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Your baby’s length will be ranked in exactly the same way, and can give you an idea of whether your baby will be tall, medium or average in height. If both you and your husband are short, don’t expect a baby to rank in the 90th percentile in height, though it can happen.

One thing you do need to look for is a major difference between the height and weight percentiles. They should be pretty close. If your baby is in the 40th percentile in height, and 90th in weight, you might be feeding her a bit too much. On the other hand, a baby in the 90th percentile in height that ranks in the 30th percentile in weight is probably a bit on the thin side. Your doctor will advise you if your child’s diet needs attention.

The most important thing you can do to monitor your child’s development is to attend those well baby visits with your pediatrician. Your doctor will be monitoring your baby’s progress, and in the event that any area needs attention, he will be able to alert you to the issues. This first year of development is critical, and it is good to keep tabs on the progress.