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.
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
Assessment 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.
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 (Print ready)
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
See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 1, size A4 or A3 (Print ready)
See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 2, size A4 or A3 (Print ready)
See How They Grow Poster – Translated version 3, size A4 or A3 (Print ready)
Guide
Guide to accurately measuring the height of a child
Standing height measurement is appropriate for most children 2 years, and older.
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.
Guide
Guide to accurately weighing a child
Appropriate for most children 2 years, and older.
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.
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.