According to different nutritionists and child specialists, from birth to 10 years, observing a child’s weight and height is more important. This is the time when most development will occur. Neglecting during this period may result in stunted growth and severe health disorders.
Nowadays, most kids are picky and prefer to eat sweets and junk food. If you are a parent of 8 years who also behaves like this and want to know the average weight and height of an 8-year-old, then this is the right place.
For a comprehensive understanding of children’s growth patterns, refer to our article on Average Height And Weight For 7-Year-Olds as a valuable resource.
| Gender | Boys | Girls |
| Weight (lbs/kg) | 45 – 65 lbs (20.4 – 29.5 kg) | 44 – 64 lbs (20 – 29 kg) |
| Height (in/cm) | 48 – 54 in (122 – 137 cm) | 47 – 53 in (119 – 135 cm) |
Ideal Weight And Height For An 8-Year-Old
At eight years old, young boys and girls start to notice their physical appearance and become sensitive about it. It is also the age when most boys and girls will be closer to entering puberty and will experience growth spurts. Knowing this age’s average weight and height will help you predict if your baby is healthy or if you must take more care of their nutrition.
Average Height for An 8-Year-Old Boy
While looking at the CDC growth charts, the average height for an eight-year-old American boy is around 129 cm, 4 feet 2.7 inches. At the age of 8, a boy will rarely go through puberty; however, they will still get two inches taller between the ages of 8 and 9.
Height is 70-80% dependent on genetics and rests on controllable factors such as nutrition, sleep, and exercise. So if your 8-year-old is taking a balanced diet and maintaining good physical activity but still their height is not much, then it’s genetics, or they may get taller during puberty.
Ideal Weight For An 8-Year-Old Boy
According to the CDC statistics and US research data, the average weight for an eight-year-old boy is around 26 kgs, and in pounds, it is 56.5 pounds. Depending on the height of an eight-year-old boy, it can be more or less. If your 8-year-old boy’s height is above average, then his weight will also be more, while on the other hand, if they are a little short, their weight will also be less.
Between the age of 8 to 9, boys grow rapidly and gain around 8 to 10 pounds. By this, we know that even if the child is not in puberty, they will still grow rapidly.
Curious about how growth changes? Check out our article on the Average Height of a 10-year-old to understand the progression in children’s height.
The Average Height For An 8-Year-Old American Girl
Based on the data collected by the CDC by measuring the height of 186 8-year-old females around America, the average height for an 8-year-old girl is calculated to be around 4 feet 2.39 inches. In cm, this height is around 128 cm.
Just like the boys between the ages of 8 and 9, girls will also experience an increase in height, around 3 inches. This growth spurt is much more than that of boys of the same age.
Ideal Weight Of 8-Year-Old American Girl
Again, according to the data CDC collected by weighing 186 girls of 8 years, the average weight was calculated to be around 25.8 kg. In pounds, this weight is around 57 pounds. At the age of 8, boys and girls are almost the same weight and the same height.
Now, you may wonder that most boys are taller than girls, so how can they share the same height and weight? They only share the same height and weight till ten years of age. After that, girls will enter puberty and start to grow until 14, while for boys, it starts at 12 and ends at 16.
Why Is Knowing The Child’s Weight Important?
A child’s weight is not genetic, like height; environmental factors can greatly influence it. Children mostly like to eat junk food and avoid a healthy diet. Such children become overweight and obese. For such parents, their child’s weight becomes alarming and concerning.
If a child is overweight, there are chances that he is not getting proper nutrients, and their body and brain development are affected. In third-world countries, children are malnourished, while in first-world countries, children eat a lot of processed food and prefer to eat mostly meat. First-world children mostly avoid vegetables, fruits, and milk.
Such children are not only obese for skipping specific food groups but also deficient in essential vitamins and minerals, resulting in a compromised immune system. If, as a parent, you have information about your child’s weight and you also know about their height, then you can calculate their BMI and know if your child is healthy or not.
In comparison, you can also check out our article on Average Height for a 13-Year-Old to understand the growth trends as your child progresses through their teenage years.
How To Calculate BMI? Step-By-Step Guide
The most common and approved method by the CDC to check whether a child is healthy is calculating their BMI. Body mass index is a number or percentage that tells if the child is in the healthy weight range. To calculate your child’s BMI, you must input their age, Gender, weight, and height into the BMI calculator of CDC. CDC will calculate your child’s BMI and tell if the child is healthy, overweight, or underweight. Here are the steps you follow on the CDC official website to calculate the BMI of your little ones as recommended by your doctor:
Step 1
Select metric units and age.
Step 2
Enter age and select Gender.
Step 3
Enter weight and height.
Step 4
Click on Calculate to get the info about your child’s BMI.
What To Do If My Child Is Underweight?
If, according to their height, age, and Gender, they are underweight, then take them to a nutritionist and focus on their diet. Also, take them to a child specialist for a thorough examination to be cared for early if they suffer from disease or hormonal issues such as hyperthyroidism.
If they are completely healthy, give them a nutritious diet and observe their weight. Most girls become conscious about their weight and start to reduce it. If you observe that your child is doing it, assure them that they look beautiful and have to eat for proper growth.
What To Do If My Child Is Overweight?
If your child is overweight because of their overeating and not any medical issue, then take a closer look at what they are eating and why they are gaining weight. Make a balanced diet plan and encourage them to exercise to lose weight.
Also, do their counseling and see if they are under any stress or not because sometimes children also eat a lot because of stress.
FAQs
Does an 8-year-old child gain weight?
Yes, an 8-year-old child can gain weight. Normally, during 8 to 9 years, a child can gain around 8 to 10 pounds.
Is 50 kg overweight or obese for an 8-year-old?
Yes, 50 kg is a lot for an 8-year-old. It is almost twice as much weight as a healthy weight. If your 8-year-old is a little taller than the average 8-year-old, they can have a little more weight, around 4 to 5 kgs, but 50 kg is too much, and they are at risk of diabetes or heart disease.
If you’re curious about growth trends, you can also check out our article on Average Height For a 14-Year-Old to understand how children’s development progresses.
Conclusion
Knowing the average weight and height of an 8-year-old helps assess your child’s growth and development. This article has all the information you need for an 8-year-old child’s height and weight. Read this article carefully and then measure the height and weight of your child to compare if your child is growing normally or not. If it is not normal, immediately take them to a child specialist.
