Normal values of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children are often expressed in a value adjusted to adult ideal body surface area. These values work well for many clinical situations, but in infants and children, especially those with atypical body mass, they may not accurately reflect renal function. Most body composition values in children are expressed in developmentally appropriate ranges. Absolute GFR (ml/min) also changes during childhood increasing rapidly in infancy and then gradually with age and body size. Previously, we developed a bedside equation for estimating GFR (ml/min) in children that accounted for changes with age and body size, and which correlated well with steady-state cold iothalamate GFR (ml/min) measurements: GFR (ml/min) = k(*)sqrt[(age(months) + 6)*wt (kg)/serum Cr (mg/dl)], where k=0.95 for females and 1.05 for males. In the present study GFR (ml/min) measured by iothalamate infusion was compared by correlation analysis with estimates calculated from the above equation in 566 children. This equation provides clinicians with a simple bedside method to estimate absolute GFR (ml/min).