What are growth charts?
Growth charts are tools that the doctor uses to evaluate and keep track of your child’s physical growth. At each checkup, the doctor or nurse will measure your child’s height and weight. Then she’ll plot those numbers on a chart of national averages for children of the same age and sex. In the end, she’ll tell you what percentile your child is in. If the doctor tells you that your 6-year-old son is in the 75th percentile for weight, for example, that means 75 percent of the boys his age in the United States weigh the same or less than your child and 25 percent weigh more. The doctor will also keep track of your child’s body mass index (BMI). This number — which expresses the relationship between your child’s height and weight — helps the doctor decide if your child is overweight, underweight, or at risk for becoming overweight. The BMI chart is different for children than for adults, because a child’s BMI should fluctuate as he grows. Preschoolers, for example, are generally leaner tha
