Small son

[Tunnocks34]

Im really worried about the height of my middle son (age 7). He is the same height as his 5 year old cousin.

He was a month premature and was previously on the 25th percentile for height as a toddler. He is now on the 2nd percentile. He does grow but not massive amounts, he’s healthy, eats a variety of foods. He is 7 and a half to be exact and hasn’t lost a single tooth either, none of them even wobble. Not sure if related. Don’t know if I’m being dramatic or not. His two brothers (age 10 and 4) are both on the 50th percentile.

Neither myself or my husband are particularly short , I am 5ft 7 and my husband is 5ft 11

It sounds like it might be worth booking a non urgent GP appointment. They do take growth issues seriously and will be able to advise on the best course of action. It’s usually just that kids grow at their own pace and your son is a bit of a late developer (still having baby teeth would also suggest that), but if it is down to a medical condition there is a window of opportunity for treatment so the sooner you know, the better. I don’t think you are being dramatic - in your shoes I would be getting it checked out, but hopefully he’ll soon have a growth spurt and sometimes late developers end up taller than those who shot up early!

My daughter was 25th percentile for height until 1 then dropped to the 1st and she has followed this line since. She's 3.5 and just gone into 18month clothes!

We see a paediatrician and dietician for allergies and reflux and they are always reassuring but it's hard to be reassured some times. My daughter has beautiful weight gain and always around the 25th percentile for weight. It was nervy when she dropped but it did settle once we could see she is tracking a line. I'm a bit nervous about her starting school in September as she will be only 4 and a few weeks and likely to be in size 2 clothes. I am small just under 5ft2 and says is just under 6ft but was always the smallest in the class until puberty and then shot up to above average. There's definitely time for both of our kids to grow. Do reach out for advice though. It does calm my nerves

Good luck!

Thanks all! If it turns out he’s just short then that fine. Made a gp appointment anyway!

Ask for a celiac test.

Mine is short agree on c test and also look at vitamins - mine eats and drinks but isn’t a good sleeper and they grow when alseep and he really doesn’t.

I try with vitamins but I’m genetically not blessed either.

He has no tummy issues at all and eats a varied diet so not sure it’s coeliac. Will ask for a test though!

is he otherwise well?
full of beans and never sits still (as a 7yo should be!)
has he had many colds? fevers?
does he get enough rest at night?

Has he seen a dentist in the last year? If not then get him seen by one too.

Yep perfectly well - healthiest of us all. Doesn’t even get the germs his brothers drag into the house. Full of energy, plays football, constantly running.

Saw dentist 4 months ago who commented it was unusual but nothing concerning currently but to check at next appointment (which is March)

Did he get his teeth late? Usually lose them late if they get them late

My dd was always small, still is diddy as a young adult.
She didn't lose her first tooth until she was 9, the dentist wasn't particularly concerned.

@Tunnocks34 I believe that bone age is correlated with time of losing baby teeth. So your situation perhaps suggests that he may just be a slightly later grower rather than constitutionally short (which most would consider a positive) :)

That’s interesting, my perfectly average height child didn’t lose a tooth until they were 8! I wonder if they’ll be very tall!

Thanks all! Took him to GP who checked his height and red book - he’s been referred to an endocrinologist 😊