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Original poster

Health visitor has made me worried about three year old's height :(

49 replies

Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 12:45

DS had his last health visitor check via video call so I got a letter asking me to drop in to the clinic in town so they could weigh him and measure him.

He's three and a half now and definitely stocky, he takes after my side of the family who are all short with a rugby player type build I think, even though DH is six foot.

He's currently due a growth spurt I think, he's put on a bit of weight which is usually a sign he's going to suddenly have a spurt, and I did mention this. However the HV plotted his measurements on the red book chart he used to be 99th centile for weight and 50th ish, sometimes slightly under for height. He's now 75th centile for weight (slimmed down a lot as soon as he got his scooter and decided he likes to run everywhere) and just under 25th for height.

She's referred us to paediatrics for growth concerns even though she said herself he looks like a completely healthy child and he does have a sturdy build. He's very heavy, even when he's slimmed down, as my back will tell you. But now I have all kinds of things running through my head, like he has something wrong with him that's affecting his growth. She also laughed and said well he's definitely not going to be tall mum, so you'd better get rid of that idea! (When I have her DH's height, she asked for it).

Did anyone else have anything like this and it turned out to be ok? He's always been stockier than his friends but doesn't look tiny in height next to them and all his clothes seem to fit - trousers slightly long but nothing major.

I feel really guilty as I haven't checked his weight and height against the charts for ages.

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 18/07/2023 12:52

My DD was tiny for ages. She used to wear 3-4 clothes when she was 6! I remember suddenly at 10-11 she finally went into clothes for her age group and then quickly into a size 6 by 12 (hips and bum, kids clothes didn't fit properly!). She's 14 now and average sized, size 8, around 5'4. I'm sure your DS will be fine. It's really hard to tell before puberty as far as I know.

RandomMess · 18/07/2023 12:56

Find out when your side of the family stopped growing and the same for DHs

My side are all short AND slow growers, DH the complete opposite very tall and stop growing young.

DC were a complete mix. One DD at 11 one at 15 but are the same height.

The shortest stopped growing the latest.

It's not uncommon they are being cautious which is no bad thing.

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 12:58

So DH was always average then shot up at senior school, his older brother was tiny up until he was about 13 then literally grew a couple of feet really quickly.
My side were slow growers up until late teens when we stopped growing.DH was always very skinny though, whereas our DS isn't, although he has slimmed down a lot. He seems to get a bit heavier then grow into it, if you see what I mean and then suddenly look much much slimmer.

Thanks for the reassurance, I think it's the fact he's dropped further down the charts for height that's worrying me.

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Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 13:24

Has anyone had a D.C. around the same age drop down the centiles like this?

OP posts:
Fatat40 · 18/07/2023 13:37

My DS was 90th centile at birth and then a very chunky toddler.

He's now 25th centile for height and weight. So perfectly proportioned but dinky. No one has raised concerns

Fatat40 · 18/07/2023 13:38

I should add he's now 10 and excelling at school, sports etc. Just smaller than average 🤷‍♀️

mindutopia · 18/07/2023 13:44

I personally wouldn't be worried about those numbers at all. 25th centile is perfectly normal - it's as normal as 75th centile. Generally, they are only concerned when there is a risk of dropping off the charts or going over the 99th. It does sound like he could be a little overweight though. If having a scooter means he's slimmed down, it could mean he's not as active as he should be for his age or is eating a bit too much. It could also mean, as you said, it's just a weird growth phase. I suspect they probably just want to check in about his weight and activity, even though that's probably a bit silly for a 3 year old. It's probably simply to try to head off any issues in years to come. I couldn't tell you at what age now as I don't remember, but my eldest was 9th centile in height at some point, and no one was remotely concerned. She was just small, despite having very tall parents. She is a preteen now and on the taller end now for her age, so clearly had a growth spurt somewhere.

TooManyNameChanges12 · 18/07/2023 13:46

DD was on 75th for weight when she was born and on 50th for height at some point in her first year. She very quickly dropped down the weight centiles to the 25th in the first few months and now at 7 years old is below the 1st for weight and on the 15th or something for height.

We've done extensive tests. She's perfectly healthy in ever way. Just doesn't like eating. (And I'm still insanely worried so I can relate).

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:14

Thank you for the posts. He's definitely on the chunky side but doesn't have any rolls of fat, if that makes sense.
He has been eating more recently, and I do think his diet could be a little better - we are in a terrible beige phase where he just wants beige and junk, he doesn't get it obviously, but it's not as good as he was - but I don't know if I'm blind to him being a bit overweight. No other doctors or the paediatrician has mentioned anything concerning about his weight (he has regular check ups for something else). I was a similar build to him as a child then slimmed right down when I was four, so I'm wondering if he's going to be the same as me.

I'm never sure how active he should be, that's probably a silly thing to say. He uses his scooter to get to nursery and back every day (about a 15 minute walk, he will walk it sometimes too) and scoots for miles at the weekend, interspersed with walking. He also rarely sits still, even when he's playing he's always wiggling about or on the go, so I've never been overly concerned he wasn't getting enough exercise but again, he's my first and I could be blind to it!

OP posts:
Caravanvirgin · 18/07/2023 14:17

Can you see his ribs clearly when he is naked? If you can’t then he is over weight.

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:19

When he's standing naturally or stretching? I'm not actually sure, I'll have a look when he gets home. Thanks, I didn't realise that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:20

He does still have a rounded tummy, always has done, but it's smaller than it was when he was a lot younger. It's not completely flat though.

OP posts:
Aria2015 · 18/07/2023 14:23

My son was 25th percentile for height and 75th percentile for weight for his 2 year check (supposedly an indicator he'd be on the short side?). By the time he was 4 he was 75th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight and at 7, he is still 75th for height and now 25th for weight, so complete opposite of what he was!

The truth is, they all grow at different paces and it's likely he's exactly what he looks like, a healthy, growing boy. Try not to worry until you know there is something to worry about (my mum's favourite phrase!).

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:26

Thank you for posting :) I'm not going to restrict his food obviously, but I might review portion sizes as he does love his food so I can see where that could have crept in, and he will be getting way more exercise now anyway as it's the summer holidays, so I guess he might even out over the next few months.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 18/07/2023 14:31

It sounds like he will very likely be short until his mid to late teens. There are no early sprouters on either side of his family.

It's very usual for children to grow in spurts, grow outwards then up.

Some of mine were heavier than height and one very much weighed 25th and height was over 75th by a year old despite starting at 90th still is as an adult. Gets her petite frame from me and height from her Dad's family.

Don't worry so long as he is healthy and exercises.

SparklesTheSoupDragon · 18/07/2023 14:33

Is he at nursery? I only ask because I’ve found them hugely useful for an extra viewpoint in instances like this - they see so many children pass through that they can give their perspective based on their experience of kids of a similar age. I was advised DD was overweight at her 2 year check up, nursery & her room manager agreed in their view she was middle of her peer pack, didn’t eat excessively, ran around a lot and they didn’t have any cause for concern. Turned out the HV had added an extra kg on when plotting her weight but that additional viewpoint based on experience provided some reassurance at the time

Lemonademoney · 18/07/2023 14:35

I hate those growth charts… I know so many examples where tall toddlers become very average teenagers and tiny toddlers shoot up at 16 and become taller than their cohort. I think you are best to look at growth patterns in your own and your partners families. My family are tiny on one side and tallish on the other but my husbands family are all tall BUT all are later growers not shooting up until about 14/15. The growth charts don’t allow for things like this

SparklesTheSoupDragon · 18/07/2023 14:37

Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:20

He does still have a rounded tummy, always has done, but it's smaller than it was when he was a lot younger. It's not completely flat though.

I’m sure little kids are expected to have a bit of a pot belly because their abdominal muscles aren’t developed properly yet, they start to strengthen enough to hold it all in around school age. And in my case, go backwards to the pot belly stage again once they hit 35 👀

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:38

Thank you you've all been so kind and really helpful with advice etc. I'm going to keep an eye on what I'm feeding him incase I've slid into bad habits, and we tend to get him outdoors every day so I'll try and make sure he's doing as much exercise as he likes (he loves running about and scooting). Come September, we are walking both ways to nursery in an effort to get him ready for doing the longer journey to school the following September so I'm sure that will help too.

Since becoming a mum I just feel like I'm feeling permanently guilty about one thing or another - today it's that I've fed him too much and made him too heavy or not given him enough exercise/right foods etc. It will be something else by the end of the week I'm sure.

OP posts:
Sugarplumfury · 18/07/2023 14:41

I imagine he used to get favourable press coverage and had a largely positive image with the public, because of the skill of the PR team at The Palace. Now that’s gone, we are seeing the entitled little twerp he is when there’s no one to put a spin on his behaviour.

ClaireandTed · 18/07/2023 14:42

Lots of great advice and it doesn't sound at all like there is a problem with his height, but just to reassure you, if there was an issue with growth hormone production and he needed treatment (ie growth hormone injections), it's not nearly as scary as it sounds. My son has them and they've been brilliant in helping him grow. I don't want you to worry about it, but also know that it's not the end of the world either way x

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:47

@ClaireandTed thank you that’s so great to hear and really reassuring. Brilliant to hear your son is doing well :)

OP posts:
GeorgeSpeaks · 18/07/2023 14:53

@Sugarplumfury that's a bit harsh, OPs child is only 3.5! 😂

Original poster
Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:55

@GeorgeSpeaks 😂

OP posts:
Caravanvirgin · 18/07/2023 14:56

Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 14:19

When he's standing naturally or stretching? I'm not actually sure, I'll have a look when he gets home. Thanks, I didn't realise that.

Just when standing/sitting notmally.