To be really worried about DS 13 height

[Laughingstock91]

DS 13 hasn’t really grown in over a year. All his mates are now considerably taller than him and he’s getting really upset about it especially as they are all constantly telling him how short he is.

I am assuming he is due a spurt- he’s only just 13 and hasn’t hit puberty yet so still looks like a little kid. I looked at the WHO growth chart & his predicted height is about 5’10/ 5’11 ish but at the moment he’s still tiny.

Aibu to worry? I think it’s the constant comments that are getting to him. He just doesn’t seem to be growing at all.

Nrft but have seen lots of posters saying it's nothing to worry about.
I've known a few children with growth issues, and not growing for a year should be checked out by a doc. Of course it could be a stop/start process as puberty kicks in, but worth flagging up to GP sooner rather than later if he really hasn't grown at all.

I wouldn't worry - my brother was titchy until he was 14/15 then he caught up and is an average height. If everyone in the rest of family is a normal height, he's unlikely not to be.

Boys are really varied heights around 13-14 - I remember at school looking at male mates where one was tiny and one was tall and thinking 'Hang on, weren't they the same height last month?!'

DS (9) is a late developer, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a teeny 13 year old, but I fully expect him to catch up by 16

My now 18 year old went from tallest in his group of friends in year 6 to not growing much for the next 3-4 years when his friends all had growth spurts and took over him, then finally he grew, he is now 6”1 and size 12 shoes, so don’t worry his body is just resting and making itself ready for the next growth spurt

It'll cost nothing to have a word with GP.
my oh was tiny at 13 and is tiny now at 40yo (5ft4 or so)
He was bullied at they tried to stretch him (he bit them!!)
He has no personal issues with not feeling manly but thers sometimes do. I'm taller than him too.

I think regrets his folks not getting any advice ( he is an inch or two shorter than them so they arent hugely tall either)

My stepson is following the same path and is tiny at 13 (still not reached the height needed to stop using a booster seat to give an example and in 9 to 10 clothes but his mother is taller than average woman so hopefully it might even up the difference. I'll be gently suggesting they get advice if he hasnt grown in the next year.

So don't leave it too late as previous have said once the window is gone theres little can be done.

@Beseigedbykillersquirrels

I'm sure I've read somewhere that boys will grow taller than their mothers, if their father is taller than their mother and if there are no health conditions. It's very likely he will suddenly grow in front of your eyes. There is such a vast difference between boys of this age; some are nearly 6ft across the shoulders, could do with a shave by lunchtime and could get served in a pub whereas others will still look like junior school boys. It is hard as there's no hiding from it but they usually all catch up and it evens out by about 17. My brother was very much smaller than his friends until the last year of sixth form and he's now the tallest of his group.

My DH had tall parents but at five foot eight is the same size as his Mum . I am worrying about my dd, I started my periods late at 16 so I was tiny until 15, but dd is almost 14 and quite suddenly looks as though she isn’t far off periods, yet is still tiny. I thought she was just a late starter like me, but now we wonder if she will stay really small . I am five eight. Her feet have grown recently but she isn’t much taller.

OP - hang tight, if he is tracking fine then he should be fine.

I have the opposite problem and can tell you some of the tall boys are desperate for their peers to start growing. They both have issues on either end of the spectrum.
My 13 yr old is summer baby and enormous - think 6ft 3+ and desperate to stop growing - gets upset that this is unlikely to happen and he is going to get taller. ( hopefully not much - it is costing a fortune)
My 11 yr old is doing the same as 13 yr old but probably an inch and a bit shorter on same age heights.

AS lon as he is not falling off his curve - you are doing everything right reassure - it will happen.

You can't do anything about his height. But you can help him with how he feels about it and manage his friends. Has he said to his friends that actually he doesn't think it's funny any more and its pissing him off?

So I've been a youth leader for 22 years.
10-18 year old age group.

There are always outliers when it comes to growth. Some are so tall at 10-11 and then don't grow while all their mates catch up.
There is always one 'titch'. They always catch up eventually - normally in that beanpole, you can see them grow while you watch type way.

None of that will make a 13 year old any less anxious and upset about it in the moment. He just needs to stand up for himself and demand his 'friends' don't call him short names.
We had one child who was on growth hormones, all his mates knew it was a sensitive subject so no one ever mentioned height.

We have a small 12 year old girl who has been reviewed over last few years by paediatrics and now awaits an endocrinology appointment.