CHHS17/266

Canberra Hospital and Health Services

Procedure
Paediatric Anthropometric Measurements
Purpose

The Paediatric Anthropometric Measurements procedure has been developed to provide

guidance for clinicians and is aimed at achieving best practice paediatric care by correctly
measuring and documenting heights and weights of infants, children and adolescents.
This practice guideline was developed for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network by an
experienced paediatric focused reference group and has been endorsed for use in Canberra
Hospital and Health Services.

This guideline provides an extensive step by step process of the correct way to measure and
record height, weight and head circumference of paediatric patients. All children and
adolescents should have their height and weight recorded on admission to paediatric
services. In addition, children under the age of two years should have their head
circumference measured and recorded.

Measurements should be recorded on the Paediatric Medication Chart, appropriate age

percentile chart and where possible in the child’s Personal Health Record (Blue Book). The
World Health Organisation recommend gestational age be corrected up to 24 months for
height, weight and head circumference.

Scope

This document has been developed to guide clinicians in the correct measuring and
recording of paediatric heights, weights and head circumference. The correct recording of
these measurements is vital in assessing and monitoring growth and development,
calculating therapeutic drug doses and anaesthetic requirements and to assist clinicians in
calculating nutrition, energy, protein and fluid requirements.

This guideline is applicable to the Paediatric Department, Emergency Department, the

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit and Maternity Unit of Canberra Hospital
and Health Services.

Doc Number Version Issued Review Date Area Responsible Page

CHHS17/266 1 07/11/2017 01/11/2020 WY&C – 1 of 2
Paediatrics
Do not refer to a paper based copy of this policy document. The most current version can be found on the ACT Health Policy Register
 CHHS17/266

Which area in ACT Health can I contact for more information?

Chelsey Helliwell – Paediatric Clinical Support Nurse

Phone: 61747492 or 61426210
Email: chelsey.helliwell@act.gov.au
Department of Paediatrics
Women, Youth and Children

How can I access the document?

The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Procedure No: 0/C/16:9007-01:00

http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/_policies/pdf/2016-9007.pdf

Search Terms

Height, Length, Weight, Head Circumference, Anthropometry, Measure, Growth, Body Mass
Index (BMI), Nutrition, Malnutrition, Stadiometer

Disclaimer: This document has been developed by ACT Health, Canberra Hospital and Health Services
specifically for its own use. Use of this document and any reliance on the information contained therein by any
third party is at his or her own risk and Health Directorate assumes no responsibility whatsoever.

Doc Number Version Issued Review Date Area Responsible Page

CHHS17/266 1 07/11/2017 01/11/2020 WY&C – 2 of 2
Paediatrics
Do not refer to a paper based copy of this policy document. The most current version can be found on the ACT Health Policy Register