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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

12 year old boy not growing

35 replies

Remmy123 · 30/07/2021 09:11

My son will be 13 in January and when they broke up he was still in the same school trousers as he was in September!!

He is very much still a little boy - I see him naked in the shower and there is no growth/ no where near puberty! .

Physically he is solid, looks healthy but height wise just much smaller than his friends.

I am 5.4 my husband is 5.9.

When do I start to worry ? He is self conscious.

OP posts:
Enough4me · 30/07/2021 09:18

When did your husband have significant growth (testosterone surges)?

My DS is 11 and suddenly had one, went from being in the short-average to tall group in around 5 months.

My cousin's son was small average in secondary and had a surge in mid-late teens and now slightly above average.

Enough4me · 30/07/2021 09:20

BTW I'm shorter than you and do not anticipate my son being tall, just pointing out that boy's growth doesn't seem gradual in the ways girl's growth is (my daughter is a slow but continual grower).

Original poster
Remmy123 · 30/07/2021 10:22

I'm not sure re husband I shouid ask my mother in law as he doesn't recall!

OP posts:
MandarinLime · 30/07/2021 10:25

A friend's son wasn't growing and it was a thyroid problem. Now he's getting the right treatment he's a 6 foot 18 year old.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/07/2021 12:12

What size trousers is he in? Has he gained weight?

Both you and DH are below average so the reality is your sin is likely l be shorter too.

Saisong · 30/07/2021 12:19

I have an almost 12yo and he still seems really dinky compared to some of his friends. I think he is actually around average height, maybe he just has tall mates. He also hasn't developed at all yet, but some of his mates are getting broad, voices breaking, even the beginnings of lip fluff. I bought 11-12 school trousers for starting secondary, but if he doesn't have a growth spurt over the summer i might have to do any extra shop!

Im not worried yet because I know it's not unusual for boys to start puberty later. I'm enjoying still having him as my little boy that I can cuddle Smile

Original poster
Remmy123 · 30/07/2021 13:25

After lockdown he had put a bit of weight on as trousers a little tight, weight wise he looks very healthy / muscular- height wise I feel so bad for him as mates look down to speak to him!!

He has a little bit of lip fluff but that is all!!

OP posts:
MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 30/07/2021 13:30

He is still within the normal range for boys - NHS guidance here. 12 is the average for boys to start puberty, but up to 14 is normal.

Neolara · 30/07/2021 13:33

My 14yo has only just started to grow and he's shot up in the last few months. There was a thread about 6 weeks ago where someone asked at what age boys started to grow. 14 seemed to be the most common answer. I don't think being small at 12 is a major concern.

TulipVictory · 30/07/2021 13:35

To be fair he's not going to be overly tall if your husband is 5"9

blahblahblah321 · 30/07/2021 13:41

I think he's unlikely to be very tall as your DH is 5ft 9

TigersandTeddybears · 30/07/2021 13:45

How tall is he now? He's likely to not be much taller than your DH, maybe shorter than him if you're only 5 foot 4 so even once fully through puberty lots of his friends will be taller than him.

It sounds like he has made some slight changes but not gone through puberty fully yet, so sounds about right for his age.

Foxglovesandlilacs86 · 30/07/2021 13:47

You and your DH are both on the shorter side so he’s not likely to be tall (unless you have tall parents/relatives?) I wouldn’t worry about it too much, puberty can happen between 9-14 so he’s not really a late developer yet.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/07/2021 13:47

What age trousers is he in op? There's a difference to him being in 9-10 and having not grown and being in 12-13 and having not grown

Original poster
Remmy123 · 31/07/2021 00:24

Thanks all - husband corrected me that he is a actually 5ft 10!! We have a lot of tall men in our family (both granddads and uncles)

His 9 year old brother is nearly as tall as him which is making it feel worse.

It's more the very slow growth his trousers stil fit him length wise (size 10-11)

He is on the 25th percentile

I've started to monitor his growth and will measure him him monthly and see what what guess.

Thank you

OP posts:
Enough4me · 31/07/2021 00:53

Measure over 6 months (once a month) so you have a recent clear record if still minimal growth. I expect he will have a boost and be fine though.

Original poster
Remmy123 · 04/08/2021 07:15

So I managed to get my son a blood test this week and thyroid is abnormal so they want to repeat it. I spoke to receptionist who told me nothing else.

I'm now wondering if slow growth is part of this (although recently measured him and had grown an inch in 6 weeks)

Also he has been complaining of headaches (got eyes tested all fine)

Feeling dizzy

OP posts:
kowari · 04/08/2021 07:23

Don't see the issue with the trousers, DS was in an age 12 from year 7 to 9 (March 2020). He grew slowly in that time, I just only buy the even numbered sizes as that works fine for us. You need his height over time, not what trousers he is in. DS's height took off after he turns 14.

Isthissteangeitfeelsweird · 04/08/2021 07:25

My ex is 6'8 and saod that he was short all up until year 10 then had a massive growth spurt in the 6 weeks hols and came back 6'8

littlebilliie · 04/08/2021 07:31

My ds grew over is a few months, he had horrendous stretch marks. Girls it's gradual, boys it's spurts. You will know when starts emptying the fridge and mine drank milk.

TertiusLydgate · 04/08/2021 07:33

My son didn’t go through puberty until he was 18, which as you can imagine, was distressing for him.

He had loads of tests including bone scans and an MRI to look at his pituitary - all normal.

His endocrinologist said to wait. Testosterone treatment comes with its own problems regarding fertility and would likely have stalled his height potential.

It was difficult to be patient, but the right thing for him. He’s now 19, 6 foot and still growing and with the hairiest legs I’ve ever seen!

Original poster
Remmy123 · 04/08/2021 07:39

@TertiusLydgate glad all was well with your son!!

Did they check his thyroid? Miy son had his checked snd it's abnormal 🥲

OP posts:
carltonscroop · 04/08/2021 08:20

It might be worth discussing with GP now what the referral criteria are.

If he really isn't growing normally, than a paediatric endocrinologist can boost hormones at the time of puberty as the most effective way of achieving growth (may still be on the small side, but should be within normal rather than strikingly short). So to get that done at a good timing, you need to be in the system IYSWIM.

Note - non-expert here citing what I understood of a treatment for a friends DC (who was referred after a couple of years no/low growth - used to wear out shoes, rather than outgrow them)

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 04/08/2021 08:25

Is it that your son has not grown, or is it that his leg length has not increased? Our almost-12yo also ended school in the same trouser length that he started back in September, but he has definitely grown - it's his torso that has stretched this year, rather than his legs. Sweatshirts that started the school year under his bum, now only reach his waist.

Notthecarwashagain · 04/08/2021 08:34

My son wasn’t growing, and was having little absent type seizures. Hypothyroidism was picked up while he was being tested for epilepsy (no epilepsy, it was caused by the thyroid apparently)

He’s on levothyroxine now, and has 6 monthly blood tests, height and weight checks, and he is growing much faster.

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