Assess

  • Assess the child’s height, weight and weight status
  • Ask about family lifestyle and behaviours

Chart

Body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile chart for boys and girls

It’s not always easy to tell if a child is a healthy weight for their age and height.

Children and teenagers need to grow, but they are healthiest if they stay within a certain weight range as they grow. This is called a healthy weight for their age.

Boys chart

Girls chart

Body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile chart for boys

Translated versions can be downloaded in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Farsi, French, Hindi, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Swahili, Thai and Vietnamese.

Body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile chart for girls

Translated versions can be downloaded in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Farsi, French, Hindi, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Swahili, Thai and Vietnamese.

Chart

AAssessment flow chartssessment flow chart

For weight assessment and management in children above a healthy weight
Information is relevant for all clinicians providing care for children 2–17 years old.

Flow chart (Email friendly)

Flow chart (Print ready)

Flow chart (for tertiary settings)

Poster

See How They Grow Poster

We can measure your child’s height and weight as part
of their health assessment. Ask us how they are growing.

See How They Grow Poster

Translated versions are also available.

See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 1, size A4 or A3
See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 2, size A4 or A3
See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 3, size A4 or A3

Guide

Guide to accurately measuring the height of a child

Standing height measurement is appropriate for most children 2 years, and older.

Height guide (Email friendly)

Height guide (Print ready)

Guide

Guide to accurately measuring the length of a child

Length measurement is appropriate for most children under 2 years, and older if unable to stand.

Length guide (Email friendly)

Length guide (Print ready)

Guide

Guide to accurately weighing a child

Appropriate for most children 2 years, and older.

Weighing guide (Email friendly)

Weighing guide (Print ready)

Guide

Guide to accurately weighing an infant

Appropriate for most children 2 years, and under.

Weighing guide for infants (Email friendly)

Weighing guide for infants (Print ready)

 

BMI Calculator

Child weight status calculator

It’s not always easy to tell if a child is a healthy weight for their age and height.

Children and teenagers need to grow, but they are healthiest if they stay within a certain weight range as they grow. This is called a healthy weight for their age.

Visit the calculator

Policy

NSW Health Guideline – Growth Assessment in Children (2017)

This document describes a standardised approach to measuring weight and height in children and adults, and to measuring length and head circumference in infants. This document also describes interpreting and recording these measurements as part of assessing weight status.

Standardised measurement and interpretation of weight, height, and weight status will improve the accuracy and usefulness of measurements over time and across facilities, and support clinical decision-making.

Policy