Tiny DS (2)

[Bovneydazzlers]

DS2 has just turned 2 - he was born on 50th centile and was tracking 25th centile for a long time. Just measured him as he was looking tiny vs his peers and he’s dropped to 2nd centile.

I’m 5’3 and dad 6’3 so we’d expect him to be on 50th febrile like his Dad. He is a pretty good eater, has odd days when not interested but usually wolfs down food.

If he’s short then we’ll have to accept it (although if im honest I’m a bit worried his predicted height is 5’1 as it stands).

I’m thinking of going to the doctors as he has dropped centiles a lot. What questions should I ask, any tests I should ask for? My mum has coeliac so I’ll mention that in case it’s an absorption issue.

If anyone has similar experience/could advise what the outcome was that would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Honestly I'd see the doctor. That's a big drop and neither of you are especially small. 2nd centile is considered to be small and there might be an underlying complaint that could be dealt with easily.

Don't worry but do go and check.

Thanks. Yes I’ll make an appointment. I am really worrying though, I feel a fool for not measuring him properly these last couple of months even though he’s clearly not grown much. My DH says just get the docs appointment and stop worrying but easier said than done!

When my eldest was about 16 months, he measured a tiny 73cm. He had been born on the 50th centile and had dropped down to (iirc) around the 5th. I panicked like a mad woman, I googled everything I could google and terrified myself that he had some sort of growth hormone deficiency. Like your DS, his dad is 6'3 and I'm average height so I was expecting him to be much taller!

Anyway, life got in the way and I didn't have time to obsess over his height. I vaguely kept an eye on him compared to his peers when he started nursery, and now at nearly 7yo he is neither tall nor short in his class. He's just fine.

Obviously this is no guarantee for anyone, it's purely anecdotal, but I stopped worrying about the figures and it turned out that he was just fine. I've never checked my younger children's heights, because I remember all too well how worried I was last time.

It's always worth getting checked if you think it'll put your mind at rest though. But do remember that children grow at different rates, and no one can accurately predict how they're going to turn out as adults.

Thanks bear for the reassuring story. The googling like a mad woman after sudden realisation of quite how short he’d got (or how little he’d grown!) is me now. I know it won’t do any good!

Watching with interest.

My DS was born on the 50th and is now on the 25th!

Myself and DH are the exact same heights as you and your DH

(DS is almost 3 months) x

(DS is almost 3 months) x

Our sons background sounds very similar to your LO. We mentioned it to the H.V she told us to speak to the GP who referred us to a paediatrician. We are currently seeing a endocrinologist and our sons short stature is being investigated. I do agree that it could be nothing to worry about but expert opinion is the way to go. Height outcomes can be predicted quite accurately.

My dd (2.5) is exactly the same, now tracking on 2nd centile for height. Me and DP are slightly taller than average, however, both of our mums are tiny (both under 5 foot) so we're not hugely concerned, neither was hv, unfortunately she seems to take after our mums. She has recently shot up in height but is noticeably a lot smaller than most of her friends.

Hmm, does sound low for the parental heights, especially with having been previously tracking 25th. Hopefully just constitutional delay (insides think they're younger than they actually are, so carry on growing for longer) but needs checking out. Appointment sounds like a good idea.

Yes I’ll ask for an appointment (will probably be Friday before he’s seen) - I hope I won’t be fobbed off and they refer/test. I have been worrying about it for a while but as he’d only just fallen below 25th by then I assumed I’d be told it’s just normal trend but it’s really fallen now. I hope my perfect little boy is okay!

If your mum has coeliac then definitely ask for a coeliac Test as it has a genetic link. My DS was diagnosed coeliac at 3 but I had been to the Drs when he was just under 2 as he dropped down from 91st to 25th centile in height sometime around 18months. I had to push and get a second opinion as first doctor dismissive but with it in your family history they will hopefully be more likely to consider it.

My eldest DS was born on 25th, dropped to 2 and 0.9 before 1 and then hung around ar 2 until I stoped measuring him. He was always the shortest boy in his class throughout primary school by at least a head, often 2. Going through puberty now hes still shorter than average, but not really noticabley so and is probably closer to average in his year at secondary school where the range is absolutely huge. Im 5ft and his Dad is 6'1. I think some people just are short and it is perfectly pissible for them to follow one parent or the other genetically, rather than be a blend. His brother is already the same height as him and is still at primary school so seems to be following his Dad. No harm in checking but some people are just shorties I think. At puberty it is much easier for them to be a little short and blend in than be very tall. His very tall mates are finding it harder tbh.

stripes when my DS1 was 2 he had diarrhoea all the time and distended tummy so I asked for coeliac test for him. Doctor was dismissive and said it’s impossible to keep them off gluten anyway, but if I wanted to stop so much bread I could (clearly outdated, poor, advice, if they are coeliac of course you need to stop all gluten and the way to go is blood test not stopping gluten first!). Anyway, I think that’s added to the worry I’ll be fobbed off again (incidentally DS1 is for as a fiddle now and above average height wise).

Flomper, while I agree some children are just genetically linked to be short, even if he took after me I’d expect him to have an eventual height of 5’5, not 5’1 which he’s currently tracking, and also I think it’s the dropping of centiles which hopefully the doctors will take seriously. He may end up just being short though.

You can access NICE guidelines on childhood growth . A read through them will help you when you visit the G.P if they do try to fob you off. The childhood growth foundation is also a good resource.

With a coeliac relative ask for the coeliac screen. This coeliac caused dd to stop growing.
Look at rate of growth over next 3 or 6 months with accurate measurements. What counts is rate of growth. I think it should be a cm per month. Continued growth along a centi le is not a concern.
Dropping centiles is.