AIBU to tell dd she is likely to grow more?

I was very slender (15th percentile) and about 75th for height percentile at age 12. I didn’t start having periods until I put on some additional weight at age 15. I also grew more quickly in my later teens.

I always thought your growth slows down once your periods start - but that could be untrue.

It was true for me, but I didn’t start my periods till I was 15, I was 5’7” by then and have stayed there. It wasn’t true for my DD, she started at 11, but she continued to grow to 5’10” now she’s 20.

All 4 of my DDs started periods around 11 to 12 and grew a little more. A couple of inches.

I went through primary as the tallest in class the whole time but then stopped dead as i started secondary (and my periods) and all my female friends then caught up or went past!

I stopped growing at 12 once I got my period and so did my sister and friend. We are all around 5 foot 3. I always assumed it was because you stop growing much after your period but maybe it’s not and we were all just destined to be shorter.

In general girls who go through puberty earlier will stop growing earlier. I don’t think there is any “rule” though. I kept growing steadily for 4 years after getting my period (no growth spurt though, I started short and am still short!).

By the way 158cm is over 5ft 2 not 5ft 1! Every little helps 😆

I think best to focus on the fact that there is nothing wrong with being on the short side. I’m just under 5’3 and DDs look likely to be small too, I tell them it really hasn’t affected my life other than some clothing choices!! Luckily I and they have quite a few small friends, sounds like your DD is unlucky if she has mostly tall friends.

It’s something like you carry on growing for 18 months after periods start.

dd1 was tall in infants but everyone overtook her and by year 6/7 she was the shortest in the year. Her periods didn’t start until she was 15 so she shot up gcse year and is now 5’8” and taller than those friends.

To answer your question I got my first period at 11 and stopped growing probably at 13.

There will always be a shortest person in a group, and there are plenty of adult women who are 5 ft 1.

I think be open about the fact that she may well grow taller still, but I wouldn't build up her hopes so that she is pinning all her expectations on definitely still being due a big growth spurt.

How can periods affect height? Weight i get

my girls started their periods at 11 and stopped growing at thirteen so i think there something in this theory.

Is she sensitive about potentially being short? Are you?

I wouldn't suggest she will still grow no, as she may not, regardless of her periods not having started yet, and would be better to work on being comfortable/happy with who she is, whether she does or doesn't grow some more.

My parents always hoped I would keep growing and were disappointed that I ended up shorter than them. It is what it is, but I did feel bad that I was disappointing them but that there wasn't anything I could do about it.

I was 5'4 in y11 and 5'8 by the time I left sixth form I don't think height and periods are related

I thought girls kept growing until mid teens with perhaps a tiny bit more until around 18?

I’ve never heard this theory before?! I started my period at 11 and I definitely continued to grow taller after! At least another 6 inches!

My DD grew another couple of inches between the beginning of Y10 and end of 6th form - certainly well beyond her first period. She never really had a growth spurt at any age - she was always tiny - technically still required a car seat when she started secondary school. She's 21 now and I think she may have grown fractionally since being at uni. She is now 5'4.

I think you gain height throughout puberty. I started my period at 12 and I certainly grew about 2-3 inches between then and about 15/16 when I reached my adult height. But everyone is different.

It depends on genetics as well. Your height and your family's height and her dad's side.

But I'd definitely expect someone to grow taller than their height before they started menstruating.

I think it's more to do with weight than height.