Dd age 9, 48 inches heigh not grown in over two years

[IncessantNameChanger]

My dd is tiny she is out of cohort so should be in year 5, but she is in year 4. She by far the shortest in her year. She has been the same height for just over two years as we draw on the wall with a date. She is in 7-8 clothes easily for height. In fact she is still top end of age 6-7 clothes. She can fit comfortably into age 4 skirts.

I told this to the gp in August and they said she is right by the 1% centile, but it's not a worry until she drops centres. She is slim but I think she is gaining weight. Shoe size again she has been in the same shoes since year 2. In fact I have only bought her three pairs of school since she started reception. They break before she grows out of them.

Even should go back to the gp? I was thinking after a year. But it's been 6 months again of zero growth

As a minimum I’d say you need blood test for full blood count, thyroid, and coeliac screen. That’s what my gp has just referred for for my DC. (Currently waiting results for two of my DC s as growth has all but stopped for them at the moment too.) Obviously I’m hoping that they’re fine and just a bit short, but good to test I think to see if anything is going on.

Test for coeliac
Ask for referral to growth clinic
They will just measure properly initially and waitcsix months to see growth rate
Look at child growth foundation site

Any history of coeliac in the family? My DS didn't grow for a year when he was 6, GP spotted it, negative antibody test, referred to paediatric gastro because I'm coeliac and he has coeliac gene, trial of GF diet, he grew within a month and gained weight, he also reported that his tummy no longer hurt, hadn't ever mentioned it before, lucky that it was spotted, he's nearly 17 now and still skinny but he's grown loads.

The lack of growth would worry me. I'd be on to the GP again. It might be worth booking regular weight and height check with the nurse. Also, I'd look at her alignment. Is she growing but it's not visible because she isn't straight?

In my experience past tiny baby stage health professionals don't bother with or worry about growth unless there is a known genetic condition or they are literally off the charts by a mile. I understand this in a way because humans vary so much and people do grown in peaks and troths.

I think it would be worth raising again just incase. If there is an issue the early it's spotted the better. It might be nothing and I suspect so given yours and your dh height.
If it was something to be concerned about I think you would see other symptoms such as her being lethargic or not gaining wait or having some signs of deficiency.

When you go back you will probably have to be quite firm about how concerned you are.

My dd is 10 and has dropped from the 50th for weight to the 0.2nd. Doctors including a private paediatrician are not concerned. Me and her dad are naturally very slim so I suppose they put it down to that. She has grown in height so I think it's reassuring for people. If they had stayed the same height and weight I think that would be more of a concern

Absolutely you should get this looked at. One of my kids is short for his age (only slightly taller than his brother who's three years younger) and our pediatrician is monitoring it. We were told that no growth over the space of a year is something to investigate. Friends' son was actually prescribed growth hormone in a similar position.

That said, we are in the US and find our medical professionals to be a bit more proactive, for want of a better word, than those of our family/friends in the UK.

You need to see an endocrinologist

Gp hasn't replied to dh either. I was wondering if it's worth seeing a private gp? Or my nhs gp privately

48 inches at age 9 is REALLY tiny.

It's not really tiny at all. Its perfectly within the "normal" range.

However, not growing at all for 2 years could be cause for concern. Getting doctors appointments (or not as is usually the case) these days is bloody ridiculous.

In the six years my coeliacs ds has been on a gluten free diet following diagnosis he has moved from the 12th to the 75th centile. Obviously, it could be nothing or a hundred other things but it's worth ruling out if you are worried. He hadn't had any stomach/ bowel symptoms but was always tired, cold, fighting off a bug.

It's not about the fact that she's small, it's about her not growing for 2 years, that's not normal at her age and needs checking, I would go back to GP and insist on a referral to paediatrician, they should be checking growth hormone levels. Take a list of measurements you've taken over the last 2 years to show she hasn't grown

Not a general paediatrician, you need a paediatric endocrinologist

My Dd was tiny - she was eventually diagnosed with coeliac disease after I pestered my GP for 13 months and had to literally beg for a blood test. OP, I would insist on a blood test - go privately if you have to. My Dd had lots of other symptoms (headaches, pains throughout her body, heartburn) and she was the smallest in her year. I saw a kinesiologist who said it was all related to her stomach; and he was right. If you don’t have any luck with the Gp, I would advise contacting your local hospital paediatrician / endocrinology dept and tell them that you have these particular concerns but your Gp isn’t listening and see what they recommend.

Op do you have her red book? You can chart her growth upto adult hood on the charts in the back of it.

I've been a bit OTT and done both this with mine, mainly as DS will go through phases of not growing much. But he's on steroids for his asthma and that can affect growth. Which is why they measure him every year at his asthma check. I'm not sure if feet growth is an indicator of anything though as DS has always worn out of shoes before his feet grow I've asked several times about this and they didn't seem concerned. He's still grown upwards though.

I would actually ask for the GP to see her not another e consultation as I think they are useless sometimes. I know you often have to wait a few weeks but a face to face consultation for this would be better.

Go privately and seek referral to endocrinologist. Our paediatrician advised that a year without growth should be looked into.

Op can you just ring them and get a face to face appointment?

Be super clear in the econsult. She has moved down centiles. She has not grown in 2 years. Be clear that you want her tested for any conditions that may affect her growth pattern.

Just lay it out nice and clear and hopefully this time they pay attention!

No there's no option to phone in unless your OAP or have LD they tell us to use e consult.

That's awful, although they encourage you at our GP'S to use the e consultation you can still ring in to get a face to face appointment if needed.

They should be replying to their emails if that is the only way to get in touch with them. Compile a list of their lack of responses and see an MP. To people telling you to go private - most people don't have the means. This is the NHS responsability. If everyone goes private we will no longer have an NHS- probably what the Tories want.

If you've not had a reply to the latest e consult then I would visit the surgery in person and/or follow up with the practice manager

Our GP has moved to form too and if we phone the receptionist fills in the form on your behalf. So no side stepping the form!

However, on both occasions we have used it we have had a reply within 30 minutes and an appointment within 3h which we would never have had with the old phoning in situation unless you were caller number 10 or lower when the phone line opened.

@IncessantNameChanger if you aren't getting responses from the form ask to speak to the practice manager. If you do go private I wouldn't go to a private GP and instead go straight for a paediatrician, ideally one with the appropriate speciality but most have some cross over. We had a private consultation when we were struggling to get an appointment with my daughters paediatrician. He his speciality was adjacent to the speciality we needed so had close enough experience. My daughter has reflux and it's only now she is 3.5 and not responding to routine treatment that our paediatrician has sought specialist advice. Under 3 it was within his skill set and it's only now its more longer lasting that we are needing a specialist. So I wouldn't fret too much about getting the right paediatrician but you need an appointment to get the ball rolling to work out whether the growth is normal, normal for them or something of a concern and what action is required for each scenario whether that is gp management, general paediatrician or a specialist paediatrician.

In the last 2 years has how they have fitted the clothes changed even if they are in the same size?

In the last 2 years has how they have fitted the clothes changed even if they are in the same size

yes * it's always fitted her, maybe it looks a *bit tight now as she is putting weight on. It's never swamped her and it's nowhere near too short.

Thank god the gp has asked to see her now near the end of the month so I will update you all then. I will try to find her red book and transfer her measurements too.

OP push for a referral. My daughter was similar, and was diagnosed as growth hormone deficient. Without HGH she wouldn't have grown well at all. She's now at age 20 average height.

Ok that reassuring that she's moving in the right direction. It would be more concerning if she wasn't filling out the clothes more whilst also being in the same size clothes. It's what I look for when my daughter is taking forever to out grow clothes! I was actually talking to a friend yesterday and she found her 7 year old in a 4-5 T shirt the other day it still fitted her but a bit shabby from years of use! This friend is my one comforting light as I seem to be surrounded by children that just grow and grow and they are moaning about constantly outgrowing clothes!
It's good that they have given you an appointment even if it is a wait.