This version was machine-translated from German and has not been medically reviewed. The authoritative version is the German version.

Head circumference growth velocity

cm/week, cm/month and cm/year from two head circumference measurements, classified against the reference

Child

Sex

male female

Date of birth

For classification on the reference; without a date of birth, only the growth rate is calculated.

Gestational age at birth (weeks, in preterm infants)

If specified, corrected age is used up to a corrected age of 24 months.

Measurements

Date of measurement 1

Head circumference at measurement 1 (cm)

Date of measurement 2

Head circumference at measurement 2 (cm)

Reference

Scientific basis

Measurement error

Height measurement varies by approximately ±0.3–0.5 cm; over 6 months this means an uncertainty of about ±1 cm/year, over 3 months of ±2–4 cm/year. The same measurement technique (recumbent vs. standing, time of day) for both measurements is a prerequisite.

Calculation aid for healthcare professionals: the calculator reproduces what the sources cited assign to the inputs. Clinical assessment and every treatment decision remain with the treating physician. Inputs and results are not stored.

Found an error or have an idea?

Tell us if something does not work or could be better.

Give feedback

Sources

Accuracy of methods for calculating postnatal growth velocity for extremely low birth weight infants (Pediatrics 116:1466–1473) Patel AL, Engstrom JL, Meier PP, Kimura RE, 2005. Original paper (exponential method for g/kg/day)
Clinical longitudinal standards for height and height velocity for North American children (J Pediatr 107:317–329) Tanner JM, Davies PS, 1985. Original paper (definition and measurement interval of growth velocity)
WHO Child Growth Standards: Growth velocity based on weight, length and head circumference – Methods and development WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group, 2009. Reference work (freely accessible)
Etiologies and early diagnosis of short stature and growth failure in children and adolescents (J Pediatr 164(5 Suppl):S1–S14) Rogol AD, Hayden GF, 2014. Review article (definition of height age, growth velocity as a warning sign)

Scientific basis last reviewed: September 2026.

Related calculators

Note

Calculation aid for healthcare professionals. Percentiles and z-scores describe the position of a measured value in the reference population; clinical assessment remains with the treating physician.