Understanding Baby Growth Percentiles

It's part of the normal routine of well-baby care: Your pediatrician measures your child's length, weight, and head circumference and notes them on a chart. You eagerly await the results, excited to hear that your bundle of joy is in the 90th percentile for height (Wow!), the 80th percentile for weight (Cool!), and the 75th percentile for head size (Ooh!). But what do these numbers really mean? Why are they important? Can they predict what your child will be like in the future?

If you're confused, you're not alone. Here's everything you need to know about baby growth percentiles: where they come from, what they reveal about your child's health, and when you should be concerned.