Understanding growth percentiles
Percentiles compare your child with healthy boys or girls of exactly the same age. A weight on the 40th percentile means 40 in every 100 healthy babies of that age are lighter and 60 are heavier. No percentile is “better” than another — a baby tracking the 10th line can be every bit as healthy as one on the 90th. The key thing is steady growth along their own line over the months.
Results here are based on the WHO Child Growth Standards for 0–5 years. They show how healthy breastfed children grow in good conditions, and are used in India, in the USA for under-2s and in more than 140 countries.
Reading your child’s result
| Percentile |
General meaning |
| Below 3rd |
Lower than the usual range — talk to your doctor |
| 3rd–15th |
On the smaller side of normal |
| 15th–85th |
Middle of the range |
| 85th–97th |
On the bigger side of normal |
| Above 97th |
Higher than the usual range — talk to your doctor |
It is also worth a doctor’s visit if your child drops or rises across two main percentile lines (say, from the 50th to under the 15th), or if their weight and length percentiles are a long way apart.
Median weight by age (WHO, 50th percentile)
| Age |
Boys |
Girls |
| Birth |
3.3 kg |
3.2 kg |
| 6 months |
7.9 kg |
7.3 kg |
| 1 year |
9.6 kg |
8.9 kg |
| 2 years |
12.2 kg |
11.5 kg |
| 3 years |
14.3 kg |
13.9 kg |
| 5 years |
18.3 kg |
18.2 kg |
Wondering what to feed? Browse the baby food chart or the toddler food chart.
Common questions
My baby is on the 5th percentile — should I worry?
Not automatically. Lots of small, healthy babies follow a low line steadily, especially when the parents are petite. Doctors judge the pattern across several visits rather than a single reading.
Do Indian paediatricians use these WHO charts?
Yes, for under-5s the WHO standards are used in India, and they are what this tool is based on. For older children, doctors switch to IAP growth charts.
Weight and length are on different lines — is that normal?
Very often, yes. It only becomes a concern when the difference is large or widening, in which case your doctor may look at weight-for-length.
How often should I check my baby’s percentile?
Usually at routine check-ups is enough; a single measurement matters less than how the line moves between visits.
References: WHO Child Growth Standards · CDC: WHO growth charts (0–2 years)
Checked against the sources listed above. This is general health information and not medical advice — please ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what suits you.
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