BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation of your child's height and weight measurements. BMI helps determine body fatness and can indicate problems in growth or health. Keep track of the BMI annually for your child. Report any problems or concerns to your pediatrician.
Step 1
Use a digital scale to measure your child's weight. Have your child wear light clothing, take off shoes or heavy outer clothing. Make sure the digital scale is on a tile or wood floor, not carpet. Record your child's weight.
Step 2
Have your child stand against a wall to measure height. Make sure she removes shoes, hair pieces or any clothing that may impact height. Have your child stand with feet against wall. Measure height with a pencil on the wall. Then, measure with the metal tape measure from the floor to the height marking.
Step 3
Use an online calculator to measure your child's BMI (see Resources). Follow this formula to calculate: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703.
Step 4
Keep track of your child's BMI annually. If there are health concerns, you may track it more often because height and weight can vary quickly in children.
Step 5
Check with your pediatrician or nutritionist for advice if your child's BMI is overweight or obese.
Tips and Warnings
- As you notice growth spurts in your child, you may want to recheck his BMI. This calculation will help you work toward a healthy weight for your child.
- Even if your child has a normal BMI, there may still be health concerns, especially if he has an unhealthy diet or is inactive.
Things You'll Need
- Digital scale
- Metal tape measure
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