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Baby Weight Percentages

What Percentile Is Your Child In, and Does It Matter?

Baby Weight PercentagesYour friend recently bragged that her son was in the 90th percentile for weight. But at your son's recent checkup, the doctor said he was in the 10th percentile. Why are you feeling competitive all of a sudden, and does the difference really matter? Indeed, new parents often can't wait to have their baby weighed so they can see what percentile he or she is in. But what do baby weight percentages really mean? This is a weighty issue – no pun intended.

What Are Baby Weight Percentiles?
"Weight percentiles tell us the percentage of kids at the same age in the United States that weigh less or the same as we do," says Dr. Deborah Lonzer, Interim Chair, Department of Regional Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. "For example, if you are at the 50th percentile, then about 50 percent of kids are lighter than you, and you are at the median weight for kids that age. If you are at the 75th percentile, then you are as heavy or heavier than 75 percent of kids the same age. It is important to plot the weights on the growth charts at very accurate ages – 2 years is very different than 28 months of age."

It is most important, when evaluating growth, to look over time.

To know what percentile your baby is in, use our Baby Weight Percentile Calculator.

These numbers are based on data that has been collected on kids' growth in the United States through the National Center for Health Statistics since the 1960s. The first growth charts were developed for use in the late 1970s, and later revised in 2000, based on updated height and weight data that was collected. Nowadays, Body Mass Index (BMI) growth charts are also used. BMI is a way of monitoring growth and can help to predict future high cholesterol, heart disease and obesity – major health risks to today's society. The size of an infant's head is also monitored when looking at growth and development.


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Baby Weight Percentages

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Anonymous says
4 days, 7 hours ago

and if you dont call the state a child could end up seriously ill, neglected or starving. call anonymously they will have a duty of care to investigate. could you live with yourself if something awful happened and you didnt act on it. Its not your fault its your sisters, but you cant stand by and allow this to go on. My daughter is 17lb she 14 months old. my three year old is 35 lb. Your niece is serverly malnourished. Listen to your head. You can do something to stop this.

Anonymous says
5 days, 3 hours ago

I have a sisters little girl which is 3 years shes 17 to 18 pounds and my 12 month is as tall and she does not eat and sucks pacifiers and im so worried they get defensive about it and says well she eats icecream and candys ive observered her she would rather watch tv then eat and shes clearly malnorished we get into fights everytime i say something needs to be done idk what to do if i call the state i wont have a family

Anonymous says
1 week, 1 day ago

When babies start walking the tend to not gain as much weight or they lose. I would not be worried about that. Don't forget they are moving around a lot and so the weight will either drop or stay around the same.

Anonymous k says
1 week, 1 day ago

my baby is 8 mo old and her weight is 14.1 pounds. she vomits everytime she eats and can not be comforted no matter what i do, Any ideas what i can do?

Anonymous4 says
1 week, 4 days ago

Hi everyone,

I am concerned about my baby, and he's been staying the same weight for his 11-12th month about 27.5 pounds. He's always been a "fat" baby, but recently he's gotten pretty skinny. Help, please? I'm trying to get him to eat as much as he can (he still drinks formula).

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