Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about my DS 13 height

113 replies

Edenspirits · 30/07/2021 06:20

My DS is 13.5 and 5ft and he’s totally worried and upset all the time about it. He’s pretty small compared to his mates but a few of them have hit puberty whereas my DS is still like a little kid in comparison to be honest.

I spoke to the doctor as I was getting worried as he hasn’t really changed height much in 2 years - doc didn’t seem concerned & said he’s on the 25th percentile for his age & not to worry as he hasn’t got puberty yet. According to the growth charts his predicted height is around 5/10 as I am 5/8 and so is hubby (both the same height) and I try to reassure my son but as he’s getting so worried and upset, it’s making me upset and worried.

Aibu to worry- I think it’s because he hasn’t grown really in 2 years! He’s got asthma too and is on steroid inhalers but the doctor said it’s a bit of a myth that they affect height as the dose is so small.

OP posts:
Conchitastrawberry · 30/07/2021 09:39

My son is the same. He’s just turned 14 and much shorter than his friends. He’s about 5ft 3. I noticed on his search history on his iPad he’s done lots of height predictions so it’s definitely bothering him. He also doesn’t seem to have hit puberty. He has a bit of keg hair, not sure on anywhere else obviously. He also has a very slight moustache.

My older son grew 7 inches between year 8 and year 9. As he went to a special needs school he had a full medical every year. I remember the doctor double checked he’s got it right. He’s stoped growing now and he’s about 5 10, slightly shorter than his dad.

ViceLikeBlip · 30/07/2021 09:41

@icklekid

I’m always amused by people being concerned about height (as a very short person!!) even if you are unhappy about it there is nothing you can do… you can’t change your diet and grow more… your height is your height!
Sometimes if a child stops growing (or their growth slows significantly) it can be down to a growth hormone deficiency, which can be treated. Of course you can't fight your genetic height, but sometimes there's more going on.
Wannakisstheteacher · 30/07/2021 09:47

DS is 13 and approx 5ft6. His class ranges in everything from 4ft10 ish to 6ft2. This is definitely the age where you have the most variation and can’t always tell how things will end up.

BumbleMug · 30/07/2021 09:50

@Oblomov21

Actually not growing for 2 years is unusual. I'd ask for a referral.
Not always. DD(15) didn’t grow from 12-14 (saved me a fortune on clothes & shoes - 1 pair of school shoes lasted 18 months!). Then suddenly at 14.5 puberty kicked in and she grew fast.
WhatMattersMost · 30/07/2021 09:50

My DS is 14 and 5'. He has short parents though, so if he's going to shoot up, it will only be through the auspices of his maternal grandfather's genes! However, he has a very deep voice, which I think helps. He's not bothered by his height. He is a veritable Jack Russell among dogs :)

Oversize · 30/07/2021 09:53

Yes. My DS is about 5 ft 3 and has the most amazing bass voice. I love to hear him sing and this massive sound coming from this small body.

purplesequins · 30/07/2021 09:56

what was the growth pattern of your dad or your husband?
maybe he mirrors their puberty development?
what is his diet and exercise like? both are vital for good growth.

I have teenagers and in their classes a couple of boys were still pre-puberty at age 13-14.

DottyHarmer · 30/07/2021 09:57

Ds was very small. And we went to a restaurant for ds’s birthday and the owner said, “Ah, let me guess your age! You look about the same age as my son, so… 12?” Ds was 16. Poor ds!

Anyway, he suddenly started growing when he was in the sixth form. It was weird. I swear he would come down each morning and be visibly taller. He’s now 5’10” and still appears to be getting taller…

Ilovegreentomatoes · 30/07/2021 10:02

Does anyone know what age girls stop growing? My dd is 13 and 5ft 2 and hasn't grown much in the past year and a half.

puffyisgood · 30/07/2021 10:04

@Ilovegreentomatoes

Does anyone know what age girls stop growing? My dd is 13 and 5ft 2 and hasn't grown much in the past year and a half.
It varies quite a lot. Usually [not always] tied in with puberty - if she's a long way through all that then she's IMO most likely [though not definitely] done growing.

5'2" is a perfectly respectable height, of course.

randomwomen · 30/07/2021 10:04

25 centile! Jesus, I I would be crying with joy if my 2nd centile son were in the 25th!
You only have to read the shitty comments that regularly appear on this site from women to see how much harder his life is going to be.

Musication · 30/07/2021 10:05

@Ilovegreentomatoes

Does anyone know what age girls stop growing? My dd is 13 and 5ft 2 and hasn't grown much in the past year and a half.
It's very variable. Some girls don't grow much more than 1-2 inches after their period starts. I was well finished growing by 13 but many of my friends grew til 16/17. Boys usually grow for longer than girls.
freelions · 30/07/2021 10:06

I don't think it is that unusual with boys

My DS who is now 16.5 grew very little between the ages of 13 nd 15 and like you I was starting to worry a bit

He was late with puberty too but has shot up in the past 16 months or so and is now 5' 11" with no signs of stopping growing any time soon!

purplesequins · 30/07/2021 10:07

@Ilovegreentomatoes

Does anyone know what age girls stop growing? My dd is 13 and 5ft 2 and hasn't grown much in the past year and a half.
it varies, it is often said that girls stop growing within two years of periods starting.
lljkk · 30/07/2021 10:08

middle DS barely grew age almost 11- over 14, now 6'1" and maybe not done growing (age 17). Was maybe 5'3" at 13.5yo, middle of yr9. He went from average height to shortest to well above almost all mates.

My youngest DS is almost exact same numbers as OP's DS but doesn't mind. He even moans about not being able to fit in small spaces he could fit into previously.

RedLemonadeNTaytos · 30/07/2021 10:11

I seem to remember at school there were some boys who didn’t really hit puberty and grow until they were 16 or 17. At 13, loads of them were still tiny and like children (I was a great big tall girl!). It all sounds normal, OP.

My DS was 6’4 with a deep voice and hair everywhere at 13. His best friend was 5ft and still very childlike in appearance. It was equally hard on them both. I remember DS crying because he didn’t want to wear shorts to school as he was so hairy and because he couldn’t get the fashionable trainers they were all wearing to fit his size 14 feet. Puberty is a rough old time!

frami · 30/07/2021 10:13

Some children just grow later than others. I have a wedding photo with my cousin in it who looks about 13 (5 foot, skinny, very young face). Was actually 17 5 years later he was 6 foot plus and started to fill out. Unfortunately like all of us the height increase has stopped but the "filling out" has not!

Drivingmeupthewall · 30/07/2021 10:13

Stop panicking about it, FFS. Your son will be picking up on it and it will be exacerbating how he feels. So what if he is short? Do you think his life will be over? Hardly.
Give the poor kid a chance to hit puberty and stop marching him off to the doctors, thereby making him think something is really wrong.

Namechangecharlie999 · 30/07/2021 10:15

This happened to my nephew and he had injections to speed things up. See another doc and get him referred

Branleuse · 30/07/2021 10:19

i remember worrying about my ds1 at that age as he still hadnt hit puberty. I wouldnt worry. They all do eventually. I reckon by next summer if not before then he will shoot up in height. Unless you and his dad are really short

blahblahblah321 · 30/07/2021 10:19

My nearly 13 year old DS has friends of various sizes - he's tall at just over 5ft 7 (started puberty on the early side), most of his friends are around 5ft 2/3 and he also has a couple who are 5ft.

Boys start puberty at all sorts of ages, he likes being tall but doesn't like the other sides of early puberty - he's just finishing year 7 and has been shaving regularly for nearly a year

Throwntothewolves · 30/07/2021 10:23

I think everyone grows at different rates. My DH said he used to get teased about being small and didn't shoot up until about 16. He's 6ft now and taller than many of his previous school friends.
I am tall and have been the height I am since I was 12.
My DS thinks he's small, but he's average looking at his classmates (He's 8). It doesn't help that his best mate is tall so literally makes him feel small, and can't resist pointing it out all the time. I know DS will be tall one day though because we are. But it doesn't matter if he isn't.

It's just different for everyone. Your DS will grow when his body is ready to.

ShitPoetryClub · 30/07/2021 10:27

When they shoot up it's sometimes actually painful.
Both my DSs were at times, unable to sleep at night because of leg pain/hip pain/knee pain.
They also both have stretch marks on their hips.
Both were among the smallest in their year at 13 and they are 6'1 and 6'3 now.

KingdomScrolls · 30/07/2021 10:31

My brother still looked like a child at that age compared to his friends, he was tiny. Very fast though and his lightness and size gave him an edge in some sports. They don't all shoot up, he's now an adult and 5'8 well built with a beard so doesn't look like a child! He had a long term partner, two children, plenty of friends and is still sporty so it hasn't affected him, not everyone is tall. My DF is the same height and my mum is 5ft, my whole family are short but I'm 5'9 and DH is 6'4 so we're the odd ones out! My DS who is two takes the same size shoe as my niece who is five. It really doesn't matter

Zombiemum1946 · 30/07/2021 10:34

If he's healthy in every other regard don't worry. He's only 13 with a lot of growing still to do. The human body isn't fully formed until around the age of 24. His height doesn't dictate his future, just his clothes size. .

Swipe left for the next trending thread