Exam

Height Measurement in Children

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Height Measurement in Children, Length Measurement in Children

  • See Also
  1. Weight Measurement in Children
  2. Growth Assessment
  • Physiology
  1. See Growth Physiology
  2. Birth length reflects maternal Genetics and intrauterine nutrition
  3. Age 6-18 month length reflects paternal Genetics
  4. By age 2 years, height reaches height percentile line toward mid-parental height
  • Technique
  • Accurate length measurement
  1. Precaution: Do not plot standing height on a supine chart (birth to 3 years)
    1. Standing height is always shorter than supine height
  2. Measure horizontally (lying) if child under age 2 years
  3. Measure vertically (standing) if child older than 2 years old
  • Interpretation
  1. Age <2 years
    1. Shifts across height growth chart lines are normal
    2. Reflects shift from maternal to paternal Genetics
  2. Age 2-13 years
    1. Shifts across 2 growth chart lines are abnormal
    2. Growth should at least parallel the 3rd percentile line
  1. Birth length
    1. Average: birth length: 20 inches (50 cm)
    2. Length doubles by age 4 years
    3. Length triples by age 13 years
  2. First year growth: 9-11 inches (23-27 cm)
  3. Second year growth: 4-6 inches (10-14 cm)
  4. Third year growth: 3-4 inches (7.5 - 10 cm)
  5. Annual growth until Puberty: 2-3 inches (6-7 cm)
  6. Prepuberty growth: 2 inches (5 cm)
  7. Pubertal growth
    1. Boys: 4-6 inches (10-14 cm)
    2. Girls: 3-5 inches (8-12 cm)
  • Normal Heights for boys (range
  • 3% to 97%)
  1. Age 1 year: 28-32 inches, mean: 76 cm (30 in)
  2. Age 2 years: 33-37 inches, mean: 88 cm (35 in)
  3. Age 3 years: 36-41 inches, mean: 95 cm (38 in)
  4. Age 4 years: 38-44 inches, mean: 103 cm (41 in)
  5. Age 5 years: 40-47 inches, mean: 110 cm (44 in)
  6. Age 6 years: 43-50 inches, mean: 116 cm (46 in)
  7. Age 7 years: 45-53 inches, mean: 121 cm (48 in)
  8. Age 8 years: 47-55 inches, mean: 127 cm (51 in)
  9. Age 9 years: 49-57 inches, mean: 132 cm (53 in)
  10. Age 10 years: 51-59 inches, mean: 137 cm (55 in)
  11. Age 11 years: 53-61 inches, mean: 143 cm (57 in)
  12. Age 12 years: 54-64 inches, mean: 150 cm (60 in)
  13. Age 13 years: 56-67 inches, mean: 156 cm (62 in)
  14. Age 14 years: 57-70 inches, mean: 163 cm (65 in)
  15. Age 15 years: 60-72 inches, mean: 169 cm (68 in)
  16. Age 16 years: 62-73 inches, mean: 173 cm (69 in)
  17. Age 17 years: 63-74 inches, mean: 68 inches
  18. Age 18 years: 177 cm (71 in)
  • Normal Height for Girls (range
  • 3% to 97%)
  1. Birth: 18.5-21.1 inches, mean: 50 cm (20 in)
  2. Age 1 years: 27-31 inches, mean: 73 cm (29 in)
  3. Age 2 years: 32-37 inches, mean: 85 cm (34 in)
  4. Age 3 years: 35-40 inches, mean: 95 cm (38 in)
  5. Age 4 years: 38-44 inches, mean: 103 cm (41 in)
  6. Age 5 years: 40-47 inches, mean: 108 cm (43 in)
  7. Age 6 years: 43-49 inches, mean: 115 cm (46 in)
  8. Age 7 years: 45-52 inches, mean: 120 cm (48 in)
  9. Age 8 years: 47-54 inches, mean: 125 cm (50 in)
  10. Age 9 years: 49-56 inches, mean: 130 cm (52 in)
  11. Age 10 years: 50-59 inches, mean: 138 cm (55 in)
  12. Age 11 years: 52-62 inches, mean: 143 cm (57 in)
  13. Age 12 years: 54-65 inches, mean: 150 cm (60 in)
  14. Age 13 years: 57-66 inches, mean: 155 cm (62 in)
  15. Age 14 years: 58-67 inches, mean: 158 cm (63 in)
  16. Age 15 years: 59-68 inches, mean: 158 cm (63 in)
  17. Age 16 years: 59-68 inches, mean: 159 cm (64 in)
  18. Age 17 years: 60-68 inches, mean: 160 cm (64 in)