DS'S LEGS NOT GROWING AND DROPPED FROM 75TH CENTILE.......

[lissie]

down to 30th. ds is still wearing 12-18m jeans but has a v long body. arms are nearly the same length as his legs and my gp doesnt seem bothered by it. he was reluctant to walk and has been quite slow to speak but on the other hand can write letters and recognise words, am i over-reacting? his legs havent grown for a year!

[legalalien]

Umm - how old is DS?

I've come to the conclusion that they all expand in different directions at different times. DS was born 25th centile, then dropped to 8th, then I stopped weighing him for ages as it was stressing me out and he seemed perfectly healthy apart from the fact he was small. He is now 2.8, and can still fit into a bunch of 18-24 month clothes (looks tiny), but was weighted the other day and came out at about 35th centile. Clearly dense. And his feet don't seem to be growing atm.

It's not at all helpful /reassuring, I'm sure, but as long as he has plenty of energy, I wouldn't be too worried.

[legalalien]

err - weighed.

[lissie]

he's 2y 3m and maintained the 75th until he was 18m he wears 2-3y tops but his legs are vv short (even gp agreed with me)

[lissie]

.

[bran]

I agree with legalalien that there's probably nothing to worry about yet. I'm not sure that there can be any treatment for height issues until the child is older anyway, but you'll probably find that he'll stretch out over the next year or so.

DS was very small for a long time (9th centile)and then he suddenly stretched and he did sort of stretch from the top down so he had odd proportions. Also between about 15 months and now (3 years) his height and weight have moved up and down the centiles separately and apparently randomly. Weirdly his feet didn't grow at all for a long time, he was in the same size shoes for 10 months, then once his feet did grow he went through two sizes in about 8 weeks each size.

[lissie]

thank you, i know im probably panicking over nothing...

[LilRedWG]

Try not to worry Lissie (easier said than done, I know)! Ask your HV/GP to keep an eye on his growth and request a referal if yo are still not happy.

[lissie]

thank you, it was just such a dramatic drop!

[emkana]

I'd definitely keep an eye on it.

I don't mean to worry you and it's prob nothing, but there is such a thing as hypochondroplasia which is often diagnosed around this age and is a type of condition of short stature.

Just keep it in the back of your mind.

[missgriss]

My DS is 2.3 years and is around the 91st centile for his height. However, he wears mostly 12-18 month trousers as 18-24 are far far too long for him. He takes a 2-3 in his tops through.

Maybe your DS is just going to have short legs too. My cousin is well over 6ft but only takes a 29 inch leg in his trousers

[lissie]

well dh and i are both quite short (im 5'2" and dh is 5'6") but we both have long legs. will def keep an eye on it tho!

[LIZS]

He may ahve a leg growth spurt yet . Can you look back at pnotos and just check you weren't turnign legs over or had a very loosefit trouser leg where it bunched aorudn hsi ankles. Until recently dd(almost 6) was still in aged 3 or 4 trousers with aged 5 tops but suddenly her legs have stretched !

[Leati]

My daughter was down to the tenth percentile in weight and the 60th in height. I pointed out to her doctor that she hadn't gained weight in three appointment and I was worried. Doctor went back through her records and verified her percentile. The doctor had me cut out water (felt that she could be filling up on it)and quit nursing (felt it could be preventing her from eating other foods). And had me had Pediasure. Now I give her a supplemental drink and she has put on some weight. I can understand your concern, just be vigilant. So long as he is gaining weight I wouldn't worry to much.

[scattyspice]

I stopped weighing mine when they were babies.

I think the short legs thing is v common though. Both mine have long bodies and short limbs. I think ythe long bones grow later (hence toddlers look chubby and school kids gangly).

[clayre]

my ds is the same age and the same in clothes 18-24 month trousers are too long but he needs a 2-3 in tops, he has really long arms and his feet are tiny too!

[lissie]

phew, spot the mum with PFB syndrome!

[clayre]

how heavy is he?

[lissie]

2 stone, it hasnt risen in 9m.

[clayre]

well he's heavier than my ds, now i'm worried, he's just under 2 stone

[lissie]

he looks v stocky and was 9lb2oz at birth

[clayre]

ds not stocky he's slim and bouncy and bendy and was only 7lb 7oz when born

[belgo]

lissie - it's quite normal for growth to slow /stop temporarily. If your GP isn't worried, then I would also try not to worry.

[lissie]

clayre!

thanks belgo, ive been obsessing about this for months! we have a review in 3m, but he'll probably shoot up by then!