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A growth chart is a tool that is used to determine whether babies are developing the way they are supposed to. Boys and girls have different growth charts as boys tend to be slightly heavier and taller than girls on an average and have different growth patterns as well. A baby boy percentile growth chart can help you track your baby’s growth accurately.
Baby Boy Growth Chart: (0-12 Months)
Given below is the baby boy growth chart percentile for 0-12 months according to the World Health Organization. The chart gives the measurement of height, weight and head circumference readings between the 3rd and 97th percentile. Comparing your baby’s measurements with this chart can determine if he is normal for his age. To track his growth over time, plot his measurements over a graph and compare with the growth chart.
| Age in Months | Height (cm) – 3rd to 97th percentile | Weight (Kg) – 3rd to 97th percentile | Head circumference (cm) – 3rd to 97th percentile |
| 0 | 46.3 – 53.4 | 2.5 – 4.3 | 32.1 – 36.9 |
| 1 | 51.1 – 58.4 | 3.4 – 5.7 | 35.1 – 39.5 |
| 2 | 54.7 – 62.2 | 4.4 – 7.0 | 36.9 – 41.3 |
| 3 | 57.6 – 65.3 | 5.1 – 7.9 | 38.3 – 42.7 |
| 4 | 60.0 – 67.8 | 5.6 – 8.6 | 39.4 – 43.9 |
| 5 | 61.9 – 69.9 | 6.1 – 9.2 | 40.3 – 44.8 |
| 6 | 63.6 – 71.6 | 6.4 – 9.7 | 41.0 – 45.6 |
| 7 | 65.1 – 73.2 | 6.7 – 10.2 | 41.7 – 46.3 |
| 8 | 66.5 – 74.7 | 7.0 – 10.5 | 42.2 – 46.9 |
| 9 | 67.7 – 76.2 | 7.2 – 10.9 | 42.6 – 47.4 |
| 10 | 69.0 – 77.6 | 7.5 – 11.2 | 43.0 – 47.8 |
| 11 | 70.2- 78.9 | 7.4 – 11.5 | 43.4 – 48.2 |
| 12 | 71.3 – 80.2 | 7.8 – 11.8 | 43.6 – 48.5 |
Tips To Read the Weight and Height Chart for a Baby Boy
Understanding the height and weight chart is simple. If you’re referring to a baby boy weight chart by month, you would see that the vertical axis on the left of the chart gives the months of the baby. The horizontal axis has the baby’s weight marked on it. For example if your baby is in the 25th percentile, it means that 24 percent of baby boys of the same age weigh less than your child and 75 percent weigh more. A baby boy height and head circumference chart are similar to the weight chart.
Keep in mind that the percentile for height and weight need not always be the same. For example, your baby may be 40th percentile in weight but in the 60th percentile in height and this can vary as they grow older.
How to Measure Your Baby Boy at Home?
You can easily measure your baby at home. Here’s how:
- Height: Measuring your baby’s height may be a bit difficult as he might wriggle a lot. Lie him on a flat surface like a bed or table and stretch his legs out. Using a tape measure, note his height from the top of the head to the soles of the feet.
- Weight: You can get a baby weighing scale to measure your boy’s weight.
- Head Circumference: Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your baby’s head. It should pass above the eyebrows and ears.
Why Is It Important to Have a Baby Boy Growth Chart?
A growth chart helps parents and the paediatrician assess the nutrition status, height and weight of a child. Proper development is crucial in the first six years of a baby’s life, so it’s important to track your boy’s growth with the help of this chart.
What Factors Can Influence Your Baby’s Growth?
Your baby boy’s growth depends on multiple factors such as feeding habits, metabolism, body type, his general health, and environment. The important ones to consider are:
1. Feeding
All the nutrition that your baby needs comes from feeding and it significantly determines his growth. Until about six months, he would be dependent on breast milk or formula for his nourishment Adequate feeding also supports other factors that influence growth.
2. Mother’s Health During Pregnancy
Your diet, weight, and lifestyle have a major influence on how your baby develops during your pregnancy. That, in turn, affects the nutrients stored in the baby’s body when he is born and influences his growth in the first year.
3. Baby’s Weight at Birth
The birth weight is an indicator of how well the baby was nourished during pregnancy. If they have a higher weight at birth, they tend to grow slowly and vice-versa. This is known as ‘catch-down’ and ‘catch-up’ growth patterns.
4. Genes
Genes play a major role in a baby’s development. Babies of parents who are tall and well-built tend to be in a higher percentile of height and weight. On the other hand, babies of moderately-built parents tend to be lean.
5. Minor Ailments
Illnesses such as flu and ear infections can temporarily affect the baby’s growth. They may not feed well during the period of illness which can affect growth for a week or more. But they return to normal once they start getting recovering.
6. Mother’s Health After Pregnancy
If the mother is unwell or suffers from conditions such as postnatal depression, it would affect the way she takes care of the baby. This can influence his growth rate. However, it can improve once the mother recovers from her ailment.
Does Birth Weight Play a Role in a Baby’s Growth?
Not really. Birth weight plays a very insignficant role in a baby’s growth and development. Rather, genes of the parents determine this. Some petite babies grow into tall and muscular men while some chubby babies become lean as they grow up.
When To Consult a Doctor?
Before you consult a doctor, you should know that some children who start out short initially grow significantly later in life. It’s the opposite for kids who grow rapidly at a young age. To know if your baby is growing well, plot his height and weight regularly and compare with growth charts for babies of his age. However, if you see that your boy is on either end of the infant boy growth chart for a long time, it is best to consult a paediatrician.
