What is the Child Height Predictor?
The Child Height Predictor calculates mid-parental target adult height from mother and father heights using the sex-specific formula published in American Academy of Pediatrics educational material. It also shows a target range around the estimate.
How does the Child Height Predictor work?
For boys, the formula averages the father’s height with the mother’s height plus 5 inches. For girls, it averages the mother’s height with the father’s height minus 5 inches. The target range is approximately ±4 inches around the mid-parental value.
What formula or rule does it use?
Boys: (mother + father + 5 in) ÷ 2; girls: (father − 5 in + mother) ÷ 2. The dynamic “How this answer was calculated” panel substitutes your entered values into that rule after a valid calculation.
How should you use this calculator?
Choose the child sex used by the formula, select inches or centimeters, and enter both parental heights. The calculator converts metric values internally and returns the result in the selected unit. For current infant size relative to age, use the Baby Growth Percentile Calculator.
How should you understand the result?
The main result is a mid-parental target height, not a certain future adult height. The displayed range reflects typical variation around the parental-height estimate rather than a guarantee that adult height will fall inside the interval.
What are the limitations?
Adult stature is influenced by many genes plus health, nutrition, hormones, chronic disease, puberty timing, and other factors. Growth velocity and a child’s position relative to genetic potential are clinical questions rather than simple prediction problems.
Who can use this calculator?
This tool is useful for a broad family-height reference. Parents who are concerned about a child’s growth pattern should discuss measured growth and growth velocity with a pediatric professional rather than relying on a prediction formula alone. For current infant size relative to age, use the Baby Growth Percentile Calculator; for exact age, use the Baby Age Calculator; and for general unit conversion, use the Length Converter or Age Calculator.
Frequently asked questions about Child Height Predictor
Sources and methodology
Methodology and interpretation are grounded in the following professional or government references.