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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

In never thinking this was an issue.

20 replies

notanotherusername1 · 10/12/2013 17:08

My 12 year old DS has just reached 6ft. He has always been tall and if I am honest because of that and of course because of the fact I see him every day it's not something I ever think about.

Numerous people have said '"oh he is tall" over the years but we recently saw some old friends and the comments came thick and fast.

He is head and shoulders above his class mates and he has gone through puberty now because he is developed in every department a male can develop in. His voice has broken. He has just started getting a few hairs on his chin.

Now I have had a comment asking am I not a little worried there might be something medical that's caused this.

My answer would be no but it's got me thinking. Have I had my head in the sand? What could cause someone to develop early? Surely he is not that unusual.

OP posts:

YellowDinosaur · 10/12/2013 17:12

I agree with you. And as he's going through puberty now he'll soon stop growing and his classmates will catch up. If there is nothing else you're concerned about I certainly wouldn't worry about this

ihatethecold · 10/12/2013 17:17

Sounds like my DS.
Don't worry, it's normal.

loisismyhero · 10/12/2013 17:18

My oldest lad is 14. At around 11 or 12 one of his friends suddenly shot up and went through puberty much earlier than the others. He's 15 now, well over 6ft, looks about18, but the other lads are catching up and it's all evening out over time. It can be tough on them though - I remember his mother saying to me at the time that when people looked at him they tended to forget, because of his size, that he was still a.child.

Writerwannabe83 · 10/12/2013 17:18

If a girl can start her periods at 9 and it's isn't a problem, a 12 year old boy can have hairs on his chin

Things seems to be happening a lot earlier these days compared to when I was going through puberty!

I'm sure your strapping lad is absolutely fine!!

SomethingkindaOod · 10/12/2013 17:19

I didn't think it was particularly early, DS is 13 and a few of his classmates have hit puberty head on over the last year. He's showing signs of it himself and is growing so fast you can practically see it. He had some friends round over the weekend and there was much comparing of (non existent) chin hair going on...
According to the NHS site precocious puberty is diagnosed when it starts before the age of 9 in boys.
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Puberty/Pages/Complications.aspx

Original poster

notanotherusername1 · 10/12/2013 17:25

A big thank you because I was beginning to feel stupid for thinking there might be something....could not imagine taking him to the Doctors over it but you know when that one comment can make you think.

I know his school trousers are becoming half mast and they were long in October when he got them. Could do with a slow down now.

OP posts:

nokidshere · 10/12/2013 17:29

My 12 & 15 year olds (5"7 & 6"1 respectively) have been head and shoulders above their peers since reception!!! Everyone always comments that they are tall. But neither of them is the tallest in their class now they are in secondary school.

Anyway. It won't stop! My 6ft6" DH still gets comments about his height and he is 60 LOL

nokidshere · 10/12/2013 17:31

Oh sorry meant to say that my oldest grew most in the holidays between yr 7&8 - he grew a full 8 inches in just a few months

Donkeylovesmarzipanandmincepie · 10/12/2013 17:31

I was told a healthy child usually grows at a rate of about 2 inches per year, from their 2nd birthday until puberty.

Are you or his father tall? Add your height and his dad's in inches. Add 5 more inches for DS, (subtract 5" for a DD). Divide by 2. He will probably reach an adult height within 2 inches of that figure.

He sounds perfectly normal, just ahead of his classmates for now, someone has to be tallest.

lljkk · 10/12/2013 17:35

I would go ask a doctor about it. I don't know what OP should do. But I would seek advice if it were me.

ZombiePenguin · 10/12/2013 17:45

My DS (6ft3, aged 14) has always had these comments! It isn't a Heath matter, YANBU!

Lj8893 · 10/12/2013 17:55

Sounds like my db!! My mum did end up getting him tested for giantesm (sp?) but turns out he was just a growing lad!
He's still tall now but not like freakily so!

MrsDavidBowie · 10/12/2013 17:56

ds 14 has grown 7 inches this year and is 6 feet tall..but then, so am I .

He is still my little boy though

formerbabe · 10/12/2013 17:59

I would take him to the doctors if he was my son...6ft sounds very tall for a 12yo. Mind you, that may be my son in a few years...he is 5 now but most people think he is 7/8.

FayKnights · 10/12/2013 18:03

My DS is 13 and has friends that are nearly 6ft, my DS is one of the smallest in his year and we get quite a few comments on that!

Eastwickwitch · 10/12/2013 18:14

Both my DSs were over 6' at 12. Their peers caught up with them over the following 2 years.
Both 6'3 now with size 12/13 feet. Neither are the tallest in their years.
Good genes, not a health problem.

Original poster

notanotherusername1 · 10/12/2013 18:17

Thank you Donkeyloves...my maths is rubbish but looking like he will 6'5

My Gran's Father was 6'7 and very thin. DS is very thin, he could eat on the hour and not put weight on.

OP posts:

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 10/12/2013 21:31

I have one too! DS reached 6'3'' at 12, went through puberty really early. His best friend was the smallest in the class, they made quite a pair.
Interestingly I noticed a big difference in the way they got treated, even by parents. We react differently to 6' 12/13 year olds than we do 4' 5'' ones. My DS definitely got used to being treated as an adult much earlier than his friends.

cashmiriana · 10/12/2013 22:42

I started getting comments about how tall DD2 was.... at my 20 week scan when pregnant!

They scanned and rescanned, sent for a doctor... I was thinking the worst (my DN was born with life-threatening heart condition, requiring major surgery at birth) and I was in a total panic.

Turned out it was her femur length giving cause for concern. I just got DH to stand up (6' 5" with v. long legs) and they were less worried.

Now age 10 she's 5' 3" and still shooting up. She has always been off the chart for height/ length. Her predicted height range is up to 6' 1" (however so is DD1's and she seems to have settled at a very nice and unremarkable 5 ' 6" that will make her the short arse of the family!)

DramaAlpaca · 10/12/2013 22:58

It sounds normal to me. He's just going through puberty a bit younger than some of his friends. His growth will probably slow down now & the others will catch up. A friend of mine's son was nearly 6ft at 12, but at 16 he hasn't grown much more & he is no longer the tallest in the class. He really liked being the tallest & actually found it quite difficult when the other boys started to catch up & overtake him!

My DS3 is 16, 6ft & skinny as a rake. He was at the doctor's recently for something minor & she reckons he's going to grow a good bit more because of the length of his legs. His ambition is to be taller than his eldest brother, who's 6'2" & I don't think it'll be long before he gets there.

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