The weight-for-age chart is an essential part of the Road-to-Health Card. The area between the 3rd and 97th centiles is shaded in. It is important that the infant’s weight remains within this shaded area and increases parallel to the centiles. If the infant’s weight keeps within this normal weight-for-age range, it is following the ‘road to health’ along which the child should steadily walk. Normal growth suggests good nutrition.

Monitoring weight gain or loss on the Road-to-Health Card is one of the most important methods of identifying children at risk of malnutrition. This is a major part of primary health care. It is important that each mother understands and takes an interest in her child’s Road-to-Health Card.