Growth ... should I be worried?

[KMG]

I've been fairly laid back with my second son, but recently measured him, and realised that in 11 months he has only grown 0.5 cm! I had vaguely registered that he is small, that he hasn't grown out of any clothes, and that he has worn shoes out, rather than outgrown them. But I hadn't realised the degree of the problem. Obviously with this complete lack of growth, he's slipped way down on the percentile growth charts. Do you think I should be worried?

Yes, otherwise he is a happy, contented little boy, (nearly 3). Yes, he eats extremely well. Yes, he is CONSTANTLY on the go. And Yes, he has tended to be unwell not very ill, but pretty much permanently unwell, a lot - lots of coughs, colds, odd tummy bugs, query asthma, etc. I hate going to see Drs or HVs, especially when we're not ill - you always come out with a new virus you've picked up in the waiting room! but maybe I should go? What do you think?

KMG, I do know what you mean about your three year old being not very ill but permanently unwell. With my two and a half year old, hardly a week goes by without a runny nose or a dodgy-looking nappy accident. Just to offer you reassurance, these illnesses have not stunted his growth. Whatever is going on, mine is getting taller by the minute. Rather alarming as well. I look at his size 8 feet and his lanky little arms and wonder just how long he is going to get.

I cannot back this up with any expert knowledge, but in your shoes, I would take my son to the doctor, at least to set your mind at rest.

HTH

KMG, my cousin stopped growing when she was little due to hypothyroidism. It was easily diagnosed with a blood test and easily fixed by taking a dose of thyroxine every day. (In fact, most of the women, myself included, in my mother's family have to take thyroxine.) Would it be possible to ring the doctor to talk to her and let her know your concerns? Like you, I hate going in to an overfilled waiting room. I look around and can see what the next month or so holds for my son (crusty nose, hacking cough, conjunctivitis..).

But you're probably just in for a massive growth spurt in the next couple of months!

KMG, I have a daughter who was tiny (below 10th centile) throughout childhood but she always grew steadily, albeit slowly. (She has ended up the same height as her sister who was on the 75th centile throughout. So much for charts.)
However, any child, however small, should grow much more than 0.5 cm from 2 to 3. Do get him checked out.
(Having said that I just went to check my kitchen height chart. The older measurements have faded but the ones still visible - 3½ up - show a steady growth of around 5cm a year.)