return to the back of the head.

Girls’ head circumference from birth to age five:

Boys’ head circumference from birth to age five:

Shoulder circumference

A rubberized tape measure with a 1.5-meter length is used to measure this parameter. The millimeter divisions on such a tape allow for precise measurement. Two states of the shoulder are measured: relaxed and maximally tense. Using the lowered right arm, measure the circumference of the shoulder by placing the tape measure on the thickest area of the biceps muscle. After that, repeat the measurement while bending the arm at the elbow and tensing the muscles as much as you can. The variation in the collected data will show the level of muscle growth.

Girls’ shoulder circumference from three months to five years old:

Boys’ shoulder circumference from three months to five years old:

Thickness of the skin fold under the shoulder blade

The percentage of fat in the body is calculated by measuring this parameter. Calculating the thickness of the fold is also known as caliperometry since it requires the use of a caliper, a specialized instrument. The skin is compressed just below any shoulder blade, creating a fold that is 45 degrees from the vertical. In this instance, the fold from the spine to the side of the body should be made downward.

From three months to five years old, the thickness of the skin fold beneath the shoulder blade in girls

In boys aged three months to five years, the thickness of the skin fold beneath the shoulder blade:

Thickness of the skin fold above the triceps

The percentage of fat in the body is indicated by the thickness of the skin fold located above the triceps.

The child has to lower his arms in order to measure. Pull the skin, clamping the tissue between the thumb and forefinger, at the midpoint between the olecranon process of the ulna and the acromial process of the scapula. The middle of the space between the start and finish of the skin fold is where the caliper is positioned. The skin is kept taut, and after two seconds, the fold’s thickness is precisely measured to within 0.5 mm. Typically, three to four measurements are made before calculating the average value (the indicators shouldn’t differ by more than one millimeter).

In girls aged three months to five years, the thickness of the skin fold over the triceps is:

In boys, the skin fold covering the triceps ranges in thickness from three months to five years.

How the body mass index (BMI) is calculated and what it shows?

The body mass index is a useful tool for determining whether a person’s weight is normal, excessive, or insufficient based on how well it matches his height.

This indicator is calculated as the square of the weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters.

Girls’ BMI from birth to age five:

BMI of females aged five to nineteen:

Boys’ BMI from birth to age five:

Boys’ BMI from age 5 to age 19:

Is there a connection between the norms and the type of feeding of the child?

Since this organization currently adheres to a strategy of maintaining breastfeeding and adequate introduction of complementary foods, the WHO standards that are currently in effect have been developed with breastfeeding in mind. The reference indicators have been updated to reflect the fact that breastfed babies do not have excess body weight, even though the standards previously did not account for the characteristics of the babies’ rapid growth in the first six months of life when they were exclusively fed mother’s milk.

The World Health Organization currently regards breastfed children as the gold standard for normal child development under natural circumstances. According to the organization, infants under six months old should only be fed breast milk. After that time, children should be given safe, nutritionally complete complementary foods, and breastfeeding should be continued for at least two years.

The following video is a presentation that supports one of the WHO’s breastfeeding initiatives.

Should the standards be taken literally?

An infant’s height and weight are influenced by a number of factors, the most important of which are the kind and frequency of feedings, issues with the mother’s milk or an allergic reaction to formula, preterm, genetics, environmental factors, and different diseases.

While there is no risk involved, the child’s health may be impacted if the indicators deviate slightly from the norms in either direction. For instance, a baby with a normal weight will heal more slowly than one with a larger one. When there are significant deviations, parents and physicians should work together to determine the reason(s).

According to the WHO, a child’s body weight that deviates significantly from normal is linked to more than half of early deaths. Significant variations in growth rates pose a risk to the child’s musculoskeletal development.

According to statistics, about 3 percent of kids who have significant departures from the norm stay well and never get sick. However, since the effects frequently manifest years later, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether a child exhibiting abnormal indicators is among the 3%. Consequently, any variations in height and body weight should be reported to a physician.

Monitoring your child’s development and growth is crucial to making sure they are headed in the right direction. Parents and other caregivers can easily and consistently keep an eye on important metrics like head circumference, weight, and height by using WHO growth charts.

While these charts offer a broad framework, each child is an individual. A child’s development is influenced by a variety of factors, including nutrition, environment, and genetics. Therefore, even though the charts are useful, you should use other indicators to assess your child’s health as well.

It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider if you have any worries about your child’s development. Frequent checkups can answer any questions you may have and provide you with a clearer picture of their development.

Video on the topic

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