Good things about being a petite 5'0

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Can anyone help my DD?
She is not yet 5ft tall and seems to have more or less stopped growing if the marks on the kitchen door are anything to go by, and she is down about it.
Are there positives to being petite? How can I make her feel better?
(She's nearly 16).

I absolutely love being yeh height I am at 5'1, being petite is such a. A blessing.

Yes it's a pain with clothes sometimes but you literally have the choice of any man when dating I went out with a guy who was 5'6 and he was beautiful, I've been out with a guy who was 6'5 and I'm married to my DH whos 6'1

I look younger then my age, always have so like the other poster I'm 45 bit could pass for mid late 30s.

I'm also always told that people forget I'm short, or don't notice, I'm pretty confident and love life and I think people assume I'm loads taller until they stand next to me and do the arm rest on my head thing 🤣

She will learn to embrace it and grow a thicker skin as they're really isn't any other choice!

I'm 4ft 11, my mum is 4ft 10 and my gran was 4ft 8 so come from a long line of shorter people!

Yes to more leg room but the seat of a chair can be longer than my thighs so isn't always so comfortable and my feet are often left dangling!

There is much more choice in petite clothing now. However, I can still struggle to get stuff to fit because as a PP said petite goes up to 5ft 3 so if you are under 5ft then even petite stuff can be a bit too long. My mum is amazing at altering things but I'm not so I just have to shop around a bit more. I used to be able to fit children's shoes but not since having children but they are not always such good quality but great for fashion shoes.

Nope to fitting in children's clothes - my hips are too out of proportion for that . Yes to more room in bed and being able to sleep on the sofa. I got that kind of teasing in school too and my taller friends were teased for being tall "what's the weather like up there" etc so I think people will comment on anything but the small related teasing definitely stopped at uni and I've not come across any as an adult.

Most of my boyfriends including at school have been over 6ft so it doesn't seem to have put any of them off!

I guess similar to @tectonicplates it is what it is - part of being me and I can't do much about it so I just accept it (and always have a small step stool in the kitchen!)

Great clothes in sales because not many people fit the xs.

Wearing xs

I genuinely hardly ever ever think about my height and I have never thought of it as something negative or as holding me back. I am 5ft.

I'm about 5ft 1 and honestly I totally forget I'm small unless I'm in a big crowd (when it can be annoying), I see plenty of women who are around my height, it's not weird or even notable.

I agree that there's no need to look for 'consolations' it's just a non-issue and not a big deal - no pun intended.

I’m 4’11, I love it! People always assume I’m younger than I am, and I find people tend to be quite protective of me. With regards to reaching stuff in supermarkets etc people (both men & women) are always happy to help. The only problem I have is I’m claustrophobic and I struggle in crowds, but again I find people are usually really understanding if I mention it & give me plenty of space. Honestly I wouldn’t choose to be taller if I had the option!

Thank you all so much, you've given me lots to go on, especially wrt boyfriends.

If you stuck her in brand new school uniform, she could still pass as a new y7 to be honest, which is a bit galling for her about to enter y11.

One of her problems is lack of shorter role models in the family.

I’m the same height as your DD. I’m nearly 60 now and there’s never been a better time in terms of choice of clothes for petites. ASOS, Topshop, Misguided, have really extensive sections. You do need to order quickly though as the regular sizes get snapped up fast. Trainers are cheaper as the junior sizes usually fit.

People are helpful about reaching things down from high shelves in shops and getting luggage onto racks. If no one offers I just ask someone. Never been refused yet.

I’ve really not had a problem with being small. But I my generation were generally shorter than the present one so perhaps DD is more noticeably smaller than her peers. 16 is a hard age in so many ways but tell her it really doesn’t make things difficult unless she was set on being a basketball player in which case she will need a plan b.

tectonic plates it sounds like you are short not petite.
Other than clothes sizes, to most people petite means slight, delicate and small all over.

I am 5’ 1” and would never swap for being taller. Not because there is anything better or worse about being shorter or taller but just because it’s me and I’m perfectly comfortable with how I am height wise (width wise is a different and ongoing matter 😀).

Lots of women have told me they envy me for being so petite and ‘feminine’ (I don’t agree with this). Probably just as many women have silently pitied me but that’s fine - we all have preferences about height/hair colour etc etc.

I have had plenty of male attention in my time. Some men prefer smaller women. I have never had a short boyfriend and couldn’t care less whether anyone thinks I look silly standing next to a tall man or woman.

I have a senior job and I’m almost always the shortest, smallest person in the room. I have never had a problem being taken seriously. I think self belief in this respect is FAR more important than the physical space you occupy. Otherwise the tallest, biggest people would have all the most senior jobs and that isn’t the case.

Small feet are much prettier than big ones, just because feet are generally horrible and the less of them the better....

Topshop for clothes. I still buy the jeans even though I’m a bit too old for most of the rest of the clothes in there. Being small has in no way held me back in life. And not just because I haven’t let it - it really hasn’t been a disadvantage at all. Except for reaching things high up. But there are chairs to climb on for that!

She is the same height as the eternally gorgeous and stylish Stevie Nicks

And Katie Piper who dresses really fashionably in high street clothes.

And KP is also very brave and compassionate as well as gorgeous. Get your DD to follow her on Instagram.

Lady Gaga is 5ft 2, and she's one of the world's most successful and talented people.

I’m 4ft11ins. Was a bonus when I was a midwife as I didn’t have to constantly bend down when delivering babies so saved myself from the backache some of my colleagues got.
Clothes not a problem now as so many shops do a petite range.
Most short people have good posture as we stand up straight to maximise every inch we’ve got.

Echo the thoughts of many others I’m 5’2” and a very tall 6” dh. Never had a problem other than looking young- not a lot I can do about it. I’m much happier now as a size 8/10 than I was as a 12/14 which I think is because of my height but having lost weight in finding it easy to maintain now. Having more leg space in cars/planes/trains all positive. I do seek out petite ranges in shops but also get things shortened if need be.

I'm 5'3" and I save lots of money buying kids trainers, boots, and sometimes clothes.

A silly benefit is that I'm light enough to play on DSs swing/climbing frame with him....DH is a bit wary.

I'd honestly rather be an inch or two shorter as I'm a bit too tall for petite ranges but too short for normal stuff.

Another shortie here at 4ft11, no real perks being this height but you just accept it as an adult. Worst thing is that when you put on weight it’s a lot more noticeable than if you’re taller. Another thing is not being to reach things high up and I get vertigo so hate climbing up on anything.

dd1 is 4ft10 and at 18yrs not likely to grow anymore and dd3 is going to be petite too by the looks of it.

we’re a short family because dh is only 5ft2 and only dd2 has reached the same height as her dad and at 15yrs, might overtake him by a couple of inches 😉

I’m 25 and small and it’s genuinely never been an issue. Every now and then people will say that I’m “small and cute” but overall people just don’t care (and I lived in Belgium and Holland where people are TALL!). I’ve found that people really barely notice and if they do then they’re mostly nice and/or don’t care enough to mention anything. If anyone insults her/makes fun of her because of it then that’s their issue and if she wasn’t short then they’d just find something else to comment on. It also didn’t impact what guys thought of me, my boyfriend is a very tall Dutch man :)

I've never had an issue getting boyfriends / men .. Honestly tell her it's a non issue . She needs to learn the jump and flick for supermarkets though!! 👌👌

@Phoebesgift I call myself petite and I'm a size 18/20 at 4ft 11. I am not slight, delicate and small all over!!