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.