Sons height.

[Questions12]

My son is almost 5 and about 105/106cm tall. Is that small?

[FloydPepper]

@Questions12

I just feel bad for him.

Look, he’ll be fine. It’s ok to be a bit shorter, you get some knobbish comments from both sexes but tbh you filter out the crap. It’s not a problem for me and I’m sure he’ll be the same.

pretty sure both my kids won’t be giants either 😀

[BryceQuinlanTheFirst]

@WalkingOnSonshine

The average height for a man in the U.K. is around 5ft 8.

5ft 7 doesn’t seem too unlikely.

I think it's gone up to 5ft 10

www.ukpopulation.org/average-male-height/

[smidge80]

@FernsAndFlowers

I noticed DD1’s height had pretty much dropped off the bottom of the chart when she was about 18mo (big baby at birth, parents average/tall height)

it took a while to be taken seriously, then was assumed to be down to food allergies/intolerances. Then they suspected growth hormone deficiency. Tests came back normal but then finally at the age of 3 she was diagnosed with a genetic growth disorder. Growth is many things, not just height and her condition impacts things like joints and puberty.

so yes, height can cover a wide spectrum but if your child drops down the chart or their height is unexpected compared to parents then it might need investigating

Hope you don't mind me asking but can I ask what genetic condition your DD was diagnosed with?

My DD is similar, dropped off the height chart at 18 months, growth hormone fine but bone age is behind. We have been offered genetic testing by testing our bloods and DD having X-rays but im somehow nervous as if there is a genetic condition they won't be able to do anything.
As parents we aren't average height tho unlike yourselves. I'm 5ft 2 and DH is 5ft 7.

How is your DD now? X

[SusanPerbCallMeSue]

My son was tiny aged 5. He started school in age 3 uniform that was too big for him! He was the shortest in his class for years (only stopped because a shorter boy joined rather than him growing)

He's 15 now and 5'6, and still growing.

I'm 5'1, his dad is 5'8. His older brothers are between 5'8-5'10. So he'll probably be around the same height as them.

[Thinkbiglittleone]

If it was a genetic disorder, doesn't this get passed from a parent/ family member?

Our DS is just tiny, no other reason.

[Questions12]

He's the only child I'm going to have so u panic 🙊

[FernsAndFlowers]

I noticed DD1’s height had pretty much dropped off the bottom of the chart when she was about 18mo (big baby at birth, parents average/tall height)

it took a while to be taken seriously, then was assumed to be down to food allergies/intolerances. Then they suspected growth hormone deficiency. Tests came back normal but then finally at the age of 3 she was diagnosed with a genetic growth disorder. Growth is many things, not just height and her condition impacts things like joints and puberty.

so yes, height can cover a wide spectrum but if your child drops down the chart or their height is unexpected compared to parents then it might need investigating

[Thinkbiglittleone]

Our DS is just about on the 2nd centile by the looks of it.

[Thinkbiglittleone]

@SBAM thank you, that's brilliant.

[SBAM]

@Thinkbiglittleone www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/uk-who-growth-charts-2-18-years links are there for both boys and girls charts.

[Thinkbiglittleone]

If anyone has the red book page with height to post it here, it would be interesting for us to plot our DS as our red book is elsewhere atm.

[Thinkbiglittleone]

Oh @FlipFlopFlippedyFlop, we get it all the time when we say he's 5,
It always, "really??!! he's a dot" or he's tiny for his age or wow he's going to be small.
I do say, yes he's petite like me, and perfect as he is.

One woman said "oh I thought he was only 18 months old, my daughter is only 4 and taller "
I replied saying "no he's definitely 5, and can hear you !! As can your daughter, maybe teach her not to compare appearances.

I had to tell another parent to just stop commenting on it, after day 3 of "wow he hasn't grown much" ahhhhh just stop talking weirdo !!!

[WalkingOnSonshine]

The average height for a man in the U.K. is around 5ft 8.

5ft 7 doesn’t seem too unlikely.

[Thinkbiglittleone]

Our DS is 5 and smaller than that OP.
It always gets mentioned by people, which I find rude and offensive.
But he's really kind, funny, bright and happy.

You do realise why some kids are rude, when their parents happily stand around comparing the appearance of the children, it's weird IMO.

[ILoveShula]

@FlipFlopFlippedyFlop , it's downright rude of them. No child or adult deserves unsolicited comments about something that they can't change.

As an adult, you are usually well aware of being tall or short, but as a child it can be damaging.

[FlipFlopFlippedyFlop]

@Beees

It is definitely on the smaller side and I totally feel for you. I have a DS who is on the bottom end of the centile charts and the comments get very draining.

It frustrates me greatly that it's fine for a girl to be short and yet for a boy it's seen as something to comment on negatively constantly. It's not like he can change how tall he is so I don't get why people so often need to bring it up.

DD5 is tiny. Below 2nd centile for weight and around 10th for height and we absolutely get a lot of comments from random people. Adults when they learn her age usually say "she's really tiny, isn't she?" And then repeat it s few times looking shocked even if she's right there. I normally try to laugh it off or say something like "no, she's perfectly normal for her age" (though I know she isn't). Unfortunately her classmates also keep commenting on it and it does affect her.

Op I told mimr

[ILoveShula]

@Arnaquer , not sure if it is still true, but it was that children usually grow to be taller than the shorter of the parents.

A tall mother and a short father might not result in tall sons.

[Nat6999]

Ds was 3'6" age 5, now 6'2" age 18 & still growing as he was only 6' a year ago.

[LionessesRules]

@Arnaquer

Boys always end up taller than their Mothers. He will be tall enough.
It annoys me that it's still ok to comment on people's height. No one has any control over it.

Always??
That would make my kids taller than both their parents, and 3 of their grandparents. Be great if it happens, but genetics aren't on their side!!!

[Questions12]

@Skinterior

Funnily enough I've been reviewing the dimensions of 1.3 million European children this week.

The majority 4.5yr old is 104cm, the majority 5.5yr old is 110cm

I wouldn't worry.

What is your job? That sounds intense !

[Fiveinthebed22]

Oh the other end my children are all ‘tall’, dd in particular was always a foot ahead of others in her class. She was referred to as the tall one and absolutely hated it (still walks stooped to appear smaller), she stopped growing age 11 and is 5ft 5.5 so perfectly average for an adult but she was so worried she was going to be a tall forever and have it commented on constantly.

[Skinterior]

Funnily enough I've been reviewing the dimensions of 1.3 million European children this week.

The majority 4.5yr old is 104cm, the majority 5.5yr old is 110cm

I wouldn't worry.

[TinyPawz]

@Beees

It is definitely on the smaller side and I totally feel for you. I have a DS who is on the bottom end of the centile charts and the comments get very draining.

It frustrates me greatly that it's fine for a girl to be short and yet for a boy it's seen as something to comment on negatively constantly. It's not like he can change how tall he is so I don't get why people so often need to bring it up.

I have the complete opposite of this. All 3 of my DG were/are over 98th centile and I am constantly hearing 'oh my, isn't X tall for her age' 🤦‍♀️

[Arnaquer]

Boys always end up taller than their Mothers. He will be tall enough.
It annoys me that it's still ok to comment on people's height. No one has any control over it.

[Hellocatshome]

@Questions12

I just feel bad for him.

Please try not to. I wasted the early years of DS's life worry and feeling bad for him being small. He is 12 now still small but has competed in his sport where being tall is a distinct advantage at National level. Being short is just one part of his life he has many other parts of him, his personality, his future that are as big as he wants to make them.