Children's Growth Percentile Chart: Complete Guide for Ages 2-12 Years

Children's growth patterns between ages 2-12 differ significantly from infant and toddler growth. Growth velocity remains slow and steady until the prepubertal growth spurt begins. Understanding children's growth percentile charts helps you monitor whether your child develops appropriately throughout childhood and identify patterns requiring evaluation.

Transitioning from Baby Charts to Childhood Charts

At age 2, children transition from WHO infant/toddler charts (0-24 months) to CDC childhood charts (2-20 years). This transition brings important changes:

Chart differences:

• WHO charts use weight-for-length (lying down measurement)
• CDC charts use BMI-for-age (Body Mass Index based on standing height)

Measurement changes:

• Under 2: Recumbent length (lying down)
• Over 2: Standing height (approximately 0.5 inches shorter than length)

Percentile shifts:

• Children may shift percentile bands during this transition
• Small percentile changes are normal due to methodology differences

New metrics:

• BMI-for-age becomes the primary assessment tool
• Height-for-age and weight-for-age continue as supporting metrics

This transition reflects the shift from rapid infant growth to slower, steadier childhood growth.

Children's Height Percentile Chart: Ages 2-12

Boys Height Percentiles

Girls Height Percentiles

Children grow approximately 2-3 inches per year during ages 2-10, with gradual acceleration as puberty approaches.

Children's Weight Percentile Chart: Ages 2-12

Boys Weight Percentiles

Girls Weight Percentiles

Weight gain accelerates during ages 9-12 as children approach puberty. Girls often begin their growth spurt earlier than boys.

Understanding BMI-for-Age Percentiles

BMI (Body Mass Index) assesses whether weight is proportional to height. For children, BMI changes with age, so BMI-for-age percentiles are used rather than adult BMI categories.

BMI calculation: Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]²

BMI-for-age percentile categories:

Unlike height and weight percentiles where all ranges can be healthy, BMI-for-age has specific ranges indicating health risks. Children consistently below 5th or above 85th percentile need evaluation.

Expected Growth Velocity by Age

Growth velocity (rate of growth) provides important information about whether children are growing adequately.

Height velocity by age:

• Ages 2-3: 3-3.5 inches per year
• Ages 4-5: 2.5-3 inches per year
• Ages 6-8: 2-2.5 inches per year
• Ages 9-11: 2-2.5 inches per year (girls may accelerate earlier)
• Ages 12+: Prepubertal spurt begins (3-4 inches per year or more)

Weight velocity by age:

• Ages 2-5: 4-5 pounds per year
• Ages 6-8: 5-7 pounds per year
• Ages 9-12: 7-10 pounds per year (accelerating toward puberty)

Children who fall below expected velocity for 6+ months need evaluation even if their percentiles appear normal.

Reading Children's Growth Percentile Charts

Step 1: Plot Current Measurements

At each well-child visit or home measurement:

• Record exact age (years and months)
• Measure standing height without shoes
• Weigh in minimal clothing
• Calculate BMI

Step 2: Find Percentiles

Plot each measurement on the appropriate CDC chart:

• Height-for-age
• Weight-for-age
• BMI-for-age

Identify which percentile curve each measurement falls on or near.

Step 3: Assess Trends

Plot multiple measurements over time (at least 3-4 measurements spanning 6-12 months). Look for:

Healthy patterns:

• Tracking along a consistent percentile curve
• Staying within 1-2 percentile bands
• Height, weight, and BMI percentiles reasonably aligned

Concerning patterns:

• Crossing 2+ percentile curves (up or down) over 6-12 months
• Flat growth (no height gain for 6+ months)
• Diverging height and weight (one increasing while other decreases)
• BMI percentile moving into underweight or overweight ranges

Step 4: Calculate Growth Velocity

Compare measurements 6-12 months apart:

• Height gain per year
• Weight gain per year

Compare actual velocity to age-expected velocity. Velocity significantly below expectations warrants evaluation even if percentiles appear adequate.

When Children's Growth Patterns Indicate Concerns

Height Concerns

Contact your pediatrician if:

• Height below 3rd percentile or above 97th percentile
• Dropping 2+ percentile curves over 6-12 months
• Height velocity below 2 inches per year (ages 4-10)
• No height gain for 6 months
• Height percentile inconsistent with parents' heights (very tall parents with child at 5th percentile)

Possible causes include growth hormone deficiency, thyroid disorders, celiac disease, chronic conditions, or constitutional delay.

Weight Concerns

Contact your pediatrician if:

• Weight below 5th percentile or above 95th percentile
• Crossing 2+ percentile curves (either direction) over 6 months
• Weight velocity significantly above or below age expectations
• Recent weight loss
• Weight not increasing with height increase

BMI Concerns

Contact your pediatrician if:

• BMI below 5th percentile (underweight)
• BMI above 85th percentile (overweight/obese)
• BMI percentile increasing rapidly (crossing curves upward)
• BMI decreasing while height increases normally

Early intervention for weight issues prevents long-term health complications.

Factors Influencing Childhood Growth

Genetics

Parental height remains the strongest predictor. Mid-parental height formulas estimate adult height:

• Boys: (Father's height + Mother's height + 5 inches) / 2
• Girls: (Father's height + Mother's height - 5 inches) / 2

Accuracy: +/- 4 inches

Nutrition

Adequate calories, protein, calcium, vitamin D, and iron support optimal growth. Chronic malnutrition or restrictive diets can slow growth velocity.

Physical Activity

Regular activity promotes healthy bone and muscle development. Both sedentary lifestyles and excessive training can affect growth.

Sleep

Growth hormone releases primarily during deep sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation can impact growth velocity.

Medical Conditions

Chronic conditions (asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease), hormone disorders (thyroid, growth hormone), and genetic syndromes can all affect growth patterns.

Medications

Some medications (particularly stimulants for ADHD and inhaled corticosteroids for asthma) can temporarily slow growth. Discuss concerns with your pediatrician.

Boys vs. Girls Growth Differences

Sex-based differences become more pronounced during late childhood as puberty approaches:

Pre-puberty (ages 2-8):

• Boys average 0.5-1 inch taller
• Boys average 1-2 pounds heavier
• Similar growth velocities

Pre-pubertal/Early puberty (ages 9-12):

• Girls often taller than boys temporarily (earlier growth spurt)
• Weight differences become more variable
• Girls develop earlier on average (2 years earlier than boys)

By mid-puberty, boys surpass girls in height and maintain advantage through adulthood.

Tracking Growth at Home

Frequency:

• Height: Every 3-6 months (changes are gradual)
• Weight: Every 3-6 months (unless monitoring concerns)
• BMI: Calculate after measuring height and weight

Technique:

• Measure height against wall without shoes, looking straight ahead
• Weigh in minimal clothing at consistent time of day
• Record date, exact age, and measurements
• Calculate BMI using online calculators or apps
• Plot all metrics on growth charts

Home tracking supplements, but does not replace, pediatrician measurements.

The Bottom Line on Children's Growth Percentile Charts

Children's growth between ages 2-12 follows slow, steady patterns of 2-3 inches and 4-7 pounds per year until the prepubertal growth spurt begins. CDC growth charts use height-for-age, weight-for-age, and BMI-for-age percentiles to assess whether children grow appropriately.

What matters most is consistent tracking along growth curves over time. Healthy children exist across all percentile ranges from 5th to 95th for height and weight, and 5th to 85th for BMI. When children cross 2+ percentile curves, show inadequate growth velocity, or have BMI in underweight or overweight ranges, evaluation is warranted.

Track measurements every 3-6 months, plot them on growth charts, calculate growth velocity, and discuss patterns with your pediatrician at well-child visits. Most importantly, remember that healthy children come in all sizes, and growth charts are tools for monitoring trends, not targets to achieve.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Growth Charts for Ages 2-20 Years. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy Children - Growth Charts. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/Glands-Growth-Disorders/Pages/Growth-Charts-By-the-Numbers.aspx
3. Kuczmarski RJ, et al. 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States. Advance Data. 2000.
4. Barlow SE. Expert Committee Recommendations on Assessment of Childhood Obesity. Pediatrics. 2007.
5. Rogol AD, et al. Growth at Puberty. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2002.