Baby Growth Charts & Percentiles Explained | Parenting Hub
Percentiles compare your baby to other babies the same age and sex. Learn how to read WHO growth charts and what really matters.
Healthy babies sit anywhere on the chart. The pattern of growth across visits matters more than a single number.
What a percentile means
If your baby is on the 25th percentile for weight, 25 out of 100 babies the same age and sex weigh less, and 75 weigh more. Anywhere between the 3rd and 97th is considered within the normal range.
What to look at
- The curve over time, not a single point
- Weight, length and head circumference plotted together
- Whether baby is feeding, weeing and weeing well
- Whether they are alert, active and meeting milestones
When to ask your MCH nurse
Talk to your MCH nurse or GP if your baby crosses two major percentile lines (up or down), or if you're worried about feeding.
When to seek help
- Any sudden change that worries you or feels off for your baby.
- Poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, or persistent irritability.
- Fever in a baby under 3 months, or any symptom that worsens quickly.
Common questions
Is a low percentile bad?
No. Small babies can be perfectly healthy. What matters is steady growth along their own curve.