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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Short baby due to lack of sleep?

27 replies

Thaleia · 05/10/2012 09:36

I just read an article that growth hormons are only released during sleep - the longer the better. Might it be that my DC is on the shorter side of the chart because he's such a bad sleeper, waking 3 times at night?

I wonder if he catches up when he's a teenager ....

OP posts:

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amck5700 · 05/10/2012 09:41

I am sure genetics will have a big part to play, but at the same time, you do wonder. My boys are both tall for their age (99th %ile) and are both good sleepers......but maybe that is genetic too and that's why they are tall like my husband and I?

Sossiges · 05/10/2012 09:44

My DD has always been tall for her age and spent the first 3 years barely sleeping, so no, I don't think so. I'm sure he will catch up

MrsRhettButler · 05/10/2012 09:44

Mine are both excellent sleepers and always have been, dd1 is very tall for her age (6yo in 9-10 clothing) dd2 is smaller than dd1 as far as I can tell from clothes that fit dd1 at her age and are too big for dd2.

NightLark · 05/10/2012 09:45

my mum maintains that I am 'only' 5'6'', not the predicted 5'8'' because I was such a lousy sleeper as a child. It's an explanation I've heard a lot

Belmo · 05/10/2012 13:45

My dd is beyond shit at sleeping and on the 99.8th centile so fraid I can't agree with that!

chickadidoda · 06/10/2012 20:19

I agree with Sossiges and belmo. Both my ds's are terrible sleepers yet both are v tall for their ages so i don't think there is any connection.

Choufleur · 06/10/2012 20:22

DS ((6)was a terrible sleeper - he's the tallest in his class by a long way now

JoandMax · 06/10/2012 20:31

DS2 is massive and a horrific sleeper, in 2.5 years I think he's once slept for 4 hours without waking! So that theory certainly doesn't work with us

AngelDog · 07/10/2012 02:47

How old is your DS?

Night waking is more common than you think e.g. 50% of toddlers and about 37% of preschoolers wake at least once a night and need parental help to return to sleep - the %s for more than 1 waking are lower but still significant.

I can't imagine that sleep is usually the determining factor (I also have a 99th centile non-sleeper); genetics must play a big role too.

CouthyMowWearingOrange · 07/10/2012 02:56

Nah, if that was true, my DS3 would not be anywhere near the 98th Centile for height. He is an utterly CRAP sleeper, even at 20mo.

He is also far taller than his older brother who slept 12 hours from a very young age was at the same age. We're talking 3 inches difference.

So my best sleeper was 3 inches shorter at 20mo than my not great sleeper.

My survey says this is not true.

sleeplessinsuburbia · 07/10/2012 04:40

Has your ds been sick? My ds' specialist said babies don't grow when they're fighting illness.

armedtotheteeth · 07/10/2012 04:52

There probably is a connection but my guess would be that it makes only a very small difference - millimeters rather than centimeters say.

McKayz · 07/10/2012 04:55

DS2 is a rubbish sleeper and he's on the 99th centile and tallest in his nursery class.

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 07/10/2012 06:15

I agree with sleepless DD1 stop growing between 3 and 4 due to a very bad bout of chicken pox but she has always been a good sleeper she is still tall.

DD2 has never been sick yet and she is a giant at 2.8 (growing into 5 yo clothes), she sleeps less.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/10/2012 07:04

My DD hasn't slept well for her whole 6 years and is on the 98th centile

MovingGal · 07/10/2012 07:09

Both my Ds were great sleepers and both are short - like me and Dh.

headinhands · 07/10/2012 07:11

I remember pondering this before when ds was younger and the upshot was no. Assuming your dc is getting even he minimum calories required the biggest factor are their genes and each child has their own growth curve to follow (gh deficiencies and other conditions excluded). Some shorter children grow for longer and catch up with their peers in their late teens. A few won't but then it will be their genes.

seeker · 07/10/2012 07:13

Who wrote this article, op?

EBDTeacher · 07/10/2012 07:20

Another one here with a sleep resistant whale-child. My DS's height is off the chart lines and he still rarely sleeps through at 2.1.

Redsilk · 07/10/2012 07:23

Lack of growth might also be a sign of infection. What you should check is his growth curve to see if he has dropped off it.

Faverolles · 07/10/2012 07:24

How old is your baby op?
In the scheme of things, depending on age, I would say that waking three times a night is normal.
According to my gp, children have to be unsettled most of the night with very poor quality sleep on a very regular basis (like an asthma sufferer) for it to affect height.

ZombTEE · 07/10/2012 07:28

Nope. My son barely slept for 2.5 years and he's always been on the 99th percentile for height.

Flisspaps · 07/10/2012 07:29

Thaleia DH apparently didn't go to sleep or stop crying until he was 2. He was a very chubby little baby.

He is now 6ft 2 and slim.

Don't worry, please. At 6m there's no way you'll know if your DS will be tall or short

Flisspaps · 07/10/2012 07:29

And 3 wakings a night is normal at 6 months!

Pochemuchka · 07/10/2012 07:37

DD was a terrible sleeper. She didn't sleep through for the first time until she was 22 months old. She's 3 but as tall as most 5 year olds.
DS is a brilliant sleeper - slept through at 2 weeks - and is only slightly above average in height.

My brother didn't sleep through until he was 7 (!!) and is 6'3

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