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?

"2nd centile May be normal but it would usually warrant investigation by a paediatrician."

Really? How bizarre that it would usually warrant investigation.

2nd percentile for an 18 year old female is around 5ft. Lots of us are that height as adults, and I would say that the vast majority of us are just short.

Take her to the GP if you're worried tho OP.

Yes it would warrant investigation especially as neither parent is short.
As you say, it may be normal (although weight on 75th centile suggests investigating.)
However there are certain health conditions that would usually be considered as they are treatable. It’s not about being short - many people are, it’s about the associated conditions that go with that diagnosis. (Growth hormone deficiency for example).

you are concerned, go to your gp and discuss this with them.
she does sound small, my dc were that height at under 12m old.

2nd percentile for an 18 year old female is around 5ft. Lots of us are that height as adults, and I would say that the vast majority of us are just short.
Indeed, but unusual when your parents are both tall and you find yourself above average weight wise.

It's probably absolutely fine, but it does require investigation to rule out anything medical.

"she's probably just due a growth spurt, just make sure you're giving her a vitamin with vitamin D in it."
She might be right, but she should have picked up on your concern and the fact that she herself said 'probably' should have triggered her to suggest you make an appointment to the GP.

The hospital wouldn't measure the length of newborn DGD three weeks ago, saying there are different ways of measuring babies, which come out with different answers. DS and his DP still want to know what length she was, because it's something family often talk about!

Our HV also refuse to measure length/height at the baby weigh in clinic. We must wait until his 12 month check apparently.

I would go to the GP. That said, DD is quite short (25th) while DH and I are fairly tall ( me: 5’7”, DH: 6’). However Dh’s Mum and sister are short (5’3’’) so That’s possibly why.

Our health visitors don't measure length - apparently because it is too tricky to get am accurate measurements so is pointless. They will start doing height at around 2.5yrs. Implication was it is a nrw policy. Seemed crazy to me to have that new policy just when car seats are starting to move from weight to height in terms of forward facing. Don't think the gp measured at 8 weeks but I can't remember.

Don't worry about wasting your GPs time - if the hv in you area have a policy not to measure height that is not your fault and it sounds like the GP may be a better source if information/reassurance.

No idea why a HV doesn't measure height as surely weight centile is a bit meaningless without but for a bit of reassurance....my oldest boy was on the 2nd centile for length at 2 (was born on 98th) no one ever seemed concerned and now at nearly 5 he is growing like a weed. Still small enough in centile terms but he's definately growing faster than he was. My 20 month old is exactly the same.