Reliability and Repeatability of At-Home Parent-Reported Height and Weight Measurement of Young Children

Accurate anthropometric measurement is essential for monitoring child growth, yet access to in-person measurement collection can be limited. This study examines the reliability and repeatability of height and weight measurements taken at home by a single parent compared to those taken by a trained researcher team in a clinical setting. Thirty children aged 2-5 years enrolled in the TARGet Kids! cohort were measured by two trained researchers working in a pair and by their parent at home using standardized instructions. Technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM (%TEM), and the coefficient of reliability (R) were used to assess measurement reliability. Results demonstrated high reliability and repeatability of parent-reported measurements, particularly for weight. Bland-Altman plots showed slightly greater variation in height measurements collected by the parent at home, though still within acceptable limits. These findings support the use of parent-collected anthropometry at home, which may enhance accessibility for research and clinical care when in-person measurement is not feasible.