DS shortest at nursery but parents not, this fine?

[Looseleaf]

Our DS has always been a great eater and has a good diet except has been short of iron the two times had a blood test so I've been regularly offering red meat and more green veg. He doesn't eat meat that keenly.
The thing is he's just tiny in height, well below his peers and somehow it feels odd as DH is 6ft1 and I am an average 5ft6 and no one short in the family (grandparents).
Is this fine as genetics aren't everything or is it silly to check all ok with his GP?
Thanks for any advice as it's been on my mind but I don't know if it's a matter for the gp

[Looseleaf]

His legs are slightly wonky looking but they did check this with blood tests when he was 2 and they ruled out scurvy or whatever they'd needed to check.

[MinceSpy]

Genetics are complex and maybe your son isn't destined to be tall or he simply hasn't had a growth spurt yet. My DH was a shorty at school he's now 6'3" .
As for the iron, many children don't eat much meat just offer plenty of iron rich other foods raisins, greens, lentils and so on.

[Looseleaf]

Thank you. I'm reassured as just wanted to be 100% relaxed not a medical issue. He has lots of greens hidden and otherwise as DD won't eat visible veg !) and regular raisins and dates and lentils. But won't walk far and sometimes says his legs hurt.

[addictedtosugar]

When is his birthday? DS1 is small anyway, but he is also younger than half his year group, which makes the difference even more pronounced (but DH is 5'6)

[cantmakecarrotcake]

What centile is he on and has he dropped any centiles?

My nearly 4yo DD is teeny (age 2-3 clothes are too big still) but DH and I aren't particularly tall and we have lots of just 5ft ladies in the family.

Having said that she's being monitored by a paediatrician but they haven't found a reason for her short stature. She's off the bottom of the growth chart for height.

DD also dislikes walking any distance and if she's made to complains her legs hurt/are tired.

No answers for you I'm afraid but if you think he's not growing at the expected rate it might be worth a GP visit. A few blood tests might put your mind at rest?

[sanfairyanne]

i would push gp for a referral to a paediatrician tbh. could be celiacs for instance

[Looseleaf]

Thank you all so much for your help. Yes he is young for his year as a July birthday (but all the others in his class are similar as they joined at 3 too and more arrive who are just 3 next term iyswim.
We checked coeliac as I strongly suspected it and dd and I have severe gluten intolerance but neither of us show up on the coeliac test. The allergies paediatrician we saw said DS is fine other than iron levels so he isn't on a restricted diet.
I just looked up centiles and no recent ones unfortunately but he went from 50th in height at 1 to about 17th at 2. His weight centile dropped too but I don't worry about this as he looks well.

His last blood test was recent (maybe 2 months ago)

[sanfairyanne]

the blood test for celiacs is unreliable, i know that much, although of course it might not be that
honestly, i would keep pushing because you sound worried
also maybe get vit d supplements (d3 at a reasonable dose, not those in multivits) for the leg pain

[cantmakecarrotcake]

So weight/height wise he's in proportion (like my DD) but he'll have dropped 2 centiles from 50 to 17 so suspect that could be significant.

Sounds like you've had some of the main tests (coeliac, iron etc) so he's obviously on the radar with the medical profession.

As I said before, DD is being monitored, so it might be worth getting on the list with a paediatrician perhaps?

[Tournesol]

My Ds2 is also the tiniest in his year by a long way. He has had lots of tests for coeliacs etc because he has a number of allergies, but it came up negative.

DH is 6ft and I am 5"9 so birth pretty tall so when I pointed it out the GP she referred him to a paediatitian who did a blood test to check for hormone levels etc. we also saw a dietician for a while but they said as he is on both the 9th centile for weight and height he is in proportion so they discharged him.

I am trying not to worry and just think he is just a small person and may well have a growth spurt as a teenager (I did). But I think it is worth just exploring all the possible medical avenues first, just in case.

[cestlavielife]

Measure r properly. NOw and in six months chck to see if you seeing growth happening. If he is. Not growing at all then get referral. If he is actually growing 3cm in six months then he will be following his line . Or get referral to growth clinic they will also just monitor for first six months .,