# What is the circumference of a newborn baby's head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662 "2008-05-01T19:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/1 "2008-05-01T19:44:16Z")
I am about to start knitting a cap for my nephew who is due around July 4. Before I start the hat - which is a pattern of my own design - I need to know the average circumference of a newborn’s head. Is it like 12 inches? I have no idea! Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/2 "2008-05-01T19:55:29Z")
More than 12, it looks like. Here’s site with growth charts. [http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=304](http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=304) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/3 "2008-05-01T20:00:56Z")
Browsing around on Google under knitting and crocheting patterns, I find sizes from 8-1/2" for preemies to 10-1/2" to 12" to 14". Depends on the size of the newborn. But 13" to 14" seems to be the majority consensus of “average”. For example, from [here.](http://tikkunknitter.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/wise-owl-cap-a-hat-for-alex/) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/4 "2008-05-01T20:13:44Z")
Sweet! I knew I would get a quick, accurate answer here! From **cher3** ’s link, I found this chart which is for [newborn baby boys’ head circumference](http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=672) which at the 50th percentile is just over 14 inches. Awesome, now I can start my project. I will probably be safe and make it at least 15 inches to be sure it fits, and so he can wear it for the first month or two. Thanks **cher3** and **DDG**! p.s. DDG - I love that hat pattern, I am bookmarking it for later. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/5 "2008-05-01T20:14:18Z")
My son (9 days old) was 6 lbs at birth and a 10" cap fits him perfectly if that helps at all. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/6 "2008-05-01T20:19:58Z")
[QUOTE=HongKongFooey] My son (9 days old) was 6 lbs at birth and a 10" cap fits him perfectly if that helps at all. [/QUOTE] That must be 10 inches, measured unstretched, right? Because the baby head circumference chart lists 12.5 inches at the very lowest percentile for boys at birth. So, for example, with a knitted cap, it might be 10 inches unstretched, but can stretch quite a bit, like by 4-5 inches. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/7 "2008-05-01T20:30:37Z")
[QUOTE=nyctea scandiaca] That must be 10 inches, measured unstretched, right? Because the baby head circumference chart lists 12.5 inches at the very lowest percentile for boys at birth. So, for example, with a knitted cap, it might be 10 inches unstretched, but can stretch quite a bit, like by 4-5 inches. [/QUOTE] Yes, actually I just went up and measured the cap itself and it stretches to almost 14" as you say. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/8 "2008-05-01T21:04:32Z")
[QUOTE=HongKongFooey] Yes, actually I just went up and measured the cap itself and it stretches to almost 14" as you say. [/QUOTE] Awesome, thank you!!! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/9 "2008-05-01T21:43:52Z")
Judging from talking to my mother friends, about 3 times smaller than it felt like coming out. Other people have given you links to charts, but I’ve had [this one](http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/size-chart.html#baby) for several years now. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/10 "2008-05-01T23:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Other people have given you links to charts, but I’ve had [this one](http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/size-chart.html#baby) for several years now. [/QUOTE] That link is perfect - it tells you the actual head circumference, the width to make the hat (a few inches less) and the height to make the hat. Just what I need, thank you so much!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-circumference-of-a-newborn-babys-head/447662/11 "2008-05-01T23:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Judging from talking to my mother friends, about 3 times smaller than it felt like coming out. [/QUOTE] That damn hat is going to have to fit on a watermelon!!