What it means
On a growth chart, a child at the 75th percentile for weight weighs more than 75 of every 100 children of the same age and sex, and less than 25. Growth charts track height, weight, head size and BMI over time. What matters most is that a child keeps following about the same curve; a sudden jump or drop across percentile lines needs to be looked at.
For the nurse
Measure carefully, plot each value on the right chart (WHO charts for children under 2 in the US, CDC charts after that), and report a child who crosses two major percentile lines or falls below the 5th percentile.
At a glance
| Spanish | percentil |
|---|---|
| Also written | percentiles |
Related terms
BMI
Body mass index: a number worked out from a person's weight and height that sorts weight into categories.
growth and development
The changes in body size (growth) and in skills and abilities (development) that happen across a person's life.
large for gestational age
Describes a newborn who weighs more than 90 out of 100 babies born after the same number of weeks of pregnancy.