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?

[MigsSlippers]

If she was already tiny and she's not tracking her line then she needs to be reviewed. Go via GP or get the school nurse's phone number from school reception - they take over from HV when the child starts school.

She may just be wee but better to get her looked at by an expert than assume there's nothing anyone can do (and there is stuff that can be done if there is a medical reason for it, eg low growth hormone)

[TroysMammy]

I had tests when I was young to find out why I was so small and skinny and my sister younger by 2 years was taller and more filled out. It was genetic. My DF's family are short and plump, Aunties less than 5ft. My DM's family taller and thinner. I got the small and thin bits. I'm now 4ft 11 3/4inches and not so skinny now but still slimish.

[flutterby77]

Definitely get her checked out by a dr and ask for a referral to a specialist, either a paediatrician or an endocrinologist who can really investigate if there are any reasons for the slow growth. Growth of children is often overlooked as a health concern. Although as you have said you are not tall, dropping on the charts needs investigation.

[Nan0second]

GP not hv. Definitely

[Benedikte2]

Friend's DD was always small. She consulted GP who fobbed her off by pointing out that both parents weren't very tall. By the time she was 10 my own DC and her DD2 two years + younger had caught up in height. DD1 much the smallest in her class. At the risk of our friendship I pushed friend into asking for a paediatric appointment (GP still unconcerned). I was concerned it might be a growth hormone problem and window of opportunity would close with puberty. Paediatrician ordered tests which showed she has a severe form of coeliac disease. On a glut in free diet health improved immeasurably and she started to grow. Is now as an adult on the small side of average but normal enough for it not be be considered a disability.
So many causes of slow growth and this was only one and it shows that some GPs and health professionals are often slow to accept there may be a problem. Friends DD appeared healthy but had many colds and was anaemic and had minor tummy upsets.
Good luck

[Witchend]

I would get her checked out with the GP. Even if there's a family history of being short, there could be something.
My HV told of a child who she picked up as small and asked for investigation, family said "oh I'm small, all my aunts are small, my dm is small, my grandma is small..."
Turned out there was a reason (thyroid?) and having treated it the child the others were also checked and fund they had the same issue-of course too late to do anything about it growth wise. Child, who was expected to be around 5' (as the others were) was 5'10"!

[Yoarchie]

No harm in getting checked, agree to go to GP to get referral.

[SilentBiscuits]

My 2yo was exactly the same height as yours and our GP referred us to an endocrinologist. A year later we're being monitored, but it looks like she might just be short!

So yes, definitely get it checked out. Growth hormone deficiencies have more side effects than just being short, their hearts can be affected too. Will probably be nothing, just a short-arse kid, but there's a chance it's actually something.

[Cucumber5]

Cel - a 1970's figure is healthy. Pre junk food and pre convenience food. Lots more walking to school/playing outside and less sitting on arses watching screens.

[Cel982]

Cel - a 1970's figure is healthy. Pre junk food and pre convenience food. Lots more walking to school/playing outside and less sitting on arses watching screens.

It's just an odd way to put it, that's all. One decade didn't have a monopoly on normal body shape.

[Cucumber5]

It's the way I've often heard a healthy body shape described, so not unusual.

The norm in the 1970's is much healthier then the norm in the 2010's

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

My son was 78cm when he was 2. He has always been small, he very nearly fell off the growth chart altogether, but eventually he started tracking on the 9th centile. He is now 14 and between the 25th and 50th centiles. He always used to be the smallest in the class, now there are quite a few smaller than he is.

It's worth keeping an eye on things, but some kids grow slowly. I was a bit the same, though not quite as small - and my father too. My father ended up being 6'1''.

[w4nnabesahm]

if you are concerned then take her to the GP who can refer to paed if they think it is warranted. Not sure why the HV should come out to you for this. It's not really HV stuff.

[AppleAndBlackberry]

A friend had this with her DS and it turned out to be coeliac disease. Definitely worth seeing the GP.

[ReallyTired]

I thought that children were discharged from the health visitor at school age unless there are special needs. Has the school nurse flagged her height as a cause for concern.

Unless you want to be visited by someone who is as mad as box of frogs there is little to be gained from seeing the health visitor. I had the health visitor coming to measure dd because she was tiny when she was a year old. I finally got rid when she was two and half.

Some children are destined to be small. Dd is still tiny, but she is healthy.

[BusterGonad]

I agree Cucumber5 the 1970s figure is so much healthier than today's, hence the 'vanity' sizing, which I wouldn't call vanity sizing just readjusting to our changing shape, bigger waists or no waists and bigger boobs. I'm sure if you look at the average bra size today and the 70s they would be VERY different. I'd rather having a 1970s figure than my rather waistless 2010 figure!

[Colby43443]

My brother was 0.3 in height at that age to the point where GP was investigating hormonal and kidney problems. Fast forward 10 years and he had a growth spurt at 14 that had him grow eight inches over the summer from barely 5,6 to 6,2. Their height now isn't really a true reflection.

[Artus]

Off topic but I was a child in the seventies. There was plenty of unhealthy food around. Tinned fruit and evaporated milk, Birds Eye frozen mousse, tinned spaghetti on toast, Vesta Chow Mien (I miss that!). Five a day unheard of. We had a hot lunch then "tea" every day, usually followed by cake. Pudding after every meal. After school activities were minimal, unless you played football or cricket. We did walk more, and play outside with far fewer restrictions.

I suppose the point I am making is there was no golden age in the past.

[Basicbrown]

Yes this golden age stuff makes me laugh. Everything had E numbers and/ or came in a can or was frozen processed shite. Raiding a child was like some weird chemical experiment. My kids have a much better diet than I did as a child born in the 70s (although most of my childhood would have been the 80s).

And regardless of diet in childhood the resulting adults are hardly svelte on average as a generation.

[pregnantat50]

If it reassures you then contact your HV and I do understand your concerns but children who are small sometimes have later growth spurts.

I have 3 children. My eldest was on the 75th centile and then had a growth spurt when he was 12 and was the tallest in his year, he is now 5ft 10, my middle son was born over the 99th Centile and remained tall he is 6ft 3, my daughter was born on the 25th centile, she has remained little and she is 5 ft now at the age of 21(she was the same height as your daughter at 4). Her best friend at the age of 5 was even shorter than her at that age but then shot up and is now 5ft 8!

There is a mixture of genes from within family s and as long as your little girl is healthy and eating well I wouldn't worry.

[bruffin]

a 1970's figure is healthy. Pre junk food and pre convenience food.

you obviously didnt live through the 70s,

[BishopBrennansArse]

Since when was the HV an emergency service?
Honestly has it got that bad that you're not expected to use the NHS unless your leg is dropping off?

[Cucumber5]

Yes I lived through the 70's. Junk food and convenience food had only started to take off. Also it was quite expensive to buy. The junk food and convenience food industry are huge mega earners now, while waist lines have got podgier.

[ReallyTired]

HV is meant for pre schoolers and babies or disabled children. Once your is reception they come under the school nurse.

I had a letter from the school nurse saying that dd was small. I spoke to her and explained that her growth had be monitored by the health visitor and she was just following her growth curve.

[hazell42]

My son was very small til he was about 8. When he lined up at school the difference in size was very very noticeable. He is now 6 feet tall. they do grow at different ages. Consult HV, if they are happy forget about it