Growth Charts for EBF babies announced by the WHO

[daisymelan]

The World Health Organization has announced new growth charts in 2006, showing the normal height, weight and body mass index (BMI) for growing children (the BMI is an index of whether a child is under or overweight).

Its older charts were predominantly based on formula-fed babies. Since the WHO now strongly advocates exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is 6 months old, babies will be leaner (and healthier!).

You really do want your doctor to be paying attention to these charts.  Case in point, my dd2 went from 50% to 25% to 10% to 5% to off the charts at 18 months, for weight.  According to these charts, she has been on a perfect 15% curve all along.

The charts are on the WHO site:

Weight-for-age

Girls:   http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_wfa_girls_p/en/index.html
Boys:   http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_wfa_boys_p/en/index.html

Length/height-for-age

Girls:    http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_lhfa_girls_p/en/index.html
Boys:    http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_lhfa_boys_p/en/index.html

BMI-for-age

Girls:    http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_bfa_girls_p/en/index.html
Boys:    http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/chts_bfa_boys_p/en/index.html

Some more information

 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/infant-growth-charts/


The information in these charts is presented in metric units.  If your child has been weighed in pounds and ounces, you will want to calculate his weight in kilograms.  You can use this conversion website to help:

 http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/cclboz.htm

Also, if your child has been measured in inches, you will want to calculate her height in centimeters.  You can use this conversion website to help:

 http://www.manuelsweb.com/in_cm.htm