A–Z Glossary

Length-for-age

Length-for-age is a growth measurement that provides information about a baby’s linear growth compared with age-based expectations.

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Baby height chart first year

Baby height chart first year

How a first-year baby height chart works During the first year, a healthcare professional measures an infant’s recumbent length with the baby lying flat on a length board. The head is positioned against the fixed headpiece, while the legs are gently extended and the feet are placed against the movable footpiece. Ideally, two trained people […]

Weight-for-Length Percentiles Explained

Weight-for-Length Percentiles Explained

What Weight-for-Length Measures Weight-for-length is a proportional growth indicator. It plots a baby’s body weight against their recumbent length, which is the length measured while lying down. The measurement is particularly useful during infancy because standing height cannot yet be obtained reliably and because weight alone does not show whether body mass is proportionate to […]

When weight gain slows down

When weight gain slows down

Why weight gain may slow normally Infants often gain weight rapidly during the first weeks and months, then gradually settle into a slower rate of growth. This reflects changing energy needs, increasing activity, and the normal variability of infant growth. A baby who was large or small at birth may also move toward a genetically […]