A percentile is a number on a growth chart that shows how a child's measurement compares with children of the same age and sex. For example, a baby on the 30th percentile for weight weighs more than 30% of babies their age and less than 70%.
Key takeaways
- A low or high percentile is not good or bad on its own.
- Following a steady curve over time is what matters.
- Doctors look more closely if a child crosses two or more percentile lines.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is simply the middle; healthy children grow along many different percentile lines.