13yo DS being mistaken as 7yo DS twin

[Confusedmuch1]

My oldest DS is still mistaken for an 8yo. Youngest DS is about to turn 8 and people assume they're twins.
Ds2 is normal height/size for their age. Ds1 is slightly taller but similar build. No signs of puberty starting at all.
Should I be worried?

Even my very small for her age DD is taller than 4 foot.

My son is also small for his age, and at 14 only just started signs of puberty- and quite short at around 5 foot- and is shorter end of his year. So I would probably get your son checked out.

You can see on here where he is

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Boys_2-18_years_growth_chart.pdf

Only you can know whether your son actually is unusual (although as he is only 13 it does sound like it's just that puberty hasn't kicked in yet). But I agree with PP, people do say silly things. Two of my DC were often asked if they were twins. They were actually a few years apart, and that would have been obvious if those asking had looked more closely, but they did look very similar. Even people who would have known if I'd had twins (eg relatives), asked if they were twins. People don't think before opening their mouths sometimes.

My DS plays football and so we get to see the Under 15's every week.
For a couple of years we have talked about the HUGE difference between the heights & builds of the boys - it can be like watching men against boys. They are all different & mature at different rates.

DD started falling down the growth curve when she was about 3. We took her to the doctor when she was one of the smallest in her class as we are quite tall. She was referred to a paediatrician and diagnosed with coeliac. She’s a good height now but that’s because she’s following the diet she needs to. It may be nothing but please get him checked.

I've just checked and my unusually (albeit not pathologically) small ds2 was 122 cm (just over 4 feet) at 9 and a half. He's 15 now and about 160 cm, not all that long into puberty* so still growing.

*Both my sons were lateish into puberty - ds2 was about 14 and it all seemed to happen at once, ds1 was more like 15 before his voice even changed. He grew a lot between 15 and 17 and is now 175 + cm. So not being in puberty at 13 wouldn't concern me, but - if your ds is really 4 feet - that would.

I echo people who say to get him checked out. I've just checked your son against my son's last weight/height check- has has them annually due to medication. Ages 12 he was just under 50th centile for height and weight but this is his normal and he has gained centiles since birth.

If you have your child's red book, plot known height/weight for age and check against previous. If not, these are the charts used in the red book. You can check against these.

It might be something and nothing. But it's better to get checked than leave it until too late.

Some boys don't actually stop growing until their early 20s.

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Boys2-188yearsgrowthhchart.pdf

4ft is 121cm which means he is too small for even a booster cushion. He still needs to be in a high back booster. That’s not normal. I have a very petite 8yo girl and she is taller.

OP, my 6 year old DS is taller and heavier than that. That's not right, definitely take him to the doctor.

Whilst there is a lot of variation I think 120cm at age 13 warrants some investigation. My DN is noticeably small within his year and he is 135cm at just 11. My dd is one of the shortest girls at 141cm ( still 10).

Are you sure? My dd is tiny for her age (8) and smallest in her class (2nd percentile for height) at exactly 4ft. If your ds is the same height at 13 surely you, your child’s school, or GP would have noticed? How have you sourced secondary school uniform in his size?

That really sounds small to me. My dd best friend is the smallest in her class, but she's 4'6" and only 10... I'm sure boys can have massive growth spurts in their teens, so there isn't necessarily anything to worry about, but it is worth checking out

He does seem incredibly small.My son is year 7 now, 121/2 and is 144 cm, and is considerably smaller than most friends.Some are only an inch or 2 bigger though. He is very slim and athletic - I'm not worrried. No signs of puberty. There is a massive variation at this age. Your son is very likely just a very late bloomer,and will shoot at some stage, but it's definately worth getting checked out. Is he well, eating well and full of energy?

What did primary school say on his year 6 weigh/height check? I can’t believe this has not been picked up before. Unless you are both very tiny, such that this is just tiny genes, this definitely needs checking out.

agree on puberty range though. Can be hard for boys who are late as the change is so quick and dramatic on reaching puberty that it’s like popeye eating spinach - they just explode up and out - leaving non pubescent peers looking years younger. Same for girls though, my 11 yr old is tiny and not an ounce of puberty, looks about 9, but her friend is 5 foot 8, full boobs and periods and looks like a woman. The photos are hilarious, it looks like a 16/17/18 year old with her younger sister!!

I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned by the school before, or by concerned family members. My 6 year old is heavier and taller than your 13 year old.

This does seem like a medical issue as that weight and height is so small I’m struggling to imagine it on a 13 year old.

Whilst I think the OP should seek a medical review, if your DD is really 5’5” at 8 you should as well as that is well above the line that states “children plotting above this line should usually be under specialist review” on the close monitoring growth chart.

I think she means 4'5,5"

Ah, that would make sense.

Are you sure of these measurements? Wouldn't be the first time a mum is wrong about her children's height

I’d double check the measurements as my daughter is the same measurements and one of the smallest in her Year 4 class. I’d imagine school would have picked up on something by now?
If those are his correct measurements id think it definitely warrants investigation.

My kids are like this. The second boy got puberty at 14, was wearing age 9-10 until then. Grew to 5’9. The next grew at 13, no signs of puberty until then. Now the next two are the same size at 11 and 7.
O haven’t worried as both DH and I followed the same growth pattern, as did our siblings.
Id be guided by two things

• is it an abnormality in your family
• how they feel, do they want a check up or medical involvement

OP, I see lots of people trying to reassure you. Please take your child to a endocrinologist. My niece was tiny and everyone was telling my brother that she would just grew. Instead once they brought her to a paediatrician then endo she was found to be GH deficient. She was 125cm at 12, now she's 18 and 168cm (5'6''). Without growth hormone her final height was estimated at 140cm. Sorry but this needs to be checked asap. Prof Dattani sees patients privately at great ormond street hospital and he's very good

4ft is 121cm - my 6 year old DD is 127cm, so I'd think a check-up would be best just for piece of mind