WHO vs CDC Growth Charts
Two different growth references, built for two different purposes. Here's exactly how they differ — and which one to use for your child's age.
| WHO Growth Standards | CDC Growth Charts | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Prescriptive (how children should grow) | Descriptive (how US children did grow) |
| Published | 2006 | 2000 |
| Reference population | Breastfed infants, 6 countries, optimal conditions | US infants, breastfed + formula-fed |
| Recommended age range | Birth – 2 years (also covers up to 5) | 2 – 20 years |
| Geographic scope | International (180+ countries) | United States |
| Endorsed by | WHO, UNICEF, CDC (for under-2s) | CDC, most US pediatricians (2+) |
Why the CDC recommends WHO for infants
It may seem counterintuitive, but the CDC itself recommends pediatricians use the WHO growth standard — not its own CDC chart — for children under 2 years old. That's because WHO data was collected specifically to represent optimal growth for breastfed infants regardless of country, while the CDC dataset mixes breastfed and formula-fed US infants from decades ago, which is less representative of current infant feeding recommendations.
What happens when you switch charts
If you plot the same baby on both charts, the percentile can shift — sometimes by 10–20 points — particularly in the first 6 months. This is a known, expected artifact of the two different reference populations, not a change in your baby's actual health. Pediatricians are aware of this and typically stick with one standard consistently across visits rather than comparing across charts.
The practical rule of thumb
Use WHO for any child under 2. Switch to CDC from age 2 onward, especially in the US, since it extends coverage through 20 years and is what most school and adolescent screenings use. Our calculator lets you toggle between both instantly for any age from 0–5.
Infant Growth Percentile Calculator.
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