3 y/o so small

[ooooofffff]

We've just been to a play date with our DC. They turned three in November.

They are so much smaller than their peers. I've always known they were little but it's now very very noticeable.

All the parents individually commented on how small they are and one even asked when they would turn three 😵‍💫

DC will be one of the oldest in the class when they start Reception next year.

When born they were on 25th centile. At last meeting they had dropped right down to 3rd.

At the time I didn't worry because I know children grown in fits and spurts but I now feel they're very behind. They are actually wearing in 3/4 clothes from M&S if that's helpful information.

I'm planning to contact HV on Monday but will go private if I have to. Can anyone advise what I need to look for in terms of getting to see someone privately at all?

My son was like this. By all means ask your HV or GP, but I wouldn't worry too much. After 10 years of being very short mine is finally catching up with his peers.

Has the Drop been dramatic?
what is the weight/height now?
how is general health/milestones?
What’s food intake like?

How big are you and your h? if you are both small then your son will probably be small too.

I've got a small 3 nearly 4 yo, because she's tracking her centiles (and always has) it's never been a cause for concern. I would deffo book a height and weigh in at the HV as a starting point and go from there. Do they seem healthy, happy, energetic and meeting their milestones generally? If so, it's much less of a concern so the HV told me. Mine is pale but full of beans and developmentally strong so the HV was very 'half the population has to be smaller than average' which I think is a healthy attitude to take.

As an aside I think M&S clothes come up big! I do get 'oh she's small' comments occasionally but these are often from parents of more 'sturdy' kids so it's as much what you're used to, I think.

How is their height, centile-wise? I mean, are they tall with a low weight?
Has the drop in centiles been sudden, or have they gradually gone down since birth?
Are you and their father on the small side?

I agree with PP about maybe asking your HV but this wouldn't worry me if they seemed healthy (do they have energy, do they eat well etc). My DD is 4 in a few weeks and I've just bought her some new clothes that are 3-4, (some stuff she wears is still 2-3), I don't think that's that small is it? She's higher than the 3rd centile.

DS is a small child so I'm well used to comments. He's still in mostly 18-24 month clothing and has always been on the dinky side. I'd start by measuring him and checking his weight and then comparing it to what's been tracked in his red book. Then book in to see the HV if you're still concerned.

Thanks all, some heartening responses here!

So they're 90cm, and when weighed around Christmas they were just over 13kg. I'm looking for the red book so I can see what centile that works out at.

In terms of eating I'd say hit and miss. They don't eat masses, but will always have three meals a day of that makes sense.

I'm always astonished when friends children eat huge portion's because our children eat like sparrows.

An example is if I made nuggets and waffles and cucumber, they'd probably eat half a waffle, three nuggets and three/four rings of cucumber. It's not a huge amount but they don't ever skip meals either.

Sorry, I also meant to say neither me nor DH are tall.

I'm very petite size 6/8 and 5ft. DH is a medium build and 5,9. What's throwing me a bit is that our other DC was born at first centile and is now quite tall.

Youngest was so much larger at birth. Eldest is willowy and ling. youngest is, I'd say, "stocky" and short. Or very short if you're one of our friends 😳

You don't say if they are male or female but here is the boys chart from the red book.

Thanks that's very helpful 😊

Here's the weight one too if you wanted to check that.

Ah that's a good point (had HV round recently for a 'new to the area' visit 🙄) she did say because DD is around the 25th for height AND weight she was even less concerned about one or the other, because she's in proportion. I'm quite petite as well.

Little sister was a much higher centile for weight than height, but even then she just said keep half an eye on her to see if the gap changes or she makes any dramatic changes on her centiles, but to remember that growth isn't linear anyway. She was the most sensible HV I've had any contact with!

An example is if I made nuggets and waffles and cucumber, they'd probably eat half a waffle, three nuggets and three/four rings of cucumber.

My nearly four year old would probably eat the whole waffle, three nuggets, and the cucumber. So more, but not much.

If you're 5ft and a size 6, I wouldn't worry. Just sounds like they take after you. I'm also small (with similarly small parents, plus my MIL is also small) so I am not surprised DD is also small.

From the weight chart PP posted, 13kg at Christmas is somewhere between the 9th and 25th centile which seems ok. If it's dropped off between then and now that would be something I would get checked.

From looking at the charts they're about 25th centile for weight buying on 0.4th for height

My DD turned 3 last week and tiny too. Last checked her height and weight in March and she was 90cm and 12.6kg.. she was 1.6kg at birth though (born @ 36 weeks IUGR).. but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in attitude 😂

If your child has dropped down centiles (especially over two) it might be worth mentioning to the GP or seeing someone privately. This happened with my dc and was a very treatable condition once diagnosed and they are now doing great. The Child Growth Foundation has some really good resources and also the NICE faltering growth is quite useful.

Hi! How is your lil one going? My boy is also small for a 3 yr old and we are worried about his growth.

Would love an update op! My son is similar size and I’m worried about him