Growing really quickly. How can I support?

[TypicallyNorthern]

My DS (13 in a few months) has gone from being a bit podgy to growing 6 inches in the past year. Compared to what he was, he now looks very slim. Instead of buying bigger clothes, I have to buy smaller for next year.

I'm sure there isn't a problem. He eats really well, not much junk and does a lot of sport. He's happy enough. I do feel like I need to do something extra to help him over this period of massive growth spurt and change. He's tired from working really hard at school and sports. He has had small colds and sore throats but nothing serious yet.

Do you give your teenagers any supplements or do anything extra to help cushion the massive change their bodies are going through?

My ds1 has shot um in the last year too.
He eats enough for two, sleeps until midday at the weekend if I don't wake him up and has more moods/ emotional ups and downs. It's like the cute caterpillar has retreated into his chysallis or something. We all take multivitamins in the winter and generally eat healthily and he's rarely ill, just the odd cold.

I do think they need a lot of TLC at this time because being a teenager is tough. He has the body of a young man,

Ooops......
Has to shave and towers above me, but he is still only 14 and as is very much a child in so many ways. It's like one day he acts like he's 17 or 18 and the next like he's 7 or 8. Confusing enough for me, so much harder for him, by his own admission.

So, yes to multivitamins, but what this long-winded post is also saying is lots of love, support and understanding. Even more than usual.

That's a lovely response MrsD, thank you. Your boy is lucky to have a mum like you.

Aw thanks 😊
I feel lucky to have him, and am very proud of the young man he's turning into.

My DS - 14 - has shot up massively too and has always been a rake! He eats tonnes. Just make sure he has a balanced diet. I don’t do supplements as he’d just not remember to take them.
He’s right in the hormonal thick of it too and it’s like having a manchild - so weird. He’s 5 inches taller than me & im
Not short!

Ds has shot up too and is very skinny but he's eating a wide range of freshly prepared foods which is the best approach to ensuring you get adequate nutrition. They eat so much at that age, if they are eating fresh food - as you have suggested, multivitamins should not be needed.

Yes it's normal. They do seem to tire easily during this stage and the appetite is unbelievable. I made sure he had three healthy meals a day and access to lots of snacks. Don't raise an eyebrow if he's starving an hour after eating as much food as you can pile on a plate.
It passes, they don't continue eating like that forever so you don't need ( as some on MN do) to worry about learning unhealthy eating habits.
Mine are now in their 20s and both 6'4" and very skinny with normal appetites. When they were 13/14 they probably ate double what they do now.