Teen boys growing after age 16/17

[WillMo]

My son is 16. He's of average height at about 5'9". He is fit and sporty and feeling a little bit bothered that he hasn't reached his predicted height.

He was 175cm at age 13/14, (which put him above 90th centile) and has only increased slightly since then.

His predicted height, according to his parents' height and growth charts is around 6'. His dad is over 6' tall and I am 5'4".

He is definitely towards the end of puberty.

I'm looking for stories of late growth really and whether I should gets him looked at for any deficiencies? This might be his final height, and that is fine, but it is definitely different to what was expected!

Thanks so much for these replies.

I feel it is likely that he has stopped growing, as there has been a definite, lengthy pause in growth and he has body/facial hair... however it is interesting to hear stories of height increase after 16/17 (and after puberty) and maybe this will happen to him.

While I know he is a bit bothered to have not grown as tall as his dad (over 6') or as tall as he expected, I know it won't affect him overall, as he is after all of average height and a happy, lovely teen ☺️

Out of interest, did your son continually grow in adolescence or was there any time he didn't? eg.for a pause?

These are accounts are interesting to read. A
lot of boys seem to be growing after 16.

My own son is 16 and shorter than his dad at the moment at about 5ft 8.

Has anyone had experience of a growth spurt starting after no growth for a few years? Ds is wondering if he will grow any taller.

I’m 5’ 7”, my son’s dad is 5’ 6” and my 15 year old has just broken through 6’. I don’t know the timescale (but it is recorded on my living room door) but he had a huge, very quick growth spurt. I’m seriously hoping his growing is all done!

My son sounds similar. He has just turned 16 and is around 5ft9 or 10. He’s been that height since around 13.

Im short, around 5ft 1 and my husband is approx 6ft.

He is quite defined as he goes to the gym a lot and def has body hair but not much facial hair so as much as his height is fine, I do think he might get taller.

My youngest is similar in that he is a lot taller than most of his friends at 13 and has enormous feet! I think he will end up taller than his brother.

Their sister is tiny, barely 5ft and hasn’t grown since they were 12.

Most lads I've known had a last growth bit aged 19-21 so there's still plenty time OP

My brother started an apprenticeship at 17 his overalls had to be taken up about 5 inches as he was small at 5ft 7 by the time he left his apprenticeship mum had had to take them down past the seem and they’d still flapped around his ankles he’s over 6ft now

Thank you for these!
He was just moaning yesterday about not growing 😣 I've told him I'm not sure if he will grow anymore, but I know he's desperate to.
His dad and uncle are tall but the fact he hasn't grown in so long is making me wonder if it is possible he still can 🤷‍♀️

Wow! Was he growing steadily before that or just shoot up after 17?

Mine had a fairly late growth spurt age 14 to 15, having always been smsll for his age. He's 5'10" now at age 16. I think he's still growing, but slowly.

My son grew noticeably during his first term at Uni, so 18 1/2.
He's 6'1"
I'm 5'8" and his dad 5'9"

Ds2 at 15 just crept over me this summer, he's got more to go I think - his facial hair is still teen rather than man.

My DH and I are the same height as you and your DH. My eldest is 5ft 9 too. My younger son took forever to start growing, quite late to puberty. He is now 5ft 9 too, and just about to turn 17. He may have another inch or so in him, but neither are going to be as tall as my husband and I have found that surprising.

I'm 5ft & DH 5ft11, our DS is 17 & approx 5ft8/9 he doesn't have much facial hair so I'm also hoping he still has some growing to do. His voice broke quite early but growth has been slow & steady with no real surges. I know he'd like to at least be as tall as his dad. His older DS reached 5ft4" so she managed to surpass me which I was so happy about.

What is this obsession with height, as if it's some sort of achievement? I'm 4' 9", DH is 5' 7" and DS finished growing at 5' 6". It hasn't stopped him getting girlfriends, being fairly good at sport, being emotionally intelligent, getting a Masters and moving to London for his dream job.

One of my boys was about 5ft 10 at 16 and he’s not 6ft 3. His brothers were all much taller than him but he’s now the same height. I think boys can grow until they are about 21 so he definitely has time to make 6ft!

DS is 16 and is 5foot 1. He's seen an endocrinologist and she says they can grow for about few years. He'd love to be 5'8!!!

@WillMo he’d been one of the smallest and grown but still one of the smallest. Then bang

My friend is head of 6th form at a boys’ school and always says so many boys grow a LOT from the beginning of y12 to the end of y13.

At 16, our son was only 5’6. This was concerning, but more so because he was showing barely any signs of puberty. I asked our GP to refer him to an endocrinologist where he had many tests, bone scans, MRI, bloods etc. The conclusion was there was nothing wrong other than a constitutional delay of puberty and patience (and weight gain) were advised. Hard when you’re 16 and a titch compared to your mates. The bone scans predicted he was 3.5 years behind.

I wasn’t too hopeful he’d be tall as his dad is only 5’9. I am taller than average though.

Anyway, he is now 21, 6’2 and a big burly bloke.

He had a wrist x-Ray last month after he fell on it playing football. They commented on the unusual fact his bone plates are still not fused, so he is still growing!

I agree. I am 5’2 and dh is 5’6. There is way too much pressure on boys to be tall, it’s honestly bad for their mental health as they think there is something wrong with them.

doesnt help when people like the pp called her son at 5’6 a ‘titch’ compared to his friends at 16 🙄

@ISpyCinderella that’s interesting - was your son always small for his age, or just when he reached puberty years?

Totally agree. Smaller men have to put up with so much. It's incredible how people think they can be so rude (to their faces) about something they have no control over.

He was only small for his age in the puberty years. Before that, he was completely average.

And to the other pp who mentioned me saying he was a titch compared to his peers at 16. He was. He was teased. He was once ridiculed by cinema staff, at a time when he had to take his passport just to get in. I’m not saying it’s right that boys are expected to be tall. It’s just a fact of life. I have a husband who has been subjected to comments his whole adult life for being 5’9, which isn’t even that short. But teasing and mild piss-taking had had an effect. I’m not wrong for being thankful my sons are taller. In fact, they’re taller than all the mean boys that lorded it over them at 14/15/16. My sons would be too kind to point this out though.

Ok. Now imagine the 5'1 or 5'3 boy. People are even more nasty to them.

My son was fairly average height for his age until he was about 19 or so when he suddenly became about 6 foot 1.
I don't think they are fully grown till they are 19 or 20, or maybe even older.

Mmm I have the opposite issue. My 13 year old ( nearly 14) I 6 ft 1 with no real sign of puberty yet ( no facial or underarm hair) . I wouldn't like him to be stand and point tall either ( no pleasing me🙄) he's very slim and ive noticed his posture is becoming poor from constantly crouching down to talk to his friends etc. I know they'll catch up but I'm a bit sick of people tell him wow he's going to end up 7ft tall🙄