Your Child's Growth

What is "normal growth"?
There is a range of height that is considered normal for children of the same age and gender. Children grow at different rates, so healthy children of the same age might be taller or shorter than one another. Learn more about how children grow.

How do I find out if my child's height is in the normal height range?
Growth charts show the different range of heights of children in the United States at different ages. How your child measures up to others his or her age is important to know for your doctor to diagnose potential growth problems. Enter your child's height into an interactive growth chart to see if he or she measures up.

If my child is far shorter than others his or her age, does that mean there's a problem?
Not necessarily. If your child is in the shortest 5% of children, you should speak to your child's primary care doctor. But it is also important to see how your child is growing over time. Your child's growth rate is more important than his or her height at any one point in time. Track your child's growth to see how your child's height compares to others the same age.

What determines how tall my child will grow?
Some of the factors that may affect your child's healthy growth include:

  • Nutrition and underlying medical conditions
  • Genetics: short parents tend to have short children
  • Growth hormone deficiency: sometimes shortness is a sign that your child is not producing enough growth hormone

Learn more about the things that affect childhood growth.

When should I be concerned about my child's height?
Only your child's doctor can say for sure that your child needs testing. But there are some signs to look out for. If your child is far shorter than his or her classmates, you might want to talk to your doctor about a medical diagnosis.
Find out more about when you should be concerned.

What is an interactive growth chart?
This is a convenient way to see how your child's height compares to the height of others the same age. Just enter his or her age, height, and sex into the chart and you will see what percentile your child is in. You should print out the results and bring them to your child's next doctor's appointment. If you are concerned about your child's growth, don't wait another year before you talk with your child's doctor. Chart your child's growth now.

What does "percentile" mean?
Percentile refers to where your child falls on the growth chart. The chart represents the heights of children in the United States at different ages. If your child is in the 5th percentile, it means that he or she is in the bottom 5% of heights. This means that 95% of boys or girls the same age as your child are taller. Ask your doctor if there is cause for concern. Learn some of the signs that your child might not be growing normally.

My child is shorter than others his or her age. Can this be a sign of other issues?
If your child is much shorter than others the same age and gender, it may affect his or her health. Shortness can also be a sign of medical problems such as metabolism problems and bone strength issues. Learn more about the impact on your child.