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Humour me here- daft anxiety

5 replies

squizita · 22/02/2018 08:44

Ok my kid is 3 and very small. Between the 2nd and 9th percentile. She's always been very small... born overdue so 'big' ... Just below the 25th percentile (!!), settled down by 2 months between the 2nd and the 9th. The average height for a woman in my family (both sides) is 5 foot to 5"3, slim/sturdy. I was on heparin when pregnant, the known side effect it small but otherwise healthy children.

She has mild constipation and has seen a paediatrician over it. They looked at her red book and said there were no growth concerns although she was "petite". It was caused by withholding rather than digestive ills and is managed with stool softener and a once a day poo routine: paediatrician says it's a simple case, and she now poos well.

Every so often someone says something intimating I've overlooked something and my child 'should' be taller (usually allergies, illnesses or what I feed her or some internet thing like that survey of how tall you'd be if you lived in the developing world). I get myself really worried.

When 2 short people DTD they make a short kid Yeah? Grin

She's developmentally average/bright-ish, very very active, rarely sick, eats normal amounts for her age and not really fussy about food.

Who else out there has a small but healthy kid? I'm getting myself all paranoid and guilt ridden when she's seen a Dr and is following her line height/weight wise.

I had PNA focused on her health and I think this might be the dregs of that.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
squizita · 22/02/2018 08:47

Sorry to drip feed - the "someones" are not HCP, Just people I know with bigger kids (e.g. physically big boys in one case - so mine must look like an elf!).

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ShortandAnnoying · 22/02/2018 09:04

Like you I'm short and my dd was a small, slim baby and child. She was also extended breastfed till quite late so this could have affected her weight. Dd also had some problems with constipation. I used to wonder if this was due to her having a small appetite, being very fussy about food and only eating small amounts and slightly restricted in her food choices. However she was also quite an anxious girl and this could also have affected her. As she's got older she eats better and is more confident too and her digestion is much better. She has always been slight but quite a normal height but she has seemed to have stopped growing at 5"2. Other than her digestion she hasn't had any bad health problems and her natural slimness and smallish appetite are probably an advantage to her health.
It's worth keeping an eye on your dd and talking to your HV and the GP if you are worried but it sounds like she is fine.

Makingworkwork · 22/02/2018 09:12

I have a huge/tall child who everyone assumes is older so we are judged on her babyish behaviour but she is not yet 2.

From my group of parent friends I think everyone has one ‘thing’ they focus on and worry about. Mine is attachment and guilt for working.

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gandalfspants · 22/02/2018 10:04

Try not to worry if she's following her lines. My friend has stocky kids and mine is a reed, so 16mo DD was almost the same height as her 2.4yo

Both are 'normal'. Kids come in all shapes and sizes.

Like a pp, I find people talk to DD like she's much older, or think she's 'shy' when she doesn't talk.

squizita · 22/02/2018 19:29

Thanks guys. Yeah she's following her lines and all the HCP ive spoken to seem to think she's just Short! Grin

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