Health hubs / Children's health: education
Growth curves, explained
What percentiles mean and why the trend matters more than one point.
Talk to your pediatrician. This section is education only and does not replace your child's medical care. Doses for children are only quoted from official guidance (AAP, NIH ODS, WHO).
Percentiles
Growth charts are percentile curves showing the distribution of body measurements in children. CDC notes they are not meant to be used alone to diagnose; they contribute to an overall picture of the child [1]. In the US, CDC recommends WHO growth standards for children under 2 and CDC charts from 2 to 19 years [1][2].
What to watch
A child on the 10th percentile who stays there is following their curve. Crossing percentile lines over time is something to discuss with your pediatrician.
Sources
- CDC, Growth charts. www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/
- WHO, Child growth standards. www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards
DOIs verified against Crossref and official pages checked on 2026-10-15.