Do small babies turn into small adults?

[florenceuk]

DS is quite small for his age (nearly one!) - on the 9th percentile for weight and 25th for height. I wondered if this meant he would turn out to be a short, skinny man??? Does anybody know?

[Tissy]

Not sure, but I did!

[soothepoo]

You're a short, skinny man?

[janh]

Tissy, you are a short skinny man???

florenceuk, the only reliable answer is, it depends! Percentile charts are based on averages (or means or mediums or something) so they will only be approximately accurate for about half the population - I think - any mathematicians here today?

My DD1 was a tiny dainty child, 10th percentile for weight and height, predicted to be no more than 5'2; DD2 was 75th percentile and fairly hefty between 7 and 11 - at 20 and 17 they are both about 5'7, not sure of weights but both size 10/12 (but like a herd of elephants going up and down stairs!)

[Tissy]

No, short skinny baby turned into short, skinny woman

[chiara71]

Of course not, growth happens in different stages and a lot of it at puberty so it does not mean anything.

I know my mum used be the tallest in her class when she started primary school, but as a adult she was about average so it does not mean anything.

My own niece was quite small when she was born and now at 24 months she's taller than average but then she might stop.

there's no way anyone can predict these things even though if both you and his dad are quite short he's unlikely to become a giant. (but not impossible!!!)

[SoupDragon]

I read the title of this and thought "Not without turning into little devils first". Clearly misunderstood the question so I'll slink off...

[prufrock]

I was a big fat baby and have turned into a big fat woman!

[aloha]

Isn't there some formula for predicting height? I think boys have to be 21/2 before it works though (if it works).

[Scatterbrain]

There's a formula in the little red books we got when the babes were born.

I think also that children are supposed to be half their adult height at 2 - it would fit with my dd as she's 86cm now and I think the red book formula said she'd be 172cm. dh is taller than me and I'm 168cm so that would make sense !

Damian Hurley is going to be about 8 foot 3 the way he's growing !

[jinna]

there is a formula - i think it uses the height of both parents but i am not sure how you work it out -
both of my sons are small for their age - i am only 4ft 11 and my husband is 5ft 9 - so i think it is all down to genes

[Tortington]

my son was a decent sized baby and seemed "normal" until he was about 5 then his sister passed him in height and now he is a shrimp! like me although my 9 year old daughter ( his twin)is tall like her dad!

[megg]

My dp was only 5lb8oz and is now 6ft2in. Same with my ex-husband he was a small baby and ended up a strapping six-footer. Unfortunately for me I was a big baby (9lb1oz) and am still big now though desperately trying to shrink a little.

[Bozza]

I was a 9lb 5 oz baby and and am now 5'4 and a size 10 so not that big. But my 7lb male cousin is now about 6'2 and I can quite clearly remember (he's 6 weeks older than me) hitting the five foot mark before him. So theres a lot of catching up can be done!

DS (was a big baby 9lb 10 oz) so that may be genetic from me but I'm not expecting him to be that tall because DH is 5'10. Also he seems to have a long body and not so long legs - so I tend to think this might continue into adulthood.

[Eulalia]

Don't know about adulthood but can speak for my ds who is now 3. He was 6lbs 2oz at birth and remained small for around 18 months when he seemed to grow quite fast. He is now on the average line for weight and height. I am sure your ds will catch up.