Ideal Weight For Kids: Weight Chart According to Age

Over the last decade, the health sector has upped the campaign about maintaining ideal weight for kids. Recent studies show that in the US, almost 19.7% of children ages 2-19 have obesity.

This means 19% of children are at an increased risk of getting diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and gallbladder disease, not to mention the psychological issues that come with being overweight.

And since overweight children grow up to become overweight adults, early child obesity prevention is critical.

So, how much should a child weigh at every age?

Are You Worried About Your Child’s Weight? Ideal Weight for Kids

The World Health Organization has a simple weight range for kids under 2 years, while the CDC provides one for kids older than 2. This particular chart shows weights in the 50th percentile, which is the average weight.

PS: For kids born prematurely, use adjusted age when looking up their weight according to age in kg on the chart below. (Adjusted weight is the age they would be if they were born full-term).

Weight Chart According to Age [for boys and girls in pounds]

Age	Boys	Girls
Birth	7 lb 8 oz (3.4 kg)	7 lb 1 oz (3.2 kg)
1 Month	9 lb 15 oz (4.5 kg)	9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg)
2 Months	12 lb 6 oz (5.6 kg)	11 lb 4 oz (5.1 kg)
3 Months	14 lb 2 oz (6.4 kg)	13 lb (5.9 kg)
4 Months	15 lb 7 oz (7 kg)	14 lb 2 oz (6.4 kg)
5 Months	16 lb 9 oz (7.5 kg)	15 lb 3 oz (6.9 kg)
6 Months	17 lb 7 oz (7.9 kg)	16 lb 2 oz (7.3 kg)
7 Months	18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg)	16 lb 12 oz (7.6 kg)
8 Months	18 lb 15 oz (8.6 kg)	17 lb 10 oz (8 kg)
9 Months	19 lb 10 oz (8.9 kg)	18 lb 1 oz (8.2 kg)
10 Months	20 lb 5 oz (9.2 kg)	18 lb 12 oz (8.5 kg)
11 Months	20 lb 12 oz (9.4 kg)	19 lb 3 oz (8.7 kg)
12 Months	21 lb 6 oz (9.7 kg)	19 lb 14 oz (9 kg)
18 Months	24 lb (10.9kg)	22 lb 8 oz (10.2 kg)
24 Months	28 lb (12.7 kg)	26 lb 11 oz (12.1 kg)

Average Height and Weight of kids Ages 1 to 18 years

Every child grows at their own pace, but having a general idea of what’s considered standard weight according to age is helpful. This chart shows the ideal height and weight for kids from 24 months till they are 18 years. It can be a helpful tool for tracking your child’s growth patterns. If you have any concerns, it’s best to ask your doctor.

Age	Girls Height (Inches)	Girls Height (Pounds)	Boys Height (Inches)	Boys Height (Pounds)
1	27 to 31	15 to 20	28 to 32	17 to 21
2	31.5 to 36	22 to 32	32 to 37	24 to 34
3	34.5 to 40	26 to 38	35.5 to 40.5	26 to 38
4	37 to 42.5	28 to 44	37.5 to 43	30 to 44
6	42 to 49	36 to 60	42 to 49	36 to 60
8	47 to 54	44 to 80	47 to 54	46 to 78
10	50 to 59	54 to 106	50.5 to 59	54 to 102
12	55 to 64	68 to 136	54 to 63.5	66 to 130
14	59 to 67.5	84 to 160	59 to 69.5	84 to 160
16	60 to 68	94 to 172	63 to 73	104 to 186
18	60 to 68.5	100 to 178	65 to 74	116 to 202

Weight According to Age in KG

On average, babies are born with 5 1/2 to 9 1/2 pounds, with most girls being a few ounces lighter than boys. Though infants lose about 10% of their weight during the first week after birth, they regain it in the second week.

Click to see weight according to age in kg [child weight by age] or use the helpful chart below.

1-year-old weight: Girls– 8-12 kg Boys– 8-12 kg

2-year-old weight: Girls– 10-14 kg Boys– 10-14 kg

3-year-old weight: Girls– 11.5-17kg Boys– 15.5-18kg

4-year-old weight: Girls– 14.5-17. kg Boys– 15-17.6 kg

5-year-old weight: Girls– 16-20 kg Boys– 16-21 kg

6-year-old weight: Girls– 18-23 kg Boys– 18-24 kg

7-year-old weight: Girls– 20-26 kg Boys– 20-27.5 kg

8-year-old weight: Girls– 22-28 kg Boys– 23-30 kg

9-year-old weight: Girls– 25-32 kg Boys– 26-34 kg

10-year-old weight: Girls– 28-36 kg Boys– 23-39.6 kg

11-year-old weight: Girls– 31-40 kg Boys– 33-43 kg

12-year-old weight: Girls– 34-45 kg Boys– 36-48 kg

13-year-old weight: Girls– 37-50 kg Boys– 40-54 kg

14-year-old weight: Girls– 40-55 kg Boys– 43-59 kg

15-year-old weight: Girls– 43-58 kg Boys– 47-63 kg

16-year-old weight: Girls– 45-60 kg Boys– 50-67 kg

17-year-old weight: Girls– 47-62 kg Boys– 53-70 kg

18-year-old weight: Girls– 49-64 kg Boys– 55-73 kg

As seen in the chart, babies gain about an ounce daily or a pound every month until they are 3 months old and double their birth weight by 4 months.

Kids also have growth spurts, so the weight gain is not always gradual. So don’t be surprised if they add a few ounces in one month and then climb the charts the following month.

If you use the metric system, we will give the ideal weight for kids in kg to make it easier for you.

Also read: Study Snacks for Kindergarten Students [3 Food Groups to Buy]

Toddler and Preschooler Ideal Weight

Between ages 1 and 5, a child gains 10 pounds. 5 pounds in the first year and the remaining 5 between ages 2 and 5.

So what’s the ideal weight for a 2 year old?

The normal weight of a 2-year-old in kg is between 10 and 14 kg or 22 and 33 pounds, and a 4-year-old is between 12 to 20 kgs or 28 and 44 pounds.

When they join preschool at age three, the change of environment triggers some stress and decreased appetite. This could lead to slower growth, which will pick up after a few months. Keep offering the child healthy food even if they are not gaining weight.

Elementary Kids Ideal Weight

What’s the average weight of a 6-year-old? According to the CDC growth chart, the average weight of a 6-year-old in kg should be between 16 and 23 kgs or 35 and 52 pounds. A 7-year-old should weigh between 14 and 27 kg or 40 and 66 pounds.

A 10-year-old should weigh anywhere between 24 and 48 kg or  54 and 105 pounds. Girls can weigh anywhere from 24 to 46kgs or 53 to 102 pounds. Unless there is a health issue, kids from age 2 should gain weight and grow steadily until they are pre-teens.

Kids’ ideal weight at this age is determined using BMI for age, or body mass index- a formula that uses weight and height to estimate how much body fat a child has.

Ideal Weight For Teenagers

Between ages 9 and 15, a child is likely to go through another growth spurt. Ideal weight for youngsters here will depend on their height, so body mass index for children is still the best weight tracking method.

So, how much should a 12 year old weigh? The CDC says that the average 12-year-old should weigh 30 to 58 kg or 66 to 130 pounds. A thirteen-year-old boy will weigh between 32 and 48 kg or 70 to 105 pounds. A fifteen-year-old roughly weighs around 40 to 76 kgs or 90 to 168 pounds.

Also read: 25+ Activities for Pre-Teenagers

What Experts Say: Pediatric Weight Standards

How do doctors and pediatricians determine kids’ ideal weight?

Infants below two years use the Personal Child Health Record booklet you are given after giving birth. The road-to-health booklet has a percentile growth chart that acts as a guide every time the child’s weight is taken.

A similar CDC children’s weight chart is used after age 2 to keep track of a child’s growth and weight. This chart shows a graph with the child’s age at the bottom and weight on the vertical axis. Inside the graph are multiple lines labeled percentiles.

Percentiles show how a child’s weight and height (or BMI) compare to other children of the same age and sex. Pediatricians translate the chart into 4 Kids’ weight development benchmarks:

•  4^th percentile or lower is underweight
• 5^th– 85^th percentile is a healthy weight for kids. Most kids range in the 50^th percentile.
• 85^th-94^th percentile is overweight
• 95^th percentile or higher is dangerously obese.

Image source: CDC

Weight Concerns: When to Talk to Your Doctor

We know weight can be a concern for parents, but a healthy lifestyle is key. While weight charts are a helpful tool, it’s important to be aware of situations where a pediatrician’s guidance might be beneficial. Here are some signs that might indicate a need for a checkup:

• Rapid weight gain or loss: This can be a sign of underlying health issues and should be discussed with a pediatrician.
• Weight far outside the expected range for a child’s age and height: Pediatricians use growth charts to track a child’s weight and height relative to their age and sex. Significant deviations from these percentiles might warrant a checkup.
• Changes in eating or activity habits: If a child who normally eats well suddenly loses interest in food or becomes very withdrawn, or a previously active child becomes lethargic, these could be signs of a problem.
• Snoring or sleep apnea: Excess weight can contribute to blocked airways, leading to snoring or sleep apnea, which can affect a child’s sleep quality and overall health.
• Social or emotional difficulties: Weight concerns can sometimes lead to bullying or teasing, impacting a child’s self-esteem and mental health.

Track Your Child’s Weight

Keeping track of a child’s chart over a period of one or two years is crucial to determining their overall health. You cannot get the real picture from just looking at one weight reading. The doctor will examine the chart and see how the percentile lines go.

However, since a high BMI for the pediatric population is not a sign of good or poor health, he will also investigate other parts like cholesterol levels, physical activity, diet, and family history before making recommendations. This is because some children just have heavy bone density, which may make the BMI calculator inaccurate.

Also Read: Brain Development Food for Autistic Child [A Guide]