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Short stature of childhood 4 years old

7 replies

TeainanIV · 18/07/2025 13:36

Posting on here as my over-anxious brain is in overdrive. My eldest DD (turned 4 years old at the start of the month) has always been a dinky dot since day one. She was born a teeny tiny 5lbs 3ozs (not premature but 2 weeks early, traumatic birth, had stopped growing by end of pregnancy etc). As a baby she suffered with terrible silent reflux and gastro pain - later identified as CMPA and egg allergies. She is now eating both which is good news!

She's always been petite - very small framed, short height and wears clothes much lower than her age range. Her feet are narrow and very slim. People often comment on how tiny she is and just petite in general! It used to upset me (I know no harm was meant just my worrying brain!) but we're very used to it now and just smile and nod - what she lacks in height she makes up for in personality!

Since she was born we've had regular growth checks at the hospital to monitor her growth trajectory and keep an eye. We've (DH and I) always been of the mindset the she's little but happy and thriving in every other way! Today we've had another appointment and they're still concerned - she's been prodded and poked and we've had lots of words thrown at us about hyperthyroidism, deficiencies and hormonal issues. She's also had an X-Ray to check her bones. The doctors are wonderful and know her well - she's seen the same one since birth - but today has just thrown me.

Maybe it's because she starts school in September and watching her amongst her soon-to-be peers at her recent settles has highlighted even more to us now much smaller she is. I'm now panicking there's something more sinister going on. Has anybody else gone through this? Are your tiny babies now growing and thriving??

What's mad is that we've since gone on to welcome DD2 (now 8.5 months) who's an absolute chunky monkey - weighed 9lbs 5ozs and has been in her sister's old 9-12month clothes since 6.5 months!!!

Thank you for reading and sharing any experiences 😊

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Belished · 18/07/2025 14:33

Are you both shorter?

Spies · 18/07/2025 14:37

A good starting point would be how tall is she?

My DS is always one of the smallest in peer aged groups/activities he's slowly catching up height wise but he has the advantage of being one of the oldest in the year whereas you're comparing a shorter child against peers who are also almost a whole year older than her.

TeainanIV · 18/07/2025 15:02

@Belished Husband is tall, my side of the family is small which is why I've tried not to let it bother me. Just todays x-rays and blood tests have worried me as they seem concerned still about her. Just have to wait for the results now and see what comes of them.

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TeainanIV · 18/07/2025 15:05

@Spies she's 95cm which they've said plots her on the 8th centile

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Superscientist · 18/07/2025 15:56

Hey my daughter is small too. She started school in September on the 2nd percentile for height and as an August born on to was pretty small! Her 2-3 uniform was massive on her and were struggling to find school shoes for her as she was in size 5.5 but thankfully her feet grew just before she started schools and there were some options in a size 6.

She is the smallest in the class but there are 3 or 4 others within a few cm of her. She has moved up to the 4th percentile for height recently.

It hasn't held her back that much, after school club had to buy her a step so she could to use their toilet without help. She's ready to move up a stage in swimming but that involves moving into the big pool which is 1m at the shallowest and she's only 100cm herself and the instructor thinks she will struggle if in there for a full session but once she has grown a bit she can move up.

She has 20 food allergies and silent reflux which she has outgrown. She's under paeds and dietician for this and they aren't concerned. At her smallest she was on the 1st percentile for height around aged 2 - she spent an entire year in 9-12 month clothes.

My daughter is a good weight just under the 25th percentile at the moment. I'm only 5ft2, my dad is 5ft5 and his sister 4ft11 so there's small people on my side my partner was the smallest in his year until puberty.

SummerSun24 · 18/07/2025 19:23

I was diagnosed with failure to thrive when I was younger. I was in and out if hospitals for tests, exams, blood tests etc. Eventually resulted in my parents being offered steroids and growth hormones to make me grow. Thankfully my parents declined and the family doctor always always said there are people on all parts of the percentile charts and as I was healthy not to pay any mind to it. For context my mum was about 5 foot 6 and dad 6 foot.

Im now 30, a perfectly average 5 foot 5 and weigh about 50kg. Always been a slim build but absolutely no issues otherwise. Ive had two beautiful healthy children of my own!

Not that the tests shouldn't be had incase for whatever reason there is something slowing the growth and it will help with peace of mind but if your daughter is otherwise healthy I'd try not to worry too much (easier said than done i know!) and let it run its course.

lavenderanddaisies · 18/07/2025 19:43

My eldest two were similar birth weights to yours.
edlest 5lb 3oz and classed as low birth weight.
second was 9lbs 4oz.
My eldest is 16 and now 5ft 4
and my second is 12 and 5ft 5.
They catch up in their own time.

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