My son hates being short.

The "weedy" comment (I didn't make it) might be useful though as the first thing they checked for at the hospital was coeliac - where the child would also look a little malnourished.

I don't think your DS is small enough, compared to you and DH, to warrant any investigation though - just reassurance.

It all sounds very artificial to me- questionnaires for attraction but then I think dating apps are as I am in my 40s and met my husband in a social setting, I think that is much more organic.

Actually, it's very relevant what height he is now.

At 14, there's a huge range of normal between boys. But if he's still, say, less than 5 foot, then yes, seeking a medical evaluation is wise. But if he's anywhere between about 5"3 and 5"6, then he's being silly.

For what it's worth, all through secondary school, the shortest kid out of the whole year group was a lad we'll call David. But you know what? He was the kindest, funniest, nicest boy you could hope to meet, and everyone was his friend.
By the time we were in sixth form together, he was just a bit taller than me, and I'm 5"3. I lost physical contact with him when we went off to uni, but the last time I heard from him, he was a happily married father of 2.

Was going to suggest similar. I know a short lad who found a lot of self confidence through climbing. His low bodyweight helped him pick it up quickly. I also think it helped that the climbing place is very cool: loud music, fit people, a gym and social space too.

Conversely, sports such as football which segregate on age and where size is an advantage, are renowned for being a tough deal for late developing teens.

So there is beauty advantage. Do we offer our daughters nose and boob jobs to give them an early advantage as all good parents do?

A lot of Aryan nonsense is being spouted on this thread under the guise of maternal concern and female sexual preferences.

its phrases like this. “Perfectly decent” to be taller

Is he just short or is he weedy too?

Is your daughter just fat or fat and wobbly too? Not offensive?

There’s something about the way it’s described, you see it in this thread.

like it’s a deficiency. Something undesirable. Taller is better, described as decent, good. Shorter is something you should medicate away if you can.

Does Tinder have race and weight filters? If yes, height is fine too. If not, you lot are flaming hypocrites.

My son’s best friend at school was always one of the smallest at his age, much shorter than my son. He’s 22 now and 5’9.5. A perfectly decent height (and I admit, taller than I thought he’d be).

Would there be a fuss if men could filter on weight? On breast size?

People rule out potential life partners based on race, weight and looks. All superficial criteria

That’s all fine but somehow height is where we draw the line?

I don’t understand the fuss about Tinder bringing in height filters. Is it because society takes a really dim view on women having dating dealbreakers while being fine with men having them?

I prefer more filters on OLD. Far better men who would never consider me hide me from view instead of me reaching out to men who would never consider me and facing constant rejection.

Yea I feel sorry for your son but everything can change during puberty. What is the obsession with having a girlfriend so young though?

Maybe show him to look around him and the sheer number of short / average height men with partners and tell him he has all the time in the world to date?

This is very true. I was SHOCKED at the difference between some boys between prom at 16 and end of college.

My son had the same issue at the same age so I do really feel for you and your son as it dominated my son’s thoughts and affected his confidence. We spoke to a few drs about it because it was like he was not growing.

Did you or your hubby have late puberty? Has your son started puberty in terms of having a growth spurt? If not, on the nhs they will start tests at the age of 15 - my hubby and I both had late puberty and my son started late too -his growth spurt started at 14 and 9 months and by 18 years old he was 6ft … If your son has not had this spurt than maybe reassure him hopefully it will come soon. The drs told us either weight or height triggers this spurt so if your son is on the slim side (as was my son) maybe encourage him to eat up.

But I’m guessing Drs have told you in theory they draw a line between your hubby’s height and your height and that is the estimated height of your kids … but in reality both my kids are much taller than me now so I am not convinced.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but can you 'feed him up'? I've got one child who massively under-ate (autism) and is very, very short. And a sibling who over-ate and is very tall. The clinicians always said that the taller child was the short one's 'height potential' if she had slightly over-eaten as well.

I don't know if that's helpful, but thought I'd throw it in.

And yes, my god, being attractive is 100% about something else you can't put your finger on. I once had a dalliance with a Tory politician who was 5 foot 2 and a reputation for being a total lothario. A TORY. But he just had this certain... extremely confident twinkle....

(That paragraph is less helpful)

There's a fair bit of anecdotal evidence linking royal jelly with height, especially if taken during puberty. It's only anecdotal, though, and royal jelly is f-ing expensive. Worth a try?

Weedy?
describing a slim man as weedy?

there’s a lot wrong with this thread but that’s pretty bad tbh.

It isn't. It really isn't. Being average or slightly shorter than average height is NOT akin to cystic acne and benign growths. Cystic acne is a painful condition that not many people are walking around with. I imagine if you suffer with that condition and are in the middle of a severe breakout you get stared at or even worse by ignorant people. A man who is slightly below average height is never going to suffer in that way. Thankfully the world is not filled with people like you.

I can’t believe some of the responses on here! Hormone injections Wtaf??

My DH is 5ft7 and I am 5ft6 - I didn’t bat an eyelid at his height.

Your son will be absolutely fine and I’m sure plenty of women will find him attractive. I once dated a man 5ft2! The one thing that makes a difference is confidence - if a man is confident then height doesn’t even come into it - it is far more important to keep in shape than to be tall imo.

I understand your concerns OP. I do online dating and so many men state their height as the first/only thing about themselves as a badge of honour … as if they’re tall and nothing else matters…gets on my nerves! But I guess this also stems from
a lot of women stating they want a tall man. My DS is 17 and short…he has also had scoliosis surgery…spinal fusion..so he is unlikely to grow in the body much more although his legs could grow a bit. Myself and his dad are shorter than average so he was probably never going to be super tall though. However, he is happy and confident, very popular and has a lovely girlfriend…I do all I can to boost his self-esteem …encourage him to go to the gym ..eat well and be happy in his own skin. I think confidence is a very attractive trait and feeling fit and strong goes a long way to helping to feel good about yourself so encouraging him to keep up with the gym and other sports will help.

Genetically he is likely to be short but has anyone listened to his heart OP?

Is he just short or is he weedy too? My half Bro was short and weedy when genetically he should have been chunkier and taller. It turned out he was a poor doer because he had a hole in his heart septum.

He will most likely take a stretch next year.
DD is 16, last year at the end of year celebrations most of the boys were similar height to the girls, this year, I couldn't believe how much they'd grown, from boys to men in one year.

Visit the GP anyway for more information or reassurance.

As for the GF, he is young. It doesn't happen for most boys until they're 15/16.

He might still shoot up, so he shouldn't lose heart. My son's friend was tiny for his age at 14, but he's 19 now and nearly 6 ft, having rocketed up at about 15-16. I went to school with a lad who was shorter than me (5 ft 4) when he left at 16, but a couple of years later he came up to me in a pub and I genuinely didn't recognise him because he was about 6 ft 2!

That said, building self-esteem from the inside will really help. Help him to find his passions and follow them - sport, music, photography, anything that helps him to feel comfortable and confident within his own skin. That will shine through, whatever height he ends up. My son isn't the most confident person in the world, but put him on a karting track, or at a motorsport event with a camera in his hands, and he absolutely glows.