Girls Head chart for babies 1 week old baby

Head circumference chart for 1-Week-Old girls

Reading the head circumference chart for baby girls at 1-Week-Old.

Head circumference percentiles for 1-Week-Old girls

The CDC growth charts provide the following head circumference percentiles for baby girls at 1-Week-Old:

• 5th percentile: 32.2 cm (12.7 in)

• 25th percentile: 33.6 cm (13.2 in)

• 50th percentile (median): 34.7 cm (13.7 in)

• 75th percentile: 35.9 cm (14.1 in)

• 95th percentile: 37.6 cm (14.8 in)

Percentile rankings compare your child's measurement against CDC reference data for baby girls. The 50th percentile is the median - the midpoint of all measurements in the reference group.

Development context for 1-Week-Old girls

At birth, the head circumference reflects brain volume and skull growth that has been underway since early pregnancy. Some variation in shape is normal in the first days after a vaginal birth as the skull bones, which overlap slightly during delivery, resume their natural position. Head circumference is one of the three primary measurements taken at every newborn and infant check-up alongside length and weight.

How to measure accurately

Head circumference is measured at the widest point - just above the eyebrows at the front and around the most prominent part at the back of the skull. Use a flexible, non-stretch tape measure. Two people make the task easier: one to hold the baby's head still, one to take the reading. Healthcare professionals use a purpose-built infantometer for length; for head, a standard tape is the clinical norm.

What to watch for

The fontanelle - the soft spot at the top of the head - should feel soft and slightly sunken when the baby is calm and upright. A bulging fontanelle when the baby is not crying may warrant prompt medical attention. A persistently sunken fontanelle can indicate dehydration. Keep a record of every head measurement with the date, as trends are far more informative than a single reading.

When to seek advice

Alert your GP or health visitor if the head circumference crosses two percentile lines upward or downward over a period of weeks, if the fontanelle closes very early (before 9 months) or remains widely open after 18 months, or if you notice unusual head shape that is not resolving on its own.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fontanelle and when does it close?

The fontanelle is the soft spot on the top of a baby's head where the skull bones have not yet fused. There are two fontanelles: the larger anterior (front) fontanelle, which typically closes between 9 and 18 months, and the smaller posterior (back) fontanelle, which usually closes by 2-3 months. Both allow the skull to expand rapidly as the brain grows during the first years of life.

What is a normal head circumference for this age?

The percentile table on this page shows the full range of typical head circumferences. All values from the 5th to the 95th percentile are within normal limits. As with all growth measurements, the pattern of growth over time is more informative than any single reading - a baby growing consistently at the 15th percentile is growing normally.

How fast does head circumference grow in the first year?

Head circumference grows approximately 10-12 cm in the first year of life - roughly 2 cm per month in the first 3 months, slowing to about 1 cm per month from 3-6 months, and 0.5 cm per month from 6-12 months. By 12 months, the average head circumference has grown from approximately 34-35 cm at birth to around 46-47 cm.

Data sources and methodology

The percentile ranges on this page are drawn from CDC growth chart data from the National Center for Health Statistics and WHO Child Growth Standards (for children under 5). CDC data published May 30, 2000, with 2022 extended BMI tables. Percentiles are modelled using the LMS method (Box-Cox transformation), which accounts for the skewed distribution of measurements at each age. All measurements are given in metric units with imperial equivalents.

These reference ranges are for general information only. A healthcare professional can provide personalised assessment based on the individual's growth pattern.