AIBU to ask for a visit from hv because my child is short?

[wholefttoastonthestairs]

My 4 year old is really short compared to the other children in her class . She is 4 years 9 months and is 93cm tall. She was 83cm at her two year check which is the last for in her red book . Everyone tells me she is just little but tbh I feel like she is not keeping up her growth?.

The hv came when I had my last baby and measured her she was on the 0.4th febrile and the hv again said she was probably just going to be short.

I have tried to work it out and I think she is now below that?

But people act as though I'm crazy if I mention it!

I am not tall I am 5 foot 3 but dh is 6 foot and out other children are all around 50th-75th centigrade for height.

Aibu to ask for another hv visit or even visit gp?

Is this something I am wayyyyy overthinking?

Centile not febrile

It's hard not to overthink, but I do think you are. I was the tallest in my class (boys included) until about 12 at which point a fair few other kids (girls and boys) had a growth spurt and overtook me (by a lot!) I ended up "only" 5'7" but those kids who were previously shorter than me were 5'10" or even as tall as 6 feet plus.

She's still only young. Unless you think there's a medical reason (is she not eating enough) there's really nothing they can do

Are you are you husband very small? What about her weight in relation to her height - is she in proportion? Does she eat well? She does sound very little but if she is developing normally in all other ways then I expect she is just going to be small. I don't think you would be unreasonable to have this checked by hv or gp for your peace of mind.

There is no harm running this by the hv. That's what they exist for! Hopefully they will be able to reassure you.

You could go and get your dc checked out. However you are not tall by the sounds of things. Can you ask your parent what your growth was like? Was it similar? It may just be that your dc will do most of her growing when she's a bit older. I've seen the tiniest kids with the tallest of parents and think they will eventually be tall. It's just a pattern sometimes. I wouldn't worry but do your homework about your growth, and talk to the GP next time you are there.
Also, generally the 2 year old height can be doubled I believe and that is the approximate adult height. She should be approximately 166cm at adult height if my tired head is correct there.

Waiting - I am 5 foot 3 and my dh is 6 foot. I think my other children are average. My 12 month old is shoulder height to my 4 year old

Some children grow loads when they're little and others grow loads when they're older. The 2 yr old height is a rough guide and I will see if it comes to fruition as dd grew exponentially between 2 and 3 and remains tall for her age at 8.

I don't know if the foods she ate at that age influenced her height or continues to do so. She wanted to eat eggs all the time at that age. She also ate and continues to eat a lot of yoghurt and a fair amount of chicken and all these foods apparently make children grow taller. If you are concerned, speak to your hv. And maybe have a google on foods, which help children grow faster.

Health visitor is probably not much help at this age! If she's fallen off the bottom of the charts she probably needs to be seen by a paediatrician. It could be that she is just going to be small.... No problems there! But a paediatrician can plot her properly, work out the ranges her height should fall into based on parental heights and investigate if appropriate. If you are worried pop her to the gp and they can refer.

Hv only see prevschool children.

Why dont you take her to the GP? Yabu to ask for a visit for a non urgent issue.

My DS was referred by hv and gp after having normal growth as a baby then stopping growing and still being in age 18month-2years clothing at 4. The issue wasnt that she was small but that she was no longer growing in line with the growth charts and dropping down the centiles. Can you compare this from her red book?
Once referred she was given high energy milk drinks as they suspected that was issue but it made no difference. I admit I was really worried by then.
Then suddenly within a term of buying her entire school uniform to start year R, she suddenly shot up and I was replacing uniform regularly as she had growth spurts. Don't know why it happened, but the hospital were happy and signed her off. She's almost 8 now and finally wearing the clothes for her age.
Anyway if hv won't see her then try gp armed with evidence of previous measurements and how she measures up against the graphs.
Good luck.

I think you're absolutely right to want to speak with someone about this. Some children can be growth hormone deficient for various reasons and it can be serious. People here are not doctors and not qualified to give you advice or reassurance. Skip the HV and take her to a qualified dr. Also visit the Child Growth Foundation website /FB page and read up. x

YABU to ask for a HV appointment. All they will do is measure her and plot her on the chart and recommend a doctor's appointment if you are worried. So get a GP appointment.

My three year old is the same, and we went to see the GP - mostly because she's dropped from the 75th centile to the 0.4th for height and 2nd for weight.

GP is of the opinion, as am I, that she's probably absolutely fine and just dinky, but that it doesn't hurt to get her checked out, so we're awaiting an appointment with the paediatrician for blood tests to rule anything out.

Like others have said, you are obviously worried so take her to the gp. My son was born prem and has been small for many years but this past year he has had a growth spurt and it's really catching up.

At 83cm at 2 years she was about or above 9th centile (depending on exactly when her 2 year check was ). 93cm at 4y9m is well below the 0.4th centile. The importance is not her height but the dropping off the centiles. What centile did she follow as a baby?

YABU to see the HV for something so important. It may correct itself, or it may be that she is just petite, but undoubtedly it should be investigated. This is a medical issue and you should see your GP and be referred to a paediatrician.

Totally normal. She's just going to be short like your side of the family. You are short for a woman. Think back to your aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents. Are any of them particularly small? There's your small gene. There are loads of great things about being petite. Bigger isn't better. Your other kids clearly take after your DH.

Mine were/are on the bottom percentile with one below it. No professional has worried about it and they are teens now. they have high metabolisms, healthy slim 1970's type figures, bright, coordinated, able. Children are often overweight and this makes them prematurely tall and hit puberty earlier.

I have tried to work it out and I think she is now below that?

Based on the measurements you have given I would agree with you. Also based on what you are saying she was probably round the 9th centile at her 2 year check. Where was she on the chart before then?

Definitely worth talking to your GP about her growth.

Some children are just smaller, but definitely see a hv if it makes you feel better. I have the opposite with mine. My youngest turned 4 this week and we went to the water park he stood next to the sign and the man was happy to let him on! He is 125cm tall or 1.25m he is size 12 feet already. He huge compared to other children his age but he was 65cm at birth and despite being 10lb 7 he just looked very long and thin!

• I didn't let him on the slide, haha

I know my motivation for taking my daughter to the GP wasn't so much her size but the dropping down centiles - it may be that she's meant to be this size, but I figured it didn't hurt to get it checked out and the GP agreed with me.

Go to the GP and get her tested for growth hormone and coeliac disease - this can cause children to grow more slowly due to not absorbing nutrients properly through the gut (happened to DD1's friend).

See your GP, OP - she may be just small for her age, but anyone who slips off the normal growth charts should be assessed.

healthy slim 1970's type figures

What on earth is a 1970s figure?

I agree it's definitely worth a gp visit, even it its just to put up mind at rest, I've been thinking of seeing a gp for my dd8 who is now completely off the chart now for her height.