11 month old measuring so small he's not even on the chart - should I be worried?

[DaisyEM]

My 2nd DS is 11 months old and is sitting well under the centile chart, not even just a little bit. He is 11 months and 66cm. I guess I'm looking for anyone who had similar and to learn what the outcome was? I'm not usually one to worry too much about these things, my other DS has always sat between 9th and 25th percentile for height and this has never concerned me, however it seems more concerning that DS2 isn't even on the chart? The HV said to remeasure him in May, however someone else I know said that their son was small and tested for possible genetic causes or low testosterone, so I'm not sure if it's OK to wait until May, or perhaps ask for a second opinion and if anything needs checking? Would be great to hear of others' experiences with similar please! Thanks in advance

I wouldn’t wait. I’d get this going ASAP.

Also get her dad to go with you to any appointments so they can see the other half of the genetics.

My child was also off the charts. It is likely nothing but there is a small chance that it could be something so it is important to check out. Usually it’s just genetic

It’s tempting to take anecdotal stories of unrelated children as reassurance. But I would say that if you’re concerned enough to post on Mumsnet about it, it would be worth approaching your GP.

Bear in mind that their first response is likely to be to brush it away with anecdotal stories of unrelated children. I would go into the appointment clear in what you want to achieve, which is a referral to paediatrics. Practice what you want to say eg “I’m concerned about this and would like a referral to paediatrics please” so that if they do try to fob you off you can default to your practiced phrase automatically.

There is huge variation in the size of children but below the chart should warrant further investigation.

HVs often know more than GPs about child development.

HVs get a bad press on Mumsnet. However, they are highly qualified nurses, who’ve specialised in family health. A senior HVs is equivalent to an advanced nurse practitioner, in a hospital setting. A junior HV is the same grade as a ward sister.

It’s probably worth printing off the NICE guidelines and taking then with you to the appointment with the GP.

In honesty, it is best to ask for a referral to a peadiatrican.

It is scary when you are the parent of the kid who does not grow or grows very slowly. The majority are found to be at the very bottom of the centile charts are simply just small because that is the way they were meant to be. A few need to be picked up as they have other things going on that need help.

My DD was born symmetrically under the o.4th. She then had severe failure to thrive and her curve flatlined then plunged. dangerously so. She was on everyone’s radar from the start. Hospital tested for some rather rare disorders including Silver-Russel. In the end they decided she might take after my petite mum and what she needed was an hospital supervised uber high calorie diet that exceeded most other babies and young children. She had to be fed every 2 hours for weeks until she finally gained. Micro amount of a weight. She did not really start to noticeably grow untill she was 12. AT 20+ she is still petite and still needs to eat a vast amount of calories as her metabolism burns through them faster than the majority. I am glad she was picked up and checked when she was as I had no idea she had such a fast metabolism.

Hope all goes well for your lovely little boy and that he is just one of the smaller ones.

Thanks everyone! I called the GP today and am waiting for an appointment. Will update the thread with what they say :)

Oh this sounds like it must have been so so tough! I'm glad she's doing OK now though. Thankfully my 2nd is 9th percentile for weight and has been under the chart from the start, but has dropped even further off, but not dramatically so, so not majorly concerning from that point of view, but enough to warrant asking for a paediatrics referral.

I'm very nervous about having to go through possible tests and medical intervention with DS2 though, as I went through a lot with my first. By the time he was 6 months he had had a good 20 blood tests, a liver scan, a scan for a lump on his nec and tests for a lump behind his ear. It was during covid times too, so I had to do all of this with him by myself without any support and I found it incredibly traumatic. Hopefully DS2 won't need lots of tests etc, but if he does of course I will see it all through. I feel upset at the thought of it though.

Yes they are and yours right to point ot out. Didn’t stop mine giving out dangerous advice on feeding or missing that DC1 has a genetic condition affecting their skin or that DC2 has AuDHD despite me asking her for advice just so many times.

My youngest failed to gain weight as a baby. Due to a mix up at the hospital we ended up with an appointment with a consultant pediatrician when DS was a few months old.

He was declared to be just a slow gaining child.

He was tiny all through primary school, and the first half of senior school and then puberty hit and he went from the smallest in the year group to the tallest in the course of a year.

He's now fractionally under 6ft!

I'm not saying don't go to the doctors to put your mind at rest but, for most children, its just one of those things ...

Just to update - I saw the GP today and he's referred us to the paediatrician. Will update again once we've had that appointment :)

So glad that you’ve finally got a referral @DaisyEM. LO may just be naturally small but it’s best to get a Paediatrician to rule out any causes that can be fixed

I'm glad you have the referral.

Length measurements are particularly tricky, my daughter was under paeds and she had her length measured twice 4 weeks apart and in that time she had apparently shrunk by 4cm!! Obviously she hadn't but what had probably happened was the first measurement over estimated her length and the second underestimated it.

Between 14 and 24 months she dropped down the percentiles for length/height. She was on the 25th and dropped to the 1st. She was under paeds and they did some checks, she was having issues with wheat /gluten so they tested for coeliacs and we arranged for the HV to repeat her height measurement to check if she was actively dropping still or if she had levelled out. She continued along the 1st percentile and they were happy with this.

She was a stocky build too and at one point nearly 50th for weight and 1st for height. She wasn't outgrowing clothes at this age either and was in 9-12 month clothes for a whole year! For her it's turned it to be just her. She's 5 now and has moved up to the 3-4th percentile although her weight has now dropped to the 9th. We continue to be under paeds as she has allergies and reflux. I'm 5ft2 and dad is 6ft although was very small until puberty so it looks like at the moment she is taking after, time will tell if she grows when she is a bit older!

It can be normal, it can be a problem. Getting the right people to assess what is going on and monitor the situation is key. Hopefully the paeds appt comes through quickly