Standard Height and Weight chart for babies, all parents should know.
I come across many moms and their most common worry about their child is regarding the weight and height of their children.
I am one of these moms who used to worry most of the time about the height and weight of my son who was born thin. Whenever I would meet my pediatrician, who also happens to be my good friend, that is why my son is so thin and what should I do to increase his weight.
So yesterday I had a detailed chat with my pediatrician friend and we discussed many topics including things like Baby weight and height chart recommended by WHO, Baby Growth chart interpretation, and WHO child growth Standard Percentile Table which I will off course share in this article.
I also received a lot of emails from my readers on what should be the Ideal Height and Weight of kids, hence I thought instead of replying to individual emails which will be time-consuming, I will write an article and will be helpful for everyone.
Now, many moms feel that thinking that a chubby baby is a sign of a healthy baby and vice-versa. My mantra is slightly different here is that “As long as the baby is active and healthy, do not worry about the weight”
However, it is important to keep an eye on the height and weight of the baby since being underweight and overweight can put the baby at risk of illnesses.
Baby weight based on birth of the child
| Age | Weight |
| 0-3 Months | Should gain 175gms to 210 gms per week |
| 5 Months | Double the birth weight |
| 6-12 months | Should gain 400gms per week |
| 1 Year | 3 times the birth weight |
| 2 Years | 4 times the birth weight |
| 3 Years | 5 times the birth weight |
| 5 Years | 6 times the birth weight |
| 7 Years | 7 times the birth weight |
| 10 Years | 10 times the birth weight |
An average child gains 2 kgs every year between 3 to 7 years and 3 kg every year till they reach puberty.
WHO standard Height and Weight chart for babies:
The mentioned chart explains in detail the ideal height and weight that babies should have as per World Health Organization.
This chart is made based on healthy and exclusive breastfed babies across 5 continents. These actually show what should be the growth graph of an ideal healthy baby
Baby Growth chart Interpretation:
Mentioned below are simplified Field tables for a baby boy from birth to 13 weeks.
However, before understanding this table, you need to understand how to interpret this.
To understand better, let’s understand that there are 5 percentiles, 3%, 15%, 50%, 85%, and 97%
The 3rd centile line gives an indication of where the lower end of the normal range is – actually 3% of normal infants and toddlers will be below the 3rd percentile.
The 50th centile is where 50% of the population will sit. The 97th centile gives an indication of where the upper end of the normal range is – actually 3% of normal infants and toddlers will be above the 97th centile. So anywhere between the 2nd and 98th centiles is appropriate growth.
As per the above table, the weight of baby boy A is 2.8, which is 15%
After completion of 1 year, the baby boy’s weight will be 5.7 kg.
In simple words, Baby A has normal growth and weight gain as he has followed the percentile.
When should you worry?
Don’t worry if there is an inappropriate weight change in the baby as babies tend to increase or decrease weight due to viral illnesses. Just want and watch for a month and if you don’t feel any change then you might need to consult your pediatrician.
What should I do if my baby is underweight?
If your baby is underweight, first and foremost, consult your pediatrician to rule out any possibility of illness. if you get an ok from your pediatrician, then there is a possibility of a problem with the child’s nutrition.
Babies who are not able to latch properly, leave sucking milk after a while that means that the baby is not getting sufficient nutrition.
For babies who are above 6 months and have started solid food, you can start with healthy options like fruit pulp, ragi porridge, etc. click here for the list of healthy food options for babies.
Click here for 18 Easy baby porridge recipes
It is important to remember that height and weight vary from baby to baby, if there are twins also the weight may vary. Even siblings have varied height and weight patterns so do not obsess over the weight of the baby., just see if your baby is healthy and active then you are good to go.
Do let me know if you liked this article and want me to include anything more in this.
Till then
Cheers!
Sapna