Lots of parents wonder whether their child is bigger or smaller than other kids their age. The charts below give you an idea of how your child's weight and height (or length, for babies) compare to the average weight and height of kids in their age group.
The numbers in these charts are just a benchmark. It's likely your child's weight and height are higher or lower than the average. If so, don't worry – it doesn't mean there's anything wrong.
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Children grow at different rates, and it's normal for weight and height to vary significantly between kids of the same age. What's more important is that your child is growing steadily.
The doctor will weigh and measure your child during each well-child visit to make sure their growth is on track. (They'll also measure your baby's head circumference, which provides information about their growing brain). Be sure to talk with the doctor if you have any concerns about your child's growth.
For more, personalized information about how your child compares to other children in size, and to track your child's height and weight over time, check out our child height and weight tracker.
Average baby weight and length chart by month
In the United States, the average baby weighs just over 7 pounds at birth. Girls (at 7 pounds, 1 ounce/3.2 kg) are a bit smaller than boys (at 7 pounds 8 ounces/3.4 kg) on arrival. The average newborn is 19 1/2 inches (49.5 cm) long, with girls measuring 19.4 inches (49.2 cm) and boys measuring 19.7 inches (49.9 cm).
While most babies lose weight during the first few days of life, within a couple of weeks they're back to their birth weight. Until 3 months old, most babies gain about an ounce each day. By 4 months old, most babies have doubled their birth weight, and by 1 year, most have tripled it. Most babies also grow about 10 inches (25 cm) by their first birthday.
Keep in mind that babies and children have growth spurts, too – which means that growth isn't always a gradual, predictable process. Just when you start to wonder whether your child has grown enough lately, they may climb the charts!
The data in the charts below comes from the World Health OrganizationOpens a new window (WHO) for children younger than 2 and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOpens a new window (CDC) for children age 2 and older.
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The CDC recommends that healthcare providers use the WHO growth charts to monitor growth for infants and children ages 0 to 2 years, and use the CDC growth charts for those 2 years and older. The WHO charts are based on healthy growth patterns for breastfed children and are endorsed by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Quick tip: For babies born prematurely, use their adjusted age rather than chronological age when you look up their numbers on this chart. (Adjusted age is the age your baby would be if they had been born full term.)
| Age | Size | Boys | Girls |
|---|
| Birth | Weight | 7 lb 8 oz (3.4 kg) | 7 lb 1oz (3.2 kg) |
| | Length | 19.7 inches (49.9 cm) | 19.4 inches (49.2 cm) |
| | | | |
| 1 month | Weight | 9 lb 15 oz (4.5 kg) | 9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg) |
| | Length | 21.5 in (54.7 cm) | 21.1 in (53.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 2 months | Weight | 12 lb 6 oz (5.6 kg) | 11 lb 4 oz (5.1 kg) |
| | Length | 23 in (58.4 cm) | 22.5 in (57.1 cm) |
| | | | |
| 3 months | Weight | 14 lb 2 oz (6.4 kg) | 13 lb (5.9 kg) |
| | Length | 24.2 in (61.4 cm) | 23.5 in (59.8 cm) |
| | | | |
| 4 months | Weight | 15 lb 7 oz (7 kg) | 14 lb 2 oz (6.4 kg) |
| | Length | 25.2 in (63.9 cm) | 24.5 in (62.1 cm) |
| | | | |
| 5 months | Weight | 16 lb 9 oz (7.5 kg) | 15 lb 3 oz (6.9 kg) |
| | Length | 26 in (65.9 cm) | 25.2 in (64 cm) |
| | | | |
| 6 months | Weight | 17 lb 7 oz (7.9 kg) | 16 lb 2 oz (7.3 kg) |
| | Length | 26.6 in (67.6 cm) | 25.9 in (65.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 7 months | Weight | 18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg) | 16 lb 12 oz (7.6 kg) |
| | Length | 27.2 in (69.2 cm) | 26.5 in (67.3 cm) |
| | | | |
| 8 months | Weight | 18 lb 15 oz (8.6 kg) | 17 lb 10 oz (8 kg) |
| | Length | 27.8 in (70.6 cm) | 27.1 in (68.8 cm) |
| | | | |
| 9 months | Weight | 19 lb 10 oz (8.9 kg) | 18 lb 1 oz (8.2 kg) |
| | Length | 28.4 in (72 cm) | 27.6 in (70.1 cm) |
| | | | |
| 10 months | Weight | 20 lb 5 oz (9.2 kg) | 18 lb 12 oz (8.5 kg) |
| | Length | 28.9 in (73.3 cm) | 28.2 in (71.5 cm) |
| | | | |
| 11 months | Weight | 20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg) | 19 lb 3 oz (8.7 kg) |
| | Length | 29.3 in (74.5 cm) | 28.7 in (72.8 cm) |
| | | | |
Want more information about how babies grow and develop before age 1? Find out about your baby's developmental milestones and how much your baby will grow in the first year. You can also check whether your newborn's weight gain is healthy or not.
Typical toddler weights and heights
Between 12 and 24 months, most toddlers grow about 4 or 5 inches (10 to 12 cm) and gain about 5 pounds (2.27 kg). Your little one will start looking more like a child than a baby as they start to slim down a bit and become more muscular.
| Age | Size | Boys | Girls |
|---|
| 12 months | Weight | 21 lb 6 oz (9.7 kg) | 19 lb 14 oz (9 kg) |
| | Height | 29.8 in (75.8 cm) | 29.1 in (74 cm) |
| | | | |
| 13 months | Weight | 21 lb 13 oz (9.9 kg) | 20 lb 5 oz (9.2 kg) |
| | Height | 30.3 in (76.9) cm | 29.6 in (75.2cm) |
| | | | |
| 14 months | Weight | 22 lb 4 oz (10.1 kg) | 20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg) |
| | Height | 30.8 in (78.1 cm) | 30.1 in (76.4 cm) |
| | | | |
| 15 months | Weight | 22 lb 11 oz (10.3 kg) | 21 lb 3 oz (9.6 kg) |
| | Height | 31.2 in (79.2 cm) | 30.5 in (77.5 cm) |
| | | | |
| 16 months | Weight | 23 lb 2 oz (10.5 kg) | 21 lb 10 oz (9.8 kg) |
| | Height | 31.6 in (80.2 cm) | 31 in (78.6 cm) |
| | | | |
| 17 months | Weight | 23 lb 9 oz (10.7 kg) | 22 lb 1 oz (10 kg) |
| | Height | 32 in (81.3 cm) | 31.4 in (79.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 18 months | Weight | 24 lb 1 oz (10.9 kg) | 22 lb 8 oz (10.2 kg) |
| | Height | 32.4 in (82.3 cm) | 31.8 in (80.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 19 months | Weight | 24 lb 8 oz (11.1 kg) | 22 lb 15 oz (10.4 kg) |
| | Height | 32.8 in (83.2 cm) | 32.2 in (81.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 20 months | Weight | 25 lb 2 oz (11.4 kg) | 23 lb 9 oz (10.7 kg) |
| | Height | 33.2 in (84.2 cm) | 32.6 in (82.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 21 months | Weight | 25 lb 9 oz (11.6 kg) | 24 lb 1 oz (10.9 kg) |
| | Height | 33.5 in (85.1 cm) | 33 in (83.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 22 months | Weight | 26 lb (11.8 kg) | 24 lb 8 oz (11.1 kg) |
| | Height | 33.9 in (86.1 cm) | 33.3 in (84.6 cm) |
| | | | |
| 23 months | Weight | 26 lb 7 oz (12 kg) | 24 lb 15 oz (11.3 kg) |
| | Height | 34.2 in (86.9 cm) | 33.7 in (85.5 cm) |
| | | | |
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Preschooler weight and height chart
Most children gain about 4.4 pounds each year between 2 years old and puberty. They also grow 3 inches (8 cm) in height between 2 and 3 years old, and 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) between 3 and 4 years old. You might have trouble visualizing it, but by 24 to 30 months, children reach half their adult height.
| Age | Size | Boys | Girls |
|---|
| 2 years | Weight | 28 lb (12.7 kg) | 26 lb 11 oz (12.1 kg) |
| | Height | 2 ft 10 in (86.5 cm) | 2 ft 9.5 in (85 cm) |
| | | | |
| 2.5 years | Weight | 30 pounds (13.6 kg) | 28 lb 11 oz (13 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft (91.3 cm) | 2 ft 11.5 in (90.3 cm) |
| | | | |
| 3 years | Weight | 31 lb 12oz (14.4 kg) | 30 lb 10 oz (13.9 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 1.5 in (95.3 cm) | 3 ft 1 in (94.2 cm) |
| | | | |
| 3.5 years | Weight | 33 lb 12 oz (15.3 kg) | 32 lb 14 oz (14.9 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 3 in (99 cm) | 3 ft 2.5 in (97.7 cm) |
| | | | |
| 4 years | Weight | 35 lb 15 oz (16.3 kg) | 35 lb 1 oz (15.9 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 4.5 in (102.5 cm) | 3 ft 4 in (101 cm) |
| | | | |
| 4.5 years | Weight | 38 lb 6 oz (17.4 kg) | 37 lb 4 oz (16.9 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 5.5 in (105.9 cm) | 3 ft 5 in (104.5 cm) |
| | | | |
Big kid weight and height averages
Between the ages of 5 and 8 years, children grow about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) per year. They also gain between 4 and 7 pounds (2 to 3 kg) per year between the ages of 6 and puberty.
| Age | Size | Boys | Girls |
|---|
| 5 years | Weight | 40 lb 13 oz (18.5 kg) | 39 lb 11 oz (18 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 7 in (109.2 cm) | 3 ft 6.5 in (108 cm) |
| | | | |
| 6 years | Weight | 45 lb 14 oz (20.8 kg) | 44 lb 12 oz (20.3 kg) |
| | Height | 3 ft 9.5 in (115.7 cm) | 3 ft 9 in (115 cm) |
| | | | |
| 7 years | Weight | 51 lb 2 oz (23.2 kg) | 50 lb 8 oz (22.9 kg) |
| | Height | 4 ft (122 cm) | 4 ft (121.8 cm) |
| | | | |
| 8 years | Weight | 56 lb 14 oz (25.8 kg) | 56 lb 14 oz (25.8 kg) |
| | Height | 4 ft 2.5 in (128.1 cm) | 4 ft 2.5 in (127.8 cm) |
| | | | |
What factors can affect my child's weight and height?
Your child's genes are the biggest factor determining how tall they'll get and how heavy they'll be. But there are other factors, too:
- Gestation. If your baby arrived after their due date, they may be larger than average, and if they were born prematurely, they'll probably be smaller. (Because multiples are typically born early, they tend to be smaller, too.)
- Your pregnancy health. If you smoked, used drugs, or didn't eat well during pregnancy, you're more likely to give birth to a smaller baby. If you gained a great deal of weight during pregnancy or had gestational diabetes, you're more likely to give birth to a larger baby.
- Sex: Baby girls are typically a little smaller (length and weight) at birth than baby boys.
- Breastfed or formula fed. In their first year, breastfed babies gain weight more slowly than formula-fed babies. (For the first few months, the breastfed babies actually grow more quickly, but by 3 months old this changes.) By age 2, breastfed and formula-fed babies weigh about the same.
- Hormones. If your child has a hormone imbalance, such as low growth hormone levels or a low thyroid level, it could slow their growth.
- Medications. Certain medications, such as regular use of corticosteroids, might slow growth.
- Health issues. If your child has a chronic illness (such as cancer, kidney disease, or cystic fibrosis), or any disorder affecting their ability to eat or absorb nutrients (such as gastrointestinal problems), their growth might be slowed.
- Genetic conditions. Your child's general genetic makeup affects their growth. So could having certain genetic conditions – such as Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Turner syndrome.
- Sleep. Growth spurts in babies are related to increases in sleep. One study found that getting more sleep directly increases a baby's probability of growing more in length. In fact, growth spurts occurred within 48 hours after added sleep.
What do growth chart percentiles mean?
Baby growth charts give you a general idea of how your child is growing. They use percentiles to compare your baby's growth to other babies of the same age and sex.
The charts show the height and weight (or length, for babies) for children of both sexes in the 50th percentile, which is the average. Anything higher means your child is larger than average. Anything lower means they're smaller than average.
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For example, the average weight for a 2-month-old girl is 11 pounds 4 ounces. If your 2-month-old daughter weighs 13 pounds, she's heavier than average. The average length is 22.5 inches, so if your daughter is 20 inches long at 2 months, she's shorter than average.
Your doctor will normally calculate your child's weight and height as a percentile. If your child is in the 75th percentile for weight, for example, that means 75 percent of children their age and sex weigh less, and 25 percent weigh more.
Your child's chart numbers can provide their doctor with valuable information at each well-child visit. The doctor will be looking to see that your child's growing appropriately, that there aren't dramatic changes (from the 75th percentile to the 25th percentile, for example), and that your child's numbers are in an appropriate range for their age.
If one of your child's measurements is below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile, their doctor may want to determine why and monitor your child's growth carefully. In general, though, your child's growth pattern over time is more important than where they fall on the chart in terms of percentages.
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