13 yr old son starting puberty but no growth spurt?

[Marchonregardless]

13 yrd old DS is small for his age. Amongst the smallest in the groups of boys I see at school - and he says he's amongst the smallest. Dad was a late developer, so assumed it would follow that trajectory, even though I'm concerned.

But he's got quite a lot of dark hair on his genitals already (told to me by DH) - although not much genital development, but still indicating puberty is starting. Should I be worried he's not had anything like a growth spurt? Is this all normal or out of synch?

Normal. DS suddenly shot up the summer after turning 15 having been one of the smaller kids. He's had another growth spurt since then too and I don't think he's quite done yet.

DS was a right short arse at that age. He's about 5'11 now.

Mine too, to the point where I was getting a bit quietly concerned…he started growing when he was 16 and forgot to stop for a while…now a touch over 6’

DS1 was always one of the smaller boys at that age. He’s now 16 and 6ft, massive broad shoulders and I don’t think he’s finished yet. His brother (13) is also short , but a bit stockier, so I’m hoping he’ll do the same.

Unless there’s a medical reason to be concerned, I would try not to let it concern you too much op. Easier said than done I know!

Normal. I think hair comes first.

I think this is normal in school the boys weren't taller untill after year 9/10 (as I remember) x

Does he sleep well? You actually grow when you’re asleep as the growth hormone is released then. If he wants to get his max height potential then tell him to sleep plenty.

Google the Tanner stages OP, they give a lovely timeline of what to expect in roughly which order and show the overlaps. There's such a wide range of normal. I don't think you have thing to worry about.

Mine never had a growth spurt as such. I think he just grew continually in very small increments. I just realised one day that he was taller than me. He towers over me now at 22. I think he probably grew most between 16-19. He wasn't the smallest, but definitely not the tallest. He's about 5'10" now.

My DS did have a crazy spurt when he was about 14, he had all new shoes and trainers twice within a 7 week period. DH has a few vertical stretch marks across the bottom of his back where he grew so rapidly as a teen.

My DS is 12 and has no signs yet, although I’ve heard boys can develop as late as 15-16 so I wouldn’t worry too much. Chances are he’ll have a growth spurt in the next year

My 12 year old is similar he’s quite small too. His brother is 14 (today) and is much much taller and shot up over the last year and still got growing by the looks of him! It doesn’t happen all at once, my son has a very deep voice now too. Ds12 is 4th of my 4 boys and each one has been different. My 18 year old grew at 15 my 23 year old was short in 1st year then shot up when he was 16 and now 6’3 so it just depends on your son.

Perhaps too personal of a question so please don’t feel like you need to answer, but has any of your sons had any sort of disabilities? I ask because DS12 has type 1 diabetes and I’m wondering if that could hinder development

My youngest is year 10 and just turned 15 he's one of the tallest at over 6ft 2" and showing no signs of stopping with size 12 shoes but only recently has his voice broke. He's got a little tash if you strain to see it. His friend is 5ft 7" and has loads of facial hair, his voice broke last summer. It all happens all over the place. My 19 ds was a late grower but everything else was early, he's now nearly 6ft and still growing. Try not to worry. A sure sign of puberty is the smell. Think boys grow till their 21

@SoLongFarewellBye my youngest does -asd and adhd asthma he doesn’t sleep well so he does look much younger than his 3 older brothers. I’m not sure that t1 hinders development though - but def something to ask your diabetes nurse, it’s always a worry though isn’t it x

Thank you, yes I’ll have to ask. He also has ASD although it’s rather mild and I just assumed that wouldn’t hinder development? It is a worry yeah, be is starting to get a bit insecure about it all and I don’t want to panic him at all :(

My son was one of the smallest in his class. He started growing slowly between 14 and 15 and by 16 he was nearly 6 ft, voice broke.
So I wouldn't worry too much just yet.
Soon you will wonder where your little boy went!!

by the age of 17 all boys in my secondary's class had their full height done

How can you know that - my DS was still growing at 20. You kept track of all the boys after they'd left school to check whether they continued to grow?

Thanks all for supportive messages. I feel reassured.

My sister’s husband grew a couple of inches after they got married! Boys definitely aren’t finished growing at 17. I am a Secondary School teacher and when I see young men I’ve previously taught at school they’ve often shot up!

I taught a boy for GCSE and he was barely taller than me (so maybe 5’5’’) - saw him a couple of years later and he was at least 6’4’’