9th percentile for height and 50th for weight?

[Osch]

Hi

Having just taken dd for her 2 year check up with health visitor her height has dropped from the 50th to the 9th percentile but her weight has stayed on the 50th percentile as it always has been. Should I be worried about this or is this deemed "normal"?

[NeverendingStoryteller]

Don't worry! My DS was always seen as 'short and heavy' on these percentile scales, but recently he has shot up and slimmed down. He is a very muscular and athletic little boy, so he isn't tubby, just heavy for his age. You can't do much about her height, so best not to worry about that, and as long as you are satisfied that she is eating well, then don't worry too much about these percentiles at such an early age. Did the HV think that this was strange? Your DD might be due for a growth spurt any time soon - new clothes shopping!!

[MajaBiene]

She might be just about to shoot up - I'd keep an eye on her weight though and see what the situation is in 6 months.

[Thaleia]

never - when do you actually worry? Our DS is just holding on to the 25th line and is sooo short as everybody else seems to be really tall. He's on 75th for weight = heavy!!

We are average with 171cm and 180cm and although we have short people in both families, there are more taller ones. And I can't understand that my son could be same as me or shorter. I am worried that he's going to be picked on later in life :(.

I try not to think about it and it's all about self confidence which I make sure he's got in spades but life would be so much easier being "average".

[pamelat]

Mine are both short but over 50 percentile for weight but look perfectly in proportion

[NeverendingStoryteller]

Thaleia - Sorry for the late response - but my little one only started to slim down and shoot up once he was 6, almost 7. Until then he was reasonably low re: height, and very high re: weight. There's not much you can do about his height - if he's going to be short, then he's going to be short. Kids, if they want to pick on other kids will find any aspect of their looks or personality - if he wore glasses, had freckles, pronounced words in a funny way, hated football, or had an unusual mannerism. We all have something that marks us out for other children to pick on - being resilient and accepting might be they key for your DS?

[SD1978]

My understanding was and is that you should have this followed up, as the 50th to the 9th is a large percentage drop, usually health visitors are happy with a change from 50th to the 25th or the 75th but not wildly differing ones. Have they offered you a follow up appt in a month? I personally would be more interested in seeing in a months time what's happening. I can't imagine there is any actual cause for any concern, babies change a lot as you know,but my curiosity would mean I'd go back. Good luck.

[ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches]

My DD3 was exactly the same at the 18 mth (i think) check) 9 centilitre for height and 50th for weight. She is now 2.8 and the health visitor didn't seem concerned.

She has got her 2 year check (I think) next month so will see if it has changed. She is still quite short compared to her friends at nursery but has slimmed down recently.

[ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches]

I know they are worried about dropping 2 centiles in weight, DD3 went from 91st at birth to 25th at 5mths but nobody has mentioned her height.

[freetrait]

I would go more with how healthy they are. Do they eat well, a varied diet with fruit and vegetables. Is it balanced or are they eating mostly biscuits (my daughter would eat mostly chocolate if allowed to). Are they active, running about? Do they sleep well? My DD was shorter than average before 3, then shot up and is now 75th height and 50th weight. And yes, some kids seem to stay a bit chunky until 6/7 which is the time that they all naturally turn skinnier, but if you have an overweight 4/5 year old you should be controlling their diet and making sure they are active and not just sat in front of a screen.