DS17 very short

[Hapiart]

I feel like a terrible parent for only just noticing this but my son is now the smallest in his school year - around 5”2 I reckon. He was the tallest amongst his friends for a long time. They would visit and I’d marvel at their tiny shoes - size 3 when he’s been in size 8/9 for years. I just assumed that he still had some growing to do but I’m realising, at 17, he’s not going to grow any more is he? Should I take him to the GP? I don’t want to make a big deal of it but I’m worried. His dad and I aren’t very tall. I’m 5”4 and he’s 5”8.

Hello, fellow parent of short DS 16. Yes definitely take him to the GP and get him checked out. Has he gone through puberty at age appropriate time and what is his calorie intake like regards activity level (sports etc).
Don’t forget boys have their growth spurt at the end of puberty, he still has time to grow.
for you, you are not a bad Mum, we are all doing the best we can.

Sorry, I am assuming here that your DS has expressed concern about his height, but maybe not, is it an issue for him and is he healthy (physically and mentally) otherwise?

Definitely take him to the GP just to check. Would expect him to reach about 5'8" - 5'9" based on his parents' heights. FWIW, often boys don't stop growing until about 19, whereas girls tend to stop about 17 - my nephew shot up between 17 and 19 so it's still possible he'll have another growth spurt. I had to go and see a paediatrician for years as a teen because I was so small, but in the end they said I'd probably be between 4'11" and 5' as my mum was 5ft and my dad 5'4" (men on average 5" taller than women so my dad would be 4'11" if he were a woman iyswim) and I stopped growing at 4'11.5"! Don't panic, just go and get him checked out, they may refer you on, or may just put your mind at ease.

Thank you so much for replying quickly and for making me feel less terrible! Did you have your DS checked out?

That’s a good question. He eats when he’s hungry and stops the moment he’s full. He refuses breakfast because he’s not hungry - I make him eat a cereal bar in the car on the way to school. On the weekends he’ll happily stay in bed past lunch time and when he wakes doesn’t want anything but if I make it and put in front of him he’ll eat it. He has very rarely expressed that he’s hungry or thirsty. He isn’t very sporty but goes indoor climbing once a week and does some sport in school. Could that be it - he’s not having enough calories?

Hi Tripalates, no he hasn’t mentioned it so I’m reluctant to make it an issue. It was me noticing that even the smallest in his class are now taller.

He’s a little withdrawn in the way that teens are. He’ll happily chat for hours about Trump but doesn’t want to talk about his feelings. His dad and I split a few years ago. We had a long open talk on the day but despite me bringing it up he won’t talk about it now, just says he’s fine. So he could be worried about this and not saying.

He’s in good health. I can’t remeber the last time he went to the gp. I’m wishing he had now, they might’ve picked up on this.

Thanks Sugar, I’ll take him. Your post has put my mind at rest a little. I assumed he would keep growing but after dropping him off at school and doing some googling I’m not so sure. If it’s 19 he has a little more time.

Hey 👋🏻 hapiart, my son is 5.3 and I think done growing (he’s 15 but started puberty early) my youngest is even shorter at 12.5 he’s 4ft 7. We’ve just started wondering about growth hormone deficiency so he’s now being referred to paediatrics. I completely understand about the guilt you felt as I’m the same- I wish I’d realised earlier. But nowadays on the whole everyone is a lot more accepting of differences. My sons are gorgeous, shorties but im hoping will blaze a trail for being happy with who they are no matter the height. Oh and also measure your son I was suprised as my son visually looks smaller that 5.3 I would have guessed 5.1 to see him.

I would agree with those saying that a visit to the GP may be in order if you're worried, but just wanted to add a quick note of reassurance: DH is 5.3 at a push, and is entirely fab - his height simply isn't an issue at all. He had several girlfriends before me and is very happy and confident in his own skin, professionally successful etc. Your short boy (if he turns out to be so, and he may not: a male friend of mine who was short at 16 didn't stop growing till his mid 20s and ended up at 6.1) will be absolutely fine

It’s not age that determines when children stop growing, it’s pubertal stage. Is he well into puberty? If he started puberty and had his pubertal growth spurt earlier than his friends and has matured then he’s likely done. There’s a really wide range of normal for when puberty starts in boys - some will have early changes after 9 years, in a few nothing has started by 14 years and the growth spurt happens in mid puberty in boys. Children will grow normally about 5-6cm a year, then have their growth spurt and then stop when the high levels of testosterone fuse the growth plates. So a boy who has a growth spurt at 11 will be loads taller than one who hasn’t started puberty yet but will likely end up shorter.

A bone age will help - left wrist and hand - if it is at chronological age then he’s prob pretty much done growing, if it’s delayed, (ie his bones are younger than he is) then he’s got growth to come.

Once testosterone is at a certain level (and oestrogen for girls) the growth plates fuse and there’s no capacity for further growth, even with growth hormone.

My son is younger, almost 13 and is much shorter than friends. Blood tests slow erratic thyroid results (no symptoms of thyroid issues). Apparently that is quite normal in teenagers for it to be erratic.

Doctor may give a wrist x-ray to shock for growth.

No signs of puberty either!

I feel better now we are looong into it to be sure - we got him seen private under my DH private health before we approached a GP so we didn't have to wait for an appointment.

This thread is nearly 4 years old!

Jeez so it is!!!!! Wonder how her DS is doing 🤔