Small DD - should I be getting this checked out?

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

My DD is 7.7yo and is 105cm tall. She has always be small (5lb 11oz at birth). I am only 5ft tall and DH is only 5ft 4. All of our family is small. When I look at the centile charts, DD is not even on the bottom line for her height for her age. She is the height of the average 5yo.

Is this something I should get checked out? She is at least a head smaller than any other child in her class.
Thanks

[Looseleaf]

This doesn't sound a concern to me- surely it's normal for children to be all sorts of sizes and often the tall ones might have tall parents etc but the centiles thing should only be a rough guide based on averages? I've never worried about them and our DD is small too. One boy in her class is smaller than children 2 years younger than him but seems perfectly fine too, and his father is very small.
Having said this if you're at all uneasy it's still a good idea to see a GP and hopefully be reassured

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Thanks LooseLeaf
I don't really notice her size in our day to day life as we are all small. It was just that today she was singing in the school choir so was lined up with others her age and I realised just how little she is IYSWIM.

When I asked my DM if I was always so much smaller than the rest of my class she siad she didn't think so but surely I must have been??

[OurMiracle1106]

I was tiny until I hit 13, I'm only 5 foot 2 now. At a week before my 11th birthday and was offered a Shetland Pony to learn on!

[exexpat]

I think if your DH is only 5'4" that puts him below the 5th centile line for adult men, and at 5' you are pretty much on the 5th centile line for adult women. So if anything it would be surprising if your DD were not following or below the very lowest centile line on the chart. I wouldn't worry about it.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Thanks everyone. Think I will just leave it for now. She is strong and healthy so don't think it is anything to worry about. Just had a small moment of doubt!

[Forgettable]

I adore your username!

Ahem

Yes i would agree that she is petite in direct proportion to petite parents but as always, if you remain concerned, do speak to your GP or maybe school nurse

[MsMischief]

I'm tiny and I didn't grow until 14/15 ( I say grow- I'm 4'11). I too spent many happy hours on Shetlands until graduating to a Welsh sec A at 13.

However, one of my tiny kids did have a medical reason behind his 'short stature' so I would get her checked just in case.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Thanks for your replies. I have decided to leave it but monitor it a bit more closely at home until she is 8.

[mejon]

She sounds like my DD1 who's the same age and just a couple of cms taller. She too was performing in the school choir recently and was noticeably at least head and shoulders shorter than her peers. DH is also 5'4 and I'm 5'1 (and both our parents are short too) so it's unlikely that our DCs will be giants. It's not something I'm particularly concerned about tbh - and it means her clothes last ages .

[BobbyO]

My DS has just had his height and weight checks at school. I had a call from the school nurse saying she'd like to refer him for a growth and weight assessment. He was below the bottom line (in the red book) for his height and weight. He's 95cm tall, almost 5 years old and currently still wears age 2 clothes. I'm not worried though because people come in all different shapes and sizes and I think his weight and height are in proportion to each other. I'll take him to the assessment and see what they say.

[cestlavielife]

you need to look at rate of growth - if child is following a line even if its the bottom line, and are healthy then is likely to be fine. measure very carefully and plot on chart over six months- is there 3 cm growth?
if they fall off the line /show no growth at all, then need to be checked.
if you get referrred to growth clinic theyw ill take all measurements of body limb lengths etc properly then ask you to come back for same measurements in six months time so they can monitor if any growth.
they will also do basic blood tests to rule out obvious conditions ncluding coeliac disease.

so if there is a concern get referred now as they will only monitor for first six months anyway.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

She is off the bottom line and wearing clothes that I bought her 14 months ago.
I have decided to go and have a chat with my GP when I'm off work next week.
Thanks everyone

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Been to the GP today and been advised to monitor her for 4 months to see if she grows.
Thanks to everyone who posted.