About Baby Weight Percentiles
Weight is one of the most important indicators of a baby's health and nutrition. Steady weight gain suggests your baby is feeding well and absorbing nutrients.
What this percentile means
A weight percentile compares your baby’s weight with other babies of the same age and sex in the WHO standard group. Being in the 25th percentile simply means your baby weighs more than about 25% of peers and less than about 75% of peers. This is not a score of health or parenting; it is a way to understand where a measurement sits on the growth chart.
Typical healthy range
Many healthy infants track anywhere from roughly the 3rd to the 97th percentile. A stable pattern across visits is usually reassuring. Temporary changes can happen with illness, appetite changes, or measurement differences. Rapid crossing of several percentile lines can be worth a conversation with your pediatrician.
When to talk to a pediatrician
Seek guidance if weight gain slows significantly, if your baby consistently refuses feeds, has fewer wet diapers, seems unusually sleepy, or if you see a sustained downward shift in percentile across multiple check-ins. Your clinician can evaluate feeding, hydration, and any underlying medical factors.
How to weigh your baby correctly?
- Use a digital baby scale for accuracy.
- Weigh your baby naked or with a dry diaper only.
- Try to weigh at the same time of day.
FAQ
Is a low weight percentile always a problem?
Not always. Some babies are naturally smaller and track consistently at lower percentiles. Clinicians look for steady growth over time and assess feeding, wet diapers, development, and overall health rather than reacting to a single measurement.
How often should I weigh my baby?
Routine weights at well-child visits are usually enough. If you weigh at home, doing it too frequently can be misleading because daily fluctuations are normal. Checking every few weeks (or monthly) is typically sufficient unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
What is a typical healthy range for weight percentiles?
Many healthy babies fall anywhere from about the 3rd to the 97th percentile on WHO charts. A stable pattern matters more than the exact number. Rapid crossings of percentile lines can be a sign to discuss with a clinician.
Do I need to weigh in kg or pounds?
This calculator expects kilograms (kg). If you have pounds, convert to kg by dividing by 2.2046 before entering the value.