What is a normal weight for a baby born at 28 weeks?

On the Fenton chart, the 28-week median is about 1250 g for boys and 1190 g for girls. The usual reference range is broader than one number, and values from roughly the 10th to 90th percentile are often treated as expected for gestational age. Trend remains more important than one weigh-in.

What is a normal weight for a baby born at 32 weeks?

At 32 weeks on the Fenton reference, the median weight is about 2060 g for boys and 1970 g for girls. A baby can still be healthy above or below that midpoint. The more useful question is whether growth continues along a steady preterm curve rather than whether the measurement matches the median exactly.

When do premature babies catch up in growth?

Many preterm babies show catch-up in weight by about 2 to 3 years corrected age, length by about 3 to 4 years corrected age, and head circumference by about 12 to 18 months corrected age. Earlier gestational age often means a longer catch-up timeline, so the process can vary widely.

What does small for gestational age (SGA) mean?

Small for gestational age usually means the baby’s weight is below the 10th percentile for the gestational age at measurement. That is not the same as prematurity itself. A preterm baby can be appropriate for gestational age or small for gestational age, and SGA babies often need closer growth monitoring.

How do I switch from the Fenton chart to the WHO chart?

The transition usually happens around 40 to 50 weeks gestational age, depending on the clinical setting. After that point, many clinicians move to the WHO baby chart and use corrected age rather than gestational age. The corrected age calculator on this site helps with that handoff.

Premature Baby Growth Chart

Premature babies require a specialized growth chart — not the standard WHO baby growth chart used for full-term infants. This premature baby growth chart is based on the Fenton 2013 preterm growth reference, which covers gestational ages from 22 to 50 weeks. Enter your preemie's gestational age and measurements below to check weight, length, and head circumference percentiles.

If you need the adjustment step first, open the corrected age calculator.

✓ Fenton 2013 preterm growth chart (22-50 weeks)
✓ Weight, length, and head circumference percentiles
✓ Corrected age transition guidance included

Jump toCalculator Growth Table Fenton Chart WHO vs Fenton Catch-Up Growth FAQ

Need to calculate corrected age? → Corrected Age Calculator

Fenton Preterm Growth Chart Reference Table

Switch between weight, length, and head circumference, then compare boys and girls using the same Fenton 2013 source. The table supports metric and imperial viewing without reloading data.

Boys Fenton 2013 Weight-for-Gestational-Age

P3 / P10 / P50 / P90 / P97 reference rows in g

Source: Fenton TR, Kim JH. A systematic review and meta-analysis to revise the Fenton growth chart for preterm infants. BMC Pediatrics. 2013;13:59.
GA	P3	P10	P50	P90	P97
22 weeks	390	430	500	590	650
24 weeks	510	570	680	810	900
26 weeks	680	770	930	1120	1250
28 weeks	900	1020	1250	1520	1700
30 weeks	1150	1310	1620	1980	2220
32 weeks	1450	1660	2060	2530	2840
34 weeks	1800	2060	2570	3160	3550
36 weeks	2200	2510	3130	3840	4310
38 weeks	2580	2940	3660	4490	5040
40 weeks	2900	3300	4100	5030	5640
42 weeks	3050	3470	4310	5290	5930
44 weeks	3150	3580	4450	5460	6120
50 weeks	3350	3810	4740	5820	6520

What Is the Fenton Growth Chart?

The Fenton growth chart preterm reference is designed specifically for premature babies and follows gestational age rather than the post-birth month system used for full-term infants. The Fenton 2013 preterm growth reference covers about 22 to 50 weeks gestational age and was revised from international datasets by Tanis Fenton and colleagues. Because the chart extends beyond the due date window, it helps clinicians and families bridge the earliest preterm period before the later transition to standard infant growth charts.

Fenton Chart vs WHO Chart — Which to Use for Preemies?

	Fenton 2013	WHO 0-24 months
Age range	22-50 weeks GA	0-24 months (term)
Best for	Preterm infants	Full-term infants
Age input	Gestational age	Chronological / corrected age
Transition	At ~40-50 weeks GA	After 50 weeks GA
Standard	Preterm reference	International growth standard

Fenton chart vs WHO chart preemie decisions mostly depend on whether the baby is still in the late gestational-age window. Many NICU and follow-up programs use Fenton until around term or shortly after, then switch to WHO for infant follow-up. The exact handoff can vary, but corrected age becomes the key input once the baby is being plotted on standard infant charts.

How to Plot Your Preemie's Growth Using Corrected Age

Two-step approach for premature baby growth tracking:

Step 1 (Birth to ~50 weeks GA): Use Fenton chart → input gestational age at measurement

Step 2 (After ~50 weeks GA / ~10 weeks after due date): Switch to WHO chart → input corrected age

Example: Baby born at 28 weeks, now 16 weeks old → gestational age = 44 weeks → use Fenton chart

The simplest answer to how to use growth chart for premature baby follow-up is to separate the early preterm phase from the later infant phase. Use the corrected age calculator when you are ready to leave the Fenton window and move into the standard infant chart system.

What Is a Normal Growth Percentile for a Premature Baby?

Discuss with your care team if a measurement stays below P10.

On a premature baby growth percentile normal range chart, many clinicians pay special attention to the P10 to P90 band. Values below P10 can suggest small for gestational age, while values above P90 can suggest large for gestational age. SGA preemie interpretation still depends on the overall story, because single measurements can move with fluid changes, illness, or scale differences. The repeated trend is usually more informative than one isolated percentile. For birth-only context, compare this with the newborn weight percentile guide.

When Premature Babies Catch Up in Growth

Typical catch-up growth timeline:

• Weight: Most preemies catch up by 2-3 years corrected age

• Length/Height: Most catch up by 3-4 years corrected age

• Head circumference: Most catch up by 12-18 months corrected age

• Earlier gestational age usually means longer catch-up time

Premature baby catch up growth is often uneven. Some babies recover weight first, others gain head growth first, and some very preterm infants take longer into childhood before size differences narrow. If you are tracking head growth closely, the head circumference calculator can help alongside this Fenton page.

Medical disclaimer

Preterm growth chart interpretation should be paired with clinical follow-up. NICU course, feeding history, fluid balance, and corrected age can all change what one percentile means for an individual baby.

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs cover which chart to use, what normal preterm ranges look like, how catch-up growth works, and how to move from Fenton to the later infant chart. For broader questions, see the growth chart FAQ.

For babies still in the preterm transition window, the Fenton chart is usually the right starting chart because it is built around gestational age rather than months after birth. After about 40 to 50 weeks gestational age, many clinicians transition to the WHO infant chart and start plotting by corrected age.

Premature Baby Growth Chart

Premature Baby Growth Calculator

Fenton Preterm Growth Chart Reference Table

Boys Fenton 2013 Weight-for-Gestational-Age

What Is the Fenton Growth Chart?

Fenton Chart vs WHO Chart — Which to Use for Preemies?

How to Plot Your Preemie's Growth Using Corrected Age

What Is a Normal Growth Percentile for a Premature Baby?

When Premature Babies Catch Up in Growth

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Growth Tools

Corrected Age Calculator

Baby Growth Chart

Head Circumference Calculator

Newborn Weight Percentile

Premature Baby Growth Chart

Premature Baby Growth Calculator

Fenton Preterm Growth Chart Reference Table

Boys Fenton 2013 Weight-for-Gestational-Age

What Is the Fenton Growth Chart?

Fenton Chart vs WHO Chart — Which to Use for Preemies?

How to Plot Your Preemie's Growth Using Corrected Age

What Is a Normal Growth Percentile for a Premature Baby?

When Premature Babies Catch Up in Growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What growth chart should I use for my premature baby?−

What is a normal weight for a baby born at 28 weeks?+

What is a normal weight for a baby born at 32 weeks?+

When do premature babies catch up in growth?+

What does small for gestational age (SGA) mean?+

How do I switch from the Fenton chart to the WHO chart?+

Related Growth Tools

Corrected Age Calculator

Baby Growth Chart

Head Circumference Calculator

Newborn Weight Percentile