Infant Growth Chart
for Boys and Girls

It can be fun to keep track of these signs of growth. Many people tell of how their parents kept track of their growth by making markings on a hidden wall in their childhood home. Unfortunately, few people still have access to these tangible memories, as childhood homes are often sold.

As an alternative, you may want to purchase a decorative wall infant growth chart (like the ones shown below) to keep track of your baby's progress.

Wall Infant Growth Charts

You will find a free printable copy of the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) infant growth charts for boys and girls below. Keep a copy in your child's baby book (which will be a forever keepsake) and chart her progress.

Understanding (and not stressing about)
The Infant Growth Chart from the CDC

The U.S. Center for Disease Control created the charts available below in order to help health professionals and parents understand where their child's height and weight fall compared to all other babies of the same age. You may have already seen one of these when you visited your pediatrician's office.

Your child's height and weight are affected by many factors which these charts will not necessarily take into account. Some of these are: premature birth, birth weight, breast fed vs. bottle fed (more on this later), and especially genetics (Shaquille O'Neill or Spud Webb). Another reason to consider these charts "with a grain of salt" is that they are created to reflect what is average, not necessarily what is healthy. (Obesity, even in babies, is on the rise.) For these reasons, I use the charts mostly for reference and tracking.

My kids have been all over the charts - most of them well established in the middle, some completely off the top end of the infant growth chart, and one below the 5th percentile. I try not to let these numbers dictate my satisfaction with my baby's growth and development. More important than where she falls on a baby growth chart: Is she gaining weight and height? Has she shown developmental progress? Is she content, happy, and healthy?

If you have concerns about any of the above questions, be sure to consult your health care professional.

Breastfed or Formula Fed?
(it makes a difference in growth rate)

"The 2000 CDC growth charts can be used to assess the growth of exclusively breast-fed infants, however when interpreting the growth pattern one must take into account that mode of infant feeding can influence infant growth. In general, exclusively breast-fed infants tend to gain weight more rapidly in the first 2 to 3 months. From 6 to 12 months breast-fed infants tend to weigh less than formula-fed infants."

Free CDC Infant Growth Charts
for Boys and Girls

How to Read (and Understand)
the Infant Growth Charts

You will notice that the chart is broken down left to right by months (birth to 3 years). Each vertical line represents one month on the chart. When you take your newborn to the pediatrician's office, they will weigh her and measure her length. (Why do they call it length and not height like they would for an older child or adult? I assume it is because babies are more often horizontal than vertical. I guess the "height" of a newborn baby when she is lying down can't be more than 6 inches ;-)

The top section deals with baby length (height) and the bottom section is a newborn weight gain chart. (Note that the measurements are available in both standard and metric.) The lines that start at the left and curve to the right show you the "normal" rate of growth.

The center (darker) line would be the true average (50th percentile) with the lines above it representing above average (75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles), and the lines below it representing lower than average (25th, 10th, and 5th percentiles). Percentile numbers are just a fancy way of telling you where your baby's measurements fall within statistical averages.

Yes, it is possible that your newborn baby will not fall within the 5th to 95th percentile. The goal is not necessarily to get to that middle line, but to settle into a percentile range and follow the curve. It is much healthier to see a consistent percentile range (or a gradual shift) than bouncing from one extreme to the other.

An example: If your newborn baby girl is born weighing a petite 6 pounds, she would be considered the 10th percentile at birth. Continuing at this percentile - she would weigh a whopping 10 pounds by the time she is 3 months old. She may continue in the 5th to 15th percentile range, or she may gradually work her way up to the 25th percentile. If she suddenly jumps way up to the 80th percentile, her pediatrician will most likely question why.

Charting Your Newborn Baby's Progress

See Related Articles

Infant Brain Development Activities

Newborn Development Guide

Baby Eye Color - What Will it Be?

Infant Educational Toys

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