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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Ds 15 is very small and doesn't seem to be growing.

136 replies

Lilyana · 05/05/2022 19:22

DS 15 is 5ft 3, by far the smallest boy in his class/year. I'm 5ft 6 and they always say boys are taller than their mums. He hasn't grown since last November. Is there a chance he will have a growth spurt later on even though he seems to have stopped for a while?

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 05/05/2022 19:23

Take him to your GP and ask for a referral to a consultant.

barneymcgroo · 05/05/2022 19:24

I would have thought possible. Not definite, but it's a bell curve, so while most will have finished growing by 16ish, a few will do a bit more.

Echobelly · 05/05/2022 19:25

Is he nearer 15 or 16? My brother was tiny until somewhere between 15-16 then he shot up with a few months and was average height.

TonySmart · 05/05/2022 19:25

My DH went from 5.8 to 6.2 after he turned 18.

NerrSnerr · 05/05/2022 19:26

My brother didn't stop growing until he was 19/20.

Neolara · 05/05/2022 19:28

My Ds is 15. He started to shoot up about 6 months ago. He says quite a number of his friends haven't started to grow yet.

Original poster
Lilyana · 05/05/2022 19:28

Echobelly · 05/05/2022 19:25

Is he nearer 15 or 16? My brother was tiny until somewhere between 15-16 then he shot up with a few months and was average height.

Just turned 15

OP posts:
Decorhate · 05/05/2022 19:30

It’s very common for boys to shoot up in their late teens. My brother was only up to my shoulder at 14. He’s now over 6’.

Original poster
Lilyana · 05/05/2022 19:30

TonySmart · 05/05/2022 19:25

My DH went from 5.8 to 6.2 after he turned 18.

Wow!! The thing is my son isn't late going through puberty, voice breaking etc was a long time ago now. I know sometimes they don't grow until they hit puberty.

OP posts:
embolass · 05/05/2022 19:35

My son was always small and when reached year 6 I asked for referral to paediatrician. They checked bloods for hormones and took wrist X-ray which determined his bone age as opposed to chronological age. X-ray showed he was 2 years behind and diagnosed constitutional growth delay. So puberty etc would happen but later, in fact a late puberty is better as gives a longer growing time. He went for twice yearly checks (check testes size as once they reach certain size they produce the hormones which will start all the changes). He was discharged last Nov as now is developing and starting to stretch. He is 17 and friends have stopped growing but he should continue to grow for another 2-3 years. It’s been hard for him and us but at last all my reassurance has paid off.
Does your son have any puberty changes?

Double3xposure · 05/05/2022 19:36

I agree that you should take him to the Gp and ask for a referral.

Mytholmroyd · 05/05/2022 19:39

Long bone growth plates (epiphyses) in males fuse later than in females and often not until they hit c. 20 - varies obviously between individuals. But plenty of time for a big growth spurt!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/05/2022 19:40

Ds1 was the same at just turned 15, only just at my shoulder level (I’m 5, 6”) now at nearly 17 he’s taller than me, his voice has broken, and there’s lots more hair on his body.

Some go through puberty later than others but chat to your GP if you’re worried.

Original poster
Lilyana · 05/05/2022 19:45

Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/05/2022 19:40

Ds1 was the same at just turned 15, only just at my shoulder level (I’m 5, 6”) now at nearly 17 he’s taller than me, his voice has broken, and there’s lots more hair on his body.

Some go through puberty later than others but chat to your GP if you’re worried.

His voice broke when he was 13.

OP posts:
Kite22 · 05/05/2022 20:07

Completely normal. I don't think a GP would be interested.
My ds didn't grow upwards until he turned 15.
He is 6' now. He had other friends who didn't start growing until they were 15 or 16 too. It isn't unusual at all.
'Puberty' doesn't happen all at once - or in a linear fashion.

littlemousebigcheese · 05/05/2022 20:09

some men are just shorter! one of my best male friends is 5"3 and in his mid thirties so definitely no growth spurt coming!

Rainallnight · 05/05/2022 20:13

How much does it bother him?

I’m very short, even for a woman, and my mum took my concerns seriously and took me to a growth specialist in my teens. The upshot was that someone has to be on the bottom of the growth centile and sadly that’s me. But getting it investigated groomed me to make my peace with it.

I think it’s MUCH harder for men to be shorter. I’d go to the GP.

How tall is his dad?

Rainallnight · 05/05/2022 20:14

Groomed me?!?! HELPED me

Oblomov22 · 05/05/2022 20:17

What's the harm in speaking to GP and getting it noted? If it sorts itself great. If it doesn't, Your'll probably regret it.

Sodie · 05/05/2022 20:17

My almost 19yr old is 5ft 3. He hasn't grown since he was 13. But I'm 5ft 2, my mother is 5ft and my nan was 4ft 10. My (also just turned 15yr old) is 5ft 2 but he hasn't gone through puberty yet. He doesn't even sweat. But he is on a lot of medication.

lakeswimmer · 05/05/2022 20:17

My 15 yr old DS (16 in July) is shorter than that. He has delayed puberty and is being monitored by an endocrinologist. His older brother (19) was the same, was also monitored by the same endocrinologist, and is now 5ft 8. We got the referral via the GP.

NoSquirrels · 05/05/2022 20:22

I’m with the talk to the GP crowd.

Yes, it’s not unusually late to have a growth spurt at 15 or 16. But if there is an issue, finding out sooner rather than later - hanging on too long waiting - can be a problem.

Male member of my extended family didn’t get checked out when he probably should have done and now it’s too late. He’s really sensitive about it and it’s the ‘what ifs’ that are the issue - what if there had been something that could have helped? I think it’s easier to come to terms with if you know it was just luck of the gene draw, not something that could have been prevented.

JesusSufferingFuck22 · 05/05/2022 20:35

My ds was very small for his age up till about 14-15. 10 years later he is over 6ft tall.

AliMonkey · 05/05/2022 20:45

DS is 15 in a couple of weeks and is 5'6" after a recent huge growth spurt from about 5'2". He was one of the smallest in the class for most of secondary school until recently. According to https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Boys_2-18_years_growth_chart.pdf, your DS is probably around the 15th centile, so not an outlier but shorter than average. So I doubt it's anything to worry about, but equally I don't think your GP will think you're being and idiot to book an appointment to discuss - but only if your DS wants to.

Original poster
Lilyana · 05/05/2022 21:39

embolass · 05/05/2022 19:35

My son was always small and when reached year 6 I asked for referral to paediatrician. They checked bloods for hormones and took wrist X-ray which determined his bone age as opposed to chronological age. X-ray showed he was 2 years behind and diagnosed constitutional growth delay. So puberty etc would happen but later, in fact a late puberty is better as gives a longer growing time. He went for twice yearly checks (check testes size as once they reach certain size they produce the hormones which will start all the changes). He was discharged last Nov as now is developing and starting to stretch. He is 17 and friends have stopped growing but he should continue to grow for another 2-3 years. It’s been hard for him and us but at last all my reassurance has paid off.
Does your son have any puberty changes?

Yes, all puberty changes as in voice drop etc...by 13 years old.

OP posts: