thread: Being in different percentiles for length & weight

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    USA
    3,991

    Being in different percentiles for length & weight

    What does this percentile thing actually mean? I'm guessing the aim is to be in the same percentile for length and weight?

    My son was measured this morning and I checked him on the charts after getting home and he is a skinny little thing! I knew that but now I just want to know it's okay!

    According to the WHO BFing charts he is just under the 50th percentile for his weight but he's on the 85th percentile for his length. That seems a bit off to me.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2004
    Melbourne
    11,171

    My Dr has said as long as they are following the same curve most of the time for each thing then it's ok. By that I mean if they are he is in the 50th percentile for weight then you'd like him to stay there or go to the next one & not a lower one & the same with length, stay in the 85th percentile. By the sounds he's just a long lean little man. FWIW my little cherub is in the 90th percentile for weight & the 70th percentile for height, so she's short & chubby LOL!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    Perfectly fine Just like there are tall skinny adults and short heavy ones, children will come in all shapes and sizes too. My eldest was on the 97th for weight and height, my 2nd was on the 50th for weight and height, but the last two were and are on the 97th for height and the 50th for weight. Me thinks my last two get their metabolism from their Dad and not their Mum

  4. #4
    Platinum Member. Love a friend xxx

    Jan 2008
    hoppers crossing
    2,380

    My son has alwys been in 95th for his weight and for his height but they are happy cause he has follwed the same curve so to speak on his chart....but aslong as they are healthly and happy.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    USA
    3,991

    Thanks girls

    He is thriving so I wasn't really concerned- more just starting to wonder if I was being a neglectful mother and should be worrying My H is tall & skinny and he's taking after him.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Melbourne
    6,745

    DD has always been about 20th for weight, 50th for height and 90th for head! The MHCN said that is fine.

  7. #7
    paradise lost Guest

    My DD was born on 75th for weight, 95th for height. She dropped onto the 50th for weight at about 4 months and is still there now. Some movement on the curves can be normal too - it's better to look at the overall picture than the chart. If baby seems happy, alert, thriving and interacting well and feeds ok, with plenty of wet nappies and regular poopy ones then there's nothing to worry about. Conversely if bubs is NONE of those things then they need a doctor, no matter how "great" their chart looks.

    Charts annoy me. WHen DD was little i always felt they were looking at the chart instead of the baby....

    Bx

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    228

    this may be old information as my DD is now 3.5 years old, but I was always told that the percentiles in the health record books were based on bottle fed babies only, not breastfed which was a different keatle of fish. No idea why because they are still being 'fed' milk but I guess bottle milk has more 'fat' in it???

    Anyway, I would go with the others and just be satisfied if bub was following the same general curve whether over or under. It's just there as a guideline only.

    My DD has always been off the chart for weight and pretty much height but never worried about it because she's considered above average height. Her head circumference on the other hand has always been 'below average' 50th percentile or something but is perfectly fine and healthy.