Toddler Growth Chart (24–60 months)

From ~24 months onward, two growth-chart conventions diverge — WHO's prescriptive standards continue to 60 months, while most US clinicians switch to the CDC 2000 growth charts at 24 months. Both describe the same biology, but CDC's percentiles typically read slightly higher than WHO's at this age because CDC reflects the actual US population while WHO reflects optimal growth.

To compute a toddler percentile directly, use the toddler percentile calculator — it defaults to "Auto" (WHO under 24 months, CDC after) and you can switch via the Standard dropdown.

Length becomes stature at 24 months

Infant charts measure recumbent length (lying down). From 24 months the child stands, and measurements are stature (standing height). Stature is typically 0.5–1 cm shorter than recumbent length on the same child, which is why the chart kind visibly changes at 24 months even though it's continuous in intent.

Toddler percentile patterns

By 2 years most children have finished the dramatic canalization of infancy and are tracking along their genetic channel. Crossing percentile lines after 24 months is less common and more informative — a sustained drop of two bands over a year or more is a reason to review growth velocity with a pediatrician, though transient dips around illness or a growth spurt are normal.

WHO vs CDC — which to use?

Both are valid in the 24–60 month range. WHO describes how children should grow under optimal conditions; CDC describes how US children did grow between the 1960s and 1990s. If your clinician specifies a reference, use that. Otherwise, Auto mode mirrors the most common US clinical convention: WHO under 24 months, CDC after.

Weight-for-length to BMI

In the infant chart set, weight-relative-to-length was tracked as weight-for-length (WFL). From ~24 months on, pediatricians use BMI-for-age instead. This calculator doesn't yet include BMI-for-age — if that's what you need, check with your clinician or use the CDC's interactive BMI calculator directly.