The new UK-WHO growth charts: are you using them for children from birth to four years?

New UK-WHO child growth charts for newborn babies up to four years of age have been developed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for use in the United Kingdom. Based on the World Health Organization's growth charts derived from data from breast-fed infants, the new charts replace existing charts used in the UK that reflected growth patterns of formula-fed infants. The UK-WHO child growth charts were launched in the UK in May 2009 and will be included in the Personal Child Health Record given to new parents in the UK as the main record of their child's growth and development. This article discusses difficulties surrounding the launch, the main differences between the UK-WHO charts and their predecessors, and the training needed for health professionals working with the new charts.