To think that a health visitors should be allowed to measure a child's height?

[Augusta211]

DD is approaching 2. It's become apparent she's particularly short. I measured her myself but wanted to take her to the weekly weigh in clinic to see the HV to have this looked at as DH & I are average to tall.

Apparently it's only GP's who can now measure length/height of babies/toddlers. How does this make sense? What is the point of weighing them if they are not allowed to measure them?

DD is nearly 75th centile for weight which the HV was happy with. I know she's under the 2nd centile for height though. Where's the logic in not measuring them? Are they just so hung up on childhood weight & obesity that they've completely forgotten that weight should correspond with height?

Some do measure height and weight at 2, others don't. It varies throughout the country.

I don't see how a HV can be happy with a centile weight when there is no height available.

Just as scales might not be properly calibrated, a measuring stick might not be totally accurate if not set up or used properly. But it shouldn't be that far out. And spotting weight/height discrepancies can be important (even when advice plus watchful wait shows a lot sort out as child grows)

How tall is she? 79cm - 23 months old

Length is easy to accurately measure on babies and my HV does it (in fact, don’t think the GP ever did either of them). But height needs to be done properly in the office once they’re standing and mobile.

They measure length until the child reaches 2 years old. So DD shouldn't be measured standing up yet.

My DS is short for his age (below the 2nd centile) and the HV measured him at his 2.5yr check which was done at home. She was happy though as he’s growing, just not as tall as his peers.

Being 'short' isn't a bad thing, or a sign something is wrong.

This is incorrect. Slow growth can definitely be indicative of a health issue. Yes, some people will just be small but the vast majority of our relatives are all tall or at least average height and there is also a huge difference between her height and weight centiles.

I get fed up with various organisations that are no longer allowed to do what you think would be normal for their job. It's all about the bonkers blame game and everyone being frightened of accusations.

I can see a time not far away when we are told by our GP "I'm sorry but I am unable to tell you what's wrong with you, data protection I'm afraid"

She was happy though as he’s growing, just not as tall as his peers.

See, with DD we have no previous height measurement to check her growth pattern against if that makes sense as they've never measured her before. Also, are either you or DP short?

Huh? My HV measured DS a couple of times. One of them insisted on measuring him to the point that she was trying to force him at a time he was overdue for a nap and wouldn't take my assertion that we'd do it another time for an answer, totally upset the poor child and he refused to stand on the scales or have any measurements taken at his 2 year check, FFS!

I mean, this would have been in 2010 so of course policy might have changed/be different in different areas.

I don't think there has ever been universal weighing and measuring at 2.some areas do some dont.
Health visiting services are squeezed like th e rest of the health service too

I’m in Wales. Here we do lengths at 8 weeks and 15 months; then height at 27 months and 3.5. I am also happy to measure length/height if I am asked or if weight gain is a concern to check overall growth. I would also refer you to orthopaedic clinic for the ‘knock knees’, did your HV offer to do that?

I would probably also refuse to measure the length of a baby with hip dysplasia due to the stretching involved on the mat.

Unfortunately in England cuts to HV funding have been huge and this has led to different things being offered in different areas

StealthPolarBear

I don't expect universal weighing at any age but I have specific concerns and asked them if they could measure her but was categorically told they are not allowed to measure children. It just seems really odd to me.

I’m in England. DS is 17 months, but he’s always been measured at every appt by HV and when you go to the weighing clinic they can do height as well. Very very odd that yours won’t! How can they check weight against height otherwise?

Length is easy to accurately measure on babies and my HV does it (in fact, don’t think the GP ever did either of them).

Interesting you say that as I went to the GP about my 2yr old dd dropping height centiles and she said that length measurements in babies are often very inaccurate!

You need to see the GP.
2nd centile May be normal but it would usually warrant investigation by a paediatrician. There is some seriously inaccurate information in this thread. Your hv sounds a bit pointless so best avoided!

Could you have misunderstood what she said? That she wasn't concerned herself, but that if you were, it would be better to see your GP? I agree that both my kids had an automatic appointment with the gp at that age to have an overall health check. Does this not happen any longer?

From your measuring her, where on the chart is she? 25%, 10%? I think unless she is in the 10%, they are unlikely to be too concerned. My DD was the opposite, in the 80% height, but only 8% weight when she was 20 months old. It prompted the GP to refer her to a paediatrician, but he took one look at her, said she was active, clearly no learning issues and declared her fine.

If something was to be wrong, it would indeed me be a medical issue that would require a referral to a specialist, so the HV is right to advise to go via your GP is concerned.

And yes there is a weigh in clinic here where you can get children up to 5 measured and weighed!

My ds was 80cm at that age and he is one of the smallest in his class but he doesn't stand out as being tiny.

*Could you have misunderstood what she said? That she wasn't concerned herself, but that if you were, it would be better to see your GP? I agree that both my kids had an automatic appointment with the gp at that age to have an overall health check. Does this not happen any longer?

From your measuring her, where on the chart is she? 25%, 10%? I think unless she is in the 10%, they are unlikely to be too concerned*

I definitely didn't misunderstand. She's below the 2nd centile based on my measurement at home.

I definitely didn't misunderstand. She's below the 2nd centile based on my measurement at home.
Then surely she is right to say that you need to take her to her GP. There is nothing she can do herself. Even if you didn't measure her properly, it's unlikely that the HV measuring her is going to take her over the 10%.

Was she not even measured at birth? Do you have no records of her previous heights at all in your red book?
Sorry the hv wasn't helpful, I'd definitely follow it up with a gp appointment if you think that there's no reason for her to be small (e.g. Following the 2nd centile from birth/ small parent or grandparent etc). I'll probably be nothing but better to check.

Then surely she is right to say that you need to take her to her GP.

She didn't tell me to take her to the GP, she said "she's probably just due a growth spurt, just make sure you're giving her a vitamin with vitamin D in it."

One of the other midwives in the room chimed in with "we don't measure height or length anymore, only GP's do that."

I would definitely go to the GP. Don't feel bad about " Wasting time", you won't be. This is clearly making you anxious, and given the lack of help from the HV, you don't really have another option.

I saw you previous posting. You and your DP are on the taller side, and your daughter is very short. This might well change rapidly, but given the very large height:weight discrepancy, I would definitely get her checked out now.
Having a toddler who is 2nd percentile for height, and 75 percentile for weight is not unduly alarming, as so many little ones are on the chubby side, and then have a growth spurt. That said, it would not be something you would want to see in a school age child, and would be classed as very overweight.

Interesting policy. My ds now 4 had his height and head circumference measured by health visitors. My DD's consultant at 18m/2yrs (now 8) was obsessed by head circumference and really annoyed that they didn't routinely track this anymore. They also used standing measurements from the point they could stand properly!