Height and Weight Percentile Charts for Kids 0 to 20

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 22 Mar 2010 - Updated: 30 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information serves as a practical reference guide for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers monitoring child development from birth through age 20. Drawing from CDC growth standards, it explains how percentile measurements help track whether children are developing within normal ranges compared to their peers. The resource addresses a significant 2006 update by the World Health Organization that corrected outdated 1977 measurements, which had been based solely on formula-fed, middle-class white American infants and inadvertently contributed to childhood obesity rates. For families raising children with disabilities or health conditions that affect growth patterns, understanding these percentile charts becomes particularly valuable when working with medical teams to distinguish between typical variation and concerning developmental trends. The distinction between infant charts (0-3 years measuring length, weight, and head circumference) and childhood charts (2-20 years tracking height, weight, and BMI) gives parents age-appropriate benchmarks while recognizing that genetics, nutrition, physical activity, and medical conditions all influence individual growth trajectories.

At a Glance

• 1 - The 50th percentile marks the median for each age group. This means half of all children measure above it and half measure below.
• 2 - Infant charts for ages 0 to 3 track weight, length, and head circumference. Childhood charts for ages 2 to 20 track weight, height, and body mass index.
• 3 - A low weight to height reading typically falls below the 3rd or 5th percentile. It often pairs with declining growth velocity or a downward shift crossing two or more percentile lines.
• 4 - Original 1977 charts drew from middle class white American babies on high protein bottle fed diets. This narrow sample overstated expected infant weight and contributed to childhood obesity before the WHO corrected it in 2006.

Topic Definition

Growth Percentile Chart

A growth percentile chart is a standardized reference tool that plots a child's height, weight, and body mass index against measurements gathered from a large population of children in the same age and sex group. Doctors use these charts to see where a child ranks compared with peers, expressed as a percentile from the 1st to the 99th, and to follow how that ranking changes over the months and years. Rather than judging a single measurement in isolation, healthcare providers watch the overall pattern, since steady tracking along any percentile usually signals healthy development, while sudden jumps or drops across several lines may call for a closer look. The charts most widely used in the United States come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they account for the fact that boys and girls grow at different rates and follow different curves.

Overview

Using a percentile chart doctors can track children's growth rate as well as monitor how a child is growing in relation to other children. Height and weight percentiles are determined by growth charts and body mass index charts to compare a child's measurements with those of other children in the same age group. Growth percentile charts vary for boys and girls as their growth rates and patterns differ. For either girls or boys there are two sets of percentile charts:

• A Height and Weight Percentile Chart for infants ages 0 to 3 years. (Up until babies are 36 months old, doctors will measure weight, length, as well as head circumference)
• A Height and Weight Percentile Chart for children ages from 2 to 20 years old. (Doctors will measure weight, height, and body mass index (BMI))

The 50th percentile represents the median, or average, height or weight for each age group, so that 50% of children will be above this point and 50% will be below it.

Children with a low weight to height percentile generally have a weight that is below the 3rd or 5th percentile for their age group - as well as a declining growth velocity (not gaining weight as expected) and/or a shift downward in their growth percentiles, crossing two or more percentiles on their growth charts.

Recent studies have shown that current growth charts for infants under 24 months overstate the expected weight of babies and lead to potentially obese children. This is due to the original charts being produced as far back as 1977, and were based on samples of middle class white American babies on high protein bottle fed diets at the time. In 2006 The World Health Organization altered the target height to weight percentile measurements to better represent healthier weight measurements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the growth charts that are most commonly used in the United States of America.

View an approximate Height to Weight Chart for Adults and a guide to Babies to Teenagers Average Height to Weight Chart.

NOTE: There is a wide range of healthy shapes and sizes among children. While growth charts are an important tool for monitoring children's development, they are just one of several tools used to ensure children grow and develop normally as they mature. Genetics, gender, nutrition, physical activity, health problems, environment, and hormones can, and do, influence a child's height to weight ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do doctors stop using percentile charts

Standard CDC percentile charts are designed for children from birth through age 20. After that point healthcare providers switch to adult measurement tools such as body mass index ranges rather than pediatric percentiles.

What is the difference between a percentile and a percentage

A percentile ranks a child against a group of peers, so the 40th percentile means the child measures higher than 40 percent of children the same age and sex. A percentage simply describes a portion of a whole and does not compare a child to anyone else.

Is a higher percentile always better for a child

No, a higher percentile is not automatically better because healthy children exist at every point on the chart. What matters most is steady growth over time and overall health rather than reaching a specific number.

How often should a child be measured for percentile tracking

Infants are usually measured at each well child visit, which happens several times in the first year. Older children are typically measured once a year during routine checkups so providers can watch the trend.

Can a child change percentiles as they grow

Yes, minor shifts are common as children move through growth spurts and developmental stages. Providers pay closer attention when a child crosses two or more major percentile lines in a short period.

Are there separate growth charts for premature babies

Yes, premature infants are often plotted using corrected age or specialized preterm charts. This helps providers account for early birth so growth is judged fairly against the right reference.

Do breastfed and formula fed babies grow differently on charts

Breastfed and formula fed babies can follow slightly different growth patterns, especially in the first year. The World Health Organization charts were updated to better reflect the growth of breastfed infants.

What should parents do if their child falls in a very low percentile

Parents should talk with their pediatrician, who will look at growth history, diet, family size, and overall health before drawing conclusions. A single low reading is far less concerning than a steady decline across visits.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While percentile charts remain an essential tool in pediatric care, they represent population averages rather than individual destinies. A child tracking along the 10th percentile who is healthy, active, and thriving may simply reflect their genetic blueprint, just as naturally as another child consistently charting at the 90th percentile. The real clinical value emerges not from a single data point, but from patterns over time - sudden drops across multiple percentiles or plateaus in expected growth warrant investigation, while steady tracking along any percentile typically signals appropriate development. For parents of children with chronic conditions, genetic syndromes, or disabilities, specialized growth charts may offer more relevant comparisons than standard CDC curves, making partnership with knowledgeable healthcare providers essential for interpreting what the numbers truly mean for your child's unique situation.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.