Should I worry that my son's height is 2nd percentile? Does anyone have a similar experience?

[Vijac]

My son is 21 months old and was measured at 79.5cm yesterday, which makes him 2percentile. At birth he was 50th percentile but he fairly quickly dropped to 25th/9th and now 2nd. His weight has always been higher -50th, then 25th, now between 9th and 25th so I don't think it's nutrition holding him back. He is healthy and developing normally in all other senses. I would just think he is naturally smaller but we are not. I am 5.5, so 50percentile and my husband is 6.2, so 90+percentile. If he continues along the curve he will reach 5ft 5, which does seem odd given his parents/grandparents are all average height or above. Might he just pick back up? Is there any reason for concern? Thanks!

I wouldn't worry. He's so young. Was he born full term? My sisters boy was born early and was tiny until the age of 9 when suddenly he shot up. He's now taller than most of his class! his Dad is 6.1 and his mum 5.4 so not unlike you and your DH in height.

I don't think the percentile charts should be shown to parents! They cause so much worry and anxiety. Everyone grows at different rates, including children.
5'5" isn't that short anyway, even for a man. Does it matter if he turns out a shorty?

He was born at full term, well actually 41+3. I don't mind if that is the height he is meant to be obviously (and he is very cute and diddly!), but I do think it can be harder for shorter men. So if there is a reason that he might not be growing to his genetic potential then I would like to know. 5.5 is 2nd percentile for grown men so 98 percent would be taller.

He's 21 months! People grow at different rates - there's always that child in the class that is the shortest until the age of 14, and then outstrips everyone.

And even if he isn't that child, he is healthy and happy, and it's not the end of the world if he's short. I know plenty of short men who are happy and in love and all the good things.

My DS was referred for poor growth at 2 year check but he was below 0.4 centile, his height had not been measured before this. Any measurement of height at birth will be inaccurate. I would ensure height is monitored now. My DS is now diagnosed with pituitary deficiency. Generally there are other issues and if he is healthy and happy it makes it less likely but still worth ensuring he doesn't fall further from the line.

OP are you me?! I have exactly the same thing even the big drop in centiles from birth length to current height, my DH is 6" and Im 5"5 DS1 is on 91st centile and DS2 is merrily plodding along on 2nd. As with you dont think nutrition a factor as he eats and eats and eats.

I have worried myself sick about this even writing on here for advice and the general concensus is dont
worry its perfectly normal and all kids grow diff
erently

DD was reasonably ok centile-wise (not 90th, but mid-range), but then started to seem shorter than peers. But we never remarked on it much once we left PHN system.

Last year, she was 34th centile when she started meds for a condition just recently diagnosed. In the 14 months since, she has put on some weight (but not a lot considering it's been a year), and has grown a little but has dropped in the centiles to 2nd.

In a way, that is a little worrying to us. But at the same time, SOMEONE has to be at the top and SOMEONE has to be at the bottom - that's how a system of averages works.

The medical folks are not particularly concerned about it. And considering that, 18 months ago there were lots of jokes between my Gran and DD about DD almost passing her out height-wise (Gran was about 4' high), and that DD had to stay small so Gran wouldn't be the shortest in the family, there are small enough genes on 1 side of my family (Dad's side are tall). My Mum is 5'3", I am 5'4" and 2 DSis's are only another inch or so taller than me. MIL is also same height as my Mum, so it's in DH's family too (and he is taller than me but by no means a giant, just barely average male height).

Sorry, I meant to say DD is now 7.5 yrs old.

Biddy - I think that level of dropping off centiles is fairly common for GHD and having a tiny relative very indicative of it as it can be genetic, certainly is in our case. Could her other condition be connected as GHD causes other symptoms not just height? I would say it is worth investigating with an IGF1 test which is just a blood test to get an indicator of whether a stim test would be worth considering. If not now I would certainly push for it if she falls below 0.4 centile.
Yes someone has to be below 0.4 and someone above 99 etc but all NHS guidelines suggest a rapid falling off their own centile is meant to raise concerns and warrant investigation. If they have always grown along the same line then of course the averages can work.

Does he seem ill? Does he eat properly?

The curves don't necessarily reflect eventual height as some children grow for longer than others.

Also imo children grow in fits and starts.

My little (!) Brother was born titchy at 6lb or so - and shot up in his teens to now being 6'5" ! So don't worry :)

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, he I'd very healthy and I am not really worried about him. I just don't want to be missing something. So funny to find my doppelgänger here. Funny to have one big son and one little! Maybe we will have the same when we have a number 2!

Hi vijac! To the original post, how is your ds doing as far as height now? My son just had his 24 month checkup and he is meadurimg 31.5 inches at 2nd percentile. The dr will be monitoring him for the next 6 months and may refer us to an endocrinologist. I was wondering how your outcome turned out with your DS. Thank you in advance!

Hi! This takes me back a bit! Funnily enough we measured our son today for the first time in ages! He has caught up a bit gradually and at 5.5years he is 112cm which is 42%tile. My dh also has said that he thinks he grew a bit later than friends do maybe he will too. He was weeny as a toddler, his clothes fit him for after, whilst other friends had to keep going up. E.g. He'd be 3 fitting 18m or 2y clothes and his friend would be 3 fitting in 4yo clothes! But at some point -maybe around 4 he shot up a little and now if not the smallest. We did get a referral and has his bloods checked by a specialist, which I think is worth doing in case there is a issue. But for us there wasn't apart from iron was quite low and we gave supplements for a bit!

I think , given then disparity between his original birth percentile and you and your dh s heights. I'd ask for a referral to an endocrinologist . Just to make sure his growth hormone levels are what they should be.

Good he is catching up. I have coeliac disease which effected my height. Wasn't diagnosed until my 30 and seemed perfectly healthy until then but was always tiny as a kid and am the shortest in my family.

Hi Vijac, glad to hear that your son's growth had taken off again.
I'm a first timer here as I am very worried about my son's growth as we appear to be in a similar situation yours a few years ago. Our DS is 21 months old and on the 2% percentile for height, having been born circa 75%, 25% at 6 months, 25% at 12 months after which he didn't grow at all until 18 months when he was under 2% and now at 21 months is on the 2% mark.

He got bloods taken a number of weeks back and they tested for the following: U&E Creatinine, Renal & Bone profile, Liver Function Profile, Iron Studies, Thyroid Function, IGF-1 and the following results were returned:
His iron is at 8 which I am told is low. His haemoglobin is fine
His IGF-1 level is 26 which I believe is also very low

I am 5ft 4 and my husband is 6ft. His mid-parental height should be between the 50th and 60th percentiles.

Did your son have low IGF levels or was it solely iron related? And did his growth pick up again after iron supplements were taken?

Our ds is 19 months and fell from 75th at birth to 2nd now. Both myself and my sh are around 70th centile. Initially they monitored his height (HV or gp) and he has since been referred to endocrinologist. I would get it checked out- if there is An issue you ideally rectify it over the next year (growth hormones). It's most likely fine but best to get it checked and hopefully put your mind at rest.

Hi Vijac my little boy is 3 and a half also on the 2nd percentile for height which really worries me. I am 5ft5 and his dad is 5ft10. Can you remember what age started to catch up? I had my little boy checked and all blood tests came back fine but an X-ray on his wrist showed “slightly delayed bone age” which the dr told us was ressassuring as it meant he would keep growing for longer than others and eventually catch up. It still really worries me though, any information or advise you could provide would be appreciated, thanks

Hi! I’ve just had my 6month old measured and he is in between 2nd and 0.4th percentile. How did your sons tests end up? Has he shot up in height?

Hi Everyone,
I see your posts are quite old but I hope you will see my message :)
First of all hope everyone is ok now :)
Can you please help and let me know how did the things go for you?
Our little one is 26 months old and 83.8 cm/ dropped from the 25th centile to the 2nd. We had the blood tests and all good excepting his IGF is 6.7. and this seems to be considered very low although the normal should be between 1.6 to 30
we were told that is no point to do the Xray and we just have to wait... if he doesn't grow in 6months we have to do the growth hormone test...
I am so worried and was hoping you can give us some good news :)
Thanks so much!

My first son only weight 4 pound and he was fine he grew really well but my second son he is only on the 2 line with his weight and height he was diagnosis with a diary allergy at 3 months they were worried but now they r not that worried they are just keeping a close eye on him he gets his weight and height down every 2 weeks so just keep a eye on it and your child could have a growth spur

I remember a boy at secondary school and he was tiny even at year 11. Imagine a 10 year olds height. And then I didn't seem because we went to different colleges and about 3 years after that I saw him and was shocked. He was literally 6.2, muscles. It's so amazing how height can change dramatically. I don't think you should worry until he reaches 16-18, trust me things can change.