Height and Weight Chart According to WHO Standards for Children Aged 0–18 Years

Learn about your baby’s comprehensive development and discover the important indicators to ensure they grow strong and healthy through the height and weight chart according to WHO standards.

I. Standard height and weight chart for children

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children’s height and weight are determined by age and gender as follows:

To monitor your baby’s health conveniently, An Khang Pharmacy will guide you on how to use the height and weight chart for both boys and girls.

This chart has 3 columns: Boy, Age in Months, Girl. To look up, the instruction is to follow the “Age in Months” row and select the gender column corresponding to your baby. If the baby’s height and weight fall within the following ranges:

• TB (Average): The baby is at an average index level.
• Above +2SD: The baby may be having a weight problem, possibly obesity, or height exceeding the normal level.
• Below -2SD: The baby may be experiencing malnutrition, low weight, and short stature.

A. Information on height and weight for baby girls from newborn to 11 months old

Age	Weight	Height
0 months old	7.3 lb (3.31 kg)	19.4″ (49.2 cm)
1 month old	9.6 lb (4.35 kg)	21.2″ (53.8 cm)
2 months old	11.7 lb (5.3 kg)	22.1″ (56.1 cm)
3 months old	13.3 lb (6.03 kg)	23.6″ (59.9 cm)
4 months old	14.6 lb (6.62 kg)	24.5″ (62.2 cm)
5 months old	15.8 lb (7.17 kg)	25.3″ (64.2 cm)
6 months old	16.6 lb (7.53 kg)	25.9″ (64.1 cm)
7 months old	17.4 lb (7.9 kg)	26.5″ (67.3 cm)
8 months old	18.1 lb (8.21 kg)	27.1″ (68.8 cm)
9 months old	18.8 lb (8.53 kg)	27.6″ (70.1 cm)
10 months old	19.4 lb (8.8 kg)	28.2″ (71.6 cm)
11 months old	19.9 lb (9.03 kg)	28.7″ (72.8 cm)

B. Girls aged 12 to 23 months

Age	Weight	Height
12 months old	20.4 lb (9.25 kg)	29.2″ (74.1 cm)
13 months old	21.0 lb (9.53 kg)	29.2″ (74.1 cm)
14 months old	21.5 lb (9.75 kg)	30.1″ (76.4 cm)
15 months old	22.0 lb (9.98 kg)	30.6″ (77.7 cm)
16 months old	22.5 lb (10.2 kg)	30.9″ (78.4 cm)
17 months old	23.0 lb (10.43 kg)	31.4″ (79.7 cm)
18 months old	23.4 lb (10.61 kg)	31.8″ (80.7 cm)
19 months old	23.9 lb (10.84 kg)	32.2″ (81.7 cm)
20 months old	24.4 lb (11.07 kg)	32.6″ (82.8 cm)
21 months old	24.9 lb (11.3 kg)	32.9″ (83.5 cm)
22 months old	25.4 lb (11.52 kg)	33.4″ (84.8 cm)
23 months old	25.9 lb (11.75 kg)	33.5″ (85.1 cm)

C. Girls aged 2 to 12 years old

Age	Weight	Height
2 years old	26.5 lb (12.02 kg)	33.7″ (85.5 cm)
3 years old	31.5 lb (14.29 kg)	37.0″ (94 cm)
4 years old	34.0 lb (15.42 kg)	39.5″ (100.3 cm)
5 years old	39.5 lb (17.92 kg)	42.5″ (107.9 cm)
6 years old	44.0 lb (19.96 kg)	45.5″ (115.5 cm)
7 years old	49.5 lb (22.45 kg)	47.7″ (121.1 cm)
8 years old	57.0 lb (25.85 kg)	50.5″ (128.2 cm)
9 years old	62.0 lb (28.12 kg)	52.5″ (133.3 cm)
10 years old	70.5 lb (31.98 kg)	54.5″ (138.4 cm)
11 years old	81.5 lb (36.97 kg)	56.7″ (144 cm)
12 years old	91.5 lb (41.5 kg)	59.0″ (149.8 cm)

D. Age range for girls from 13 to 20 years old

Age	Weight	Height
13 years old	101.0 lb (45.81 kg)	61.7″ (156.7 cm)
14 years old	105.0 lb (47.63 kg)	62.5″ (158.7 cm)
15 years old	115.0 lb (52.16 kg)	62.9″ (159.7 cm)
16 years old	118.0 lb (53.52 kg)	64.0″ (162.5 cm)
17 years old	120.0 lb (54.43 kg)	64.0″ (162.5 cm)
18 years old	125.0 lb (56.7 kg)	64.2″ (163 cm)
19 years old	126.0 lb (57.15 kg)	64.2″ (163 cm)
20 years old	128.0 lb (58.06 kg)	64.3″ (163.3 cm)

E. Information on height and weight for baby boys from newborn to 11 months old

Age	Weight	Height
0 months old	7.4 lb (3.3 kg)	19.6″ (49.8 cm)
1 month old	9.8 lb (4.4 kg)	21.6″ (54.8 cm)
2 months old	12.3 lb (5.58 kg)	23.0″ (58.4 cm)
3 months old	14.1 lb (6.4 kg)	24.2″ (61.4 cm)
4 months old	15.4 lb (7 kg)	25.2″ (64 cm)
5 months old	16.6 lb (7.53 kg)	26.0″ (66 cm)
6 months old	17.5 lb (7.94 kg)	26.6″ (67.5 cm)
7 months old	18.3 lb (8.3 kg)	27.2″ (69 cm)
8 months old	19.0 lb (8.62 kg)	27.8″ (70.6 cm)
9 months old	19.6 lb (8.9 kg)	28.3″ (71.8 cm)
10 months old	20.1 lb (9.12 kg)	28.8″ (73.1 cm)
11 months old	20.8 lb (9.43 kg)	29.3″ (74.4 cm)

F. Boys aged 12 to 23 months

Age	Weight	Height
12 months old	21.3 lb (9.66 kg)	29.8″ (75.7 cm)
13 months old	21.8 lb (9.89 kg)	30.3″ (76.9 cm)
14 months old	22.3 lb (10.12 kg)	30.7″ (77.9 cm)
15 months old	22.7 lb (10.3 kg)	31.2″ (79.2 cm)
16 months old	23.2 lb (10.52 kg)	31.6″ (80.2 cm)
17 months old	23.7 lb (10.75 kg)	32.0″ (81.2 cm)
18 months old	24.1 lb (10.93 kg)	32.4″ (82.2 cm)
19 months old	24.6 lb (11.16 kg)	32.8″ (83.3 cm)
20 months old	25.0 lb (11.34 kg)	33.1″ (84 cm)
21 months old	25.5 lb (11.57 kg)	33.5″ (85 cm)
22 months old	25.9 lb (11.75 kg)	33.9″ (86.1 cm)
23 months old	26.3 lb (11.93 kg)	34.2″ (86.8 cm)

G. Boys aged 2 to 12 years old

Age	Weight	Height
2 years old	27.5 lb (12.47 kg)	34.2″ (86.8 cm)
3 years old	31.0 lb (14.06 kg)	37.5″ (95.2 cm)
4 years old	36.0 lb (16.33 kg)	40.3″ (102.3 cm)
5 years old	40.5 lb (18.37 kg)	43.0″ (109.2 cm)
6 years old	45.5 lb (20.64 kg)	45.5″ (115.5 cm)
7 years old	50.5 lb (22.9 kg)	48.0″ (121.9 cm)
8 years old	56.5 lb (25.63 kg)	50.4″ (128 cm)
9 years old	63.0 lb (28.58 kg)	52.5″ (133.3 cm)
10 years old	70.5 lb (32 kg)	54.5″ (138.4 cm)
11 years old	78.5 lb (35.6 kg)	56.5″ (143.5 cm)
12 years old	88.0 lb (39.92 kg)	58.7″ (149.1 cm)

H. Age range for boys from 13 to 20 years old

Age	Weight	Height
13 years old	100.0 lb (45.36 kg)	61.5″ (156.2 cm)
14 years old	112.0 lb (50.8 kg)	64.5″ (163.8 cm)
15 years old	123.5 lb (56.02 kg)	67.0″ (170.1 cm)
16 years old	134.0 lb (60.78 kg)	68.3″ (173.4 cm)
17 years old	142.0 lb (64.41 kg)	69.0″ (175.2 cm)
18 years old	147.5 lb (66.9 kg)	69.2″ (175.7 cm)
19 years old	152.0 lb (68.95 kg)	69.5″ (176.5 cm)
20 years old	155.0 lb (70.3 kg)	69.7″ (177 cm)

 

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II. Average weight and height of children

Newborn: The average height of a newborn is about 49.5 cm, and the average weight is about 3.175 kg.

12 – 24 months old: During this period, most babies grow about 10 to 12 cm in height and gain about 2.27 kg in weight. This development makes the child look sturdier.

2 – 5 years old: During this period, children typically gain about 1.996 kg each year from age 2 until the onset of puberty. Height also increases by about 8 cm from 2 to 3 years old, and 7 cm from 3 to 4 years old. When children reach the age of 24 to 30 months, their height often reaches half their adult height.

5 – 8 years old: During this period, a child’s height usually increases by about 5 to 8 cm each year, and weight increases by 2 to 3 kg each year from age 6 until the onset of puberty.

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III. Some things to note about a child’s weight and height

Children often go through special growth spurts, especially during puberty, when the body develops faster than at any other time in life. At this stage, a child’s body can undergo significant changes, including rapid weight gain or loss and an increase in height.

Every child, at every age, needs a complete diet to develop fully. Therefore, putting children on a diet is not recommended, as this can cause problems due to nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis, brittle bones, delayed puberty, and many other issues.

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IV. Method for measuring the height of newborns

To measure the height of newborns and children under 2 years old, let’s apply the method of measuring length while the child is lying down, creating a common procedure for the community:

• Place the children lying on a stable flat surface such as a bed, floor,… and of course, remove shoes and personal items.
• Prepare a measuring tape and place it alongside, running parallel to the child’s body length while lying down.
• Straighten the child’s knees and let the two heels touch each other, creating a connection.
• Next, measure the length from the top of the head to the heel, and read the result to one decimal place in cm.

This process not only creates a common standard for measuring a child’s height but also symbolizes agreement and cohesion within the community. Each child, when measured, is not just an individual but also an indispensable part of the larger community, showing solidarity and concern for the health of the entire group.

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V. Factors that impact a child’s height and weight

A child’s physical condition depends mainly on genetic factors from the father and mother. However, a child’s weight and height are also affected by several other factors:

• Premature birth: Premature babies may weigh less than babies born full-term, and vice versa.
• Health of the pregnant mother: Poor care, malnutrition, drug use, smoking can affect the baby’s weight. Conversely, mothers with gestational diabetes or excessive weight gain can also increase the baby’s weight.
• Gender: Baby girls usually have lower height and weight than baby boys.
• Genetic factors: Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, Turner syndrome can affect a child’s development.
• Hormones: Hormonal imbalances, such as low levels of growth hormone, low thyroid hormone, can also slow a child’s growth.
• Health problems: Chronic diseases, digestive disorders, cancer can reduce a child’s weight and height.
• Sleep duration: Growth in infants is related to sleep duration, with more sleep potentially increasing height.
• Medications: The use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, can affect growth.
• Type of milk: Breastfed babies often grow more slowly than formula-fed babies in the first year.

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VI. Methods to support comprehensive height and weight development for children

Based on the factors affecting the baby’s height and weight as mentioned earlier, we should pay less attention to unchangeable factors like genetics or gender.

Instead, we need to focus on factors that can be changed and improved, such as diet, the child’s living habits, to support the baby’s comprehensive development in both height and weight.

A. Add breast milk or formula to the diet

When babies reach 6 months old, parents are often concerned with providing water to meet the baby’s drinking needs. However, it should be noted that water contains no calories or nutrients, therefore, it cannot contribute to the baby’s weight and height gain.

An alternative is to use breast milk or formula, which not only helps quench the baby’s thirst but also provides calories and important nutrients for the baby’s development. Mothers can refer to formula milks that support height and weight development such as Morinaga milk for babies from 6-12 months,…

B. Add extra meals for the child

After the baby has a stable main meal schedule during the day, parents can add one main meal or one snack to ensure the baby receives enough necessary nutrients.

The specific time to distribute meals will depend on the habits and daily schedule of each baby. However, a fairly common schedule is to feed the baby about 2 hours after they wake up.

C. Develop a healthy diet

Parents can help babies build a healthy diet with the following measures:

• Increase fiber, vitamins, and minerals for the body by supplementing with fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-rich foods.
• Choose protein sources from lean meats such as chicken, pork, beef, and legumes like lentils.
• Use low-fat or skim milk, including dairy products like yogurt, cheese.
• Encourage the baby to drink enough water daily.
• Limit fast food, foods high in sugar and saturated fat.

D. Limit the child’s intake of unhealthy snacks

Reducing snacks high in sugar and calories, and replacing them with nutrient-rich foods can help the baby gain weight and height healthily, while also being good for health. Mothers should minimize the baby’s snacking and instead, can add foods to the baby’s diet such as:

• Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers.
• An apple or a banana.
• Berries like blueberries, strawberries.
• Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

E. Promote physical activity for children

Regularly participating in outdoor physical activity brings many positive benefits to a child’s overall health:

• Strengthens bone health, supporting the height development process.
• Reduces stress and anxiety.
• Helps control blood pressure.
• Helps manage weight.

For children aged 3-5 years, they should be encouraged to participate in physical activity throughout the day, for as long as possible. Children aged 6-18 years should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to promote metabolism and comprehensive development.

Some suitable physical activities for children include: running, jumping, swimming, jumping rope, push-ups,… Mothers should choose activities appropriate for the child’s age and health condition to achieve the best results.

F. Minimize the time children spend with electronic devices

Mothers should limit the time children spend watching TV, playing games, or using social media, keeping it to no more than 2 hours per day.

Besides, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 2 years old and under should not watch TV. Instead, mothers can encourage children to participate in other interesting activities with family members.

G. Ensure children get enough sleep and on a proper schedule

Lack of sleep is closely linked to obesity in children. When sleep is insufficient, children feel increased appetite, leading to eating more and gaining weight. Therefore, the amount of sleep needed for children will vary by age.

Therefore, mothers should rely on the baby’s age to determine the appropriate amount of sleep. On average, children need 9-12 hours of sleep per day to ensure comprehensive development.

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