Don't answer this if you're just going to say it's genetics...because I know that there is a strong genetic component in how tall we all get to be. I am only 5'2", but I was not a small kid, just quit growing when I was 12. My DH is 5'11" but was a late bloomer as a kid (grew from 5'4" to 5'11" all in high school).
My DD is 8 years old and only 48" and not even 50lbs. She doesn't eat much, but at that size she doesn't need much. I try to get her to eat protein, dairy and vegetables, but she hates meat. Pediatrician not really concerned, just says she's a small kid. She is a really good gymnast, but we are really backing off on the practice hours because I'm afraid it's affecting her growth and she used to practice up until 8:00 at night which affected her sleep. Now we only go 5 hours per week (2.5 on Monday and 2.5 on Wednesday), she is done by 6:30 so she gets more sleep.
My question is, did anyone else have a tiny kid who finally grew later? The other kids out there her age are HUGE! She looks like a toddler next to some of them. She's got a great personality though and the other kids just accept her for who she is. I'd like to help her in any way I can, so does anyone know how to help a kid move into a growth spurt?
A few people asked why it's an issue for me, I guess it's an issue for my DD to always be the smallest. It's hard for her when people mistake her for a 1st grader. Kids like being taller vs. shorter...but she getting used to being the smallest (although believe it or not, there are three kids smaller than her in the third grade at her school. I also want to do everything to help her realize her full height....because there are things that can be done (for example at the turn of the century, people were shorter and smaller than they are today due to their nutrition).
I just want to mention that gymnastics does not prevent you from growing. Since she likes gymnastics, you can mention that all elite gymnasts are small. If you are 5ft tall, you would be considered a tall gymnast.
Maybe this info would help with her self esteem regarding her height.
If she wont eat meat, you have to get her to eat protein in non-meat items like nuts, dairy, tofu, ect. You are right, 48 inches in an 8 year old is tiny. My son, who is on the taller side and not even 4 is 41 inches. Does she get a multi-vitamin? Sounds like you are doing what you can so that she is healthy and happy.
You could take her to an endocronologist and have some testing done. It could be that your family has a "deficiency" in growth hormone that could be addressed. I'm not talking about genetics.
Dawn
There are certainly things that have been shown to stunt growth, but to cause it? Trust me, if there was such a thing we would ALL know about it and somebody would be filthy rich, LOTS of people (especially men) want to be taller!
Girls tend to stop growing earlier than boys. Most women I know reached their adult height by 14, and most men I know didn't stop growing until 17/18. I have seen the same thing with my kids and their friends (ages 18, 16 and almost 13.)
I wonder why you are so concerned? My husband is Filipino (5'7") and I'm only 5'5", so all of our kids are small and always have been compared to their peers. It hasn't affected them as far as I can tell. They are all fairly popular and athletic. And in a way it's nice because when it comes to group photos and performances they are always in the front :)
And my 16 year old daughter (who even at 5'2" made the very competitive high school volleyball team and played a LOT in two years) has a great t-shirt that says "I'm not small, I'm fun size!"
To start a post by saying "Don't answer this if you're just going to say it's genetics" is a big red flag that you have specific answers you want to hear, and no openness to others. You want this not to be something hard-wired genetically, something you can fight like it's an illness or a flaw that can be fixed. But please be aware: You are petite. It is highly possible that yes, genetics mean she will be petite too. She also is old enough to pick up on your anxiety about her size and it will affect her; you may never mention it in front of her, but holding her back from an activity she likes (gymnastics) because it "affects her growth" in your eyes certainly sends her a message that you consider her not the right size. She will pick up on all this and start to believe there's something wrong with her, and girls are very sensitive to those kinds of image messages -- even if you think you're not sending those messages. This is the age when girls start to be hard on themselves and process those image messages as: "I'm not what mom wants me to be. I'm a problem to be fixed."
If you really are concerned then do, for your peace of mind, ask the pediatrican to refer you for a workup by an endocrinologist who can check growth hormones. But please, for the sake of putting her her emotional growth before her physical growth, make the commitment with yourself that you will abide by the endocrinologist's verdict: If that doctor says "She's fine, just small," please promise yourself you will then stop focusing on her size. Yes, it's hard to be the smallest in a class. It's also hard to be the tallest (believe me, very tall girls are expected to behave much more maturely than they sometimes are able to based on their age--I see it every single day with my daughter's two friends who are both 10 and each nearly 5 feet 6 inches tall--as tall as grown women.) It's also hard to be the brightest kid, or the least academically able kid. It's hard to be the kid who is the worst at sports, or the kid who's best at math. It's always something. But you say yourself that "she has a great personality and the other kids just accept her for who she is," so please help her maintain her positive self and keep her from starting to focus on her size by not focusing on it yourself. Not what you want to hear, I know, but I hope you'll be open to the idea that she is fine and healthy and how she grows will be whatever it will be.
Our friends' son was tiny and his parents went crazy for two years going from doctor to doctor to doctor to find out why he was so small. Finally one doctor actually LOOKED at the parents: The dad is small -- about 5 feet 4 inches and very, very slim -- and the mom is maybe 5 feet 2 at the very most. Finally after so many doctors poking and prodding and testing the boy because his parents insisted "He's too small," the one doctor said, "Why didn't the other doctors look at you two? You're small. He's going to be small." And yes, he's the smallest kid in his middle school class but that's the way it is and there's no changing it. Your daughter has a shot at a growth spurt since your husband is taller. But please don't repeat their mistake of hauling a child to doctors only to find that what's obvious -- genetics -- was the answer all along.
Check again with her pediatrician to address your concerns to rule out a medical problem or condition to know for sure.
It's worth having her evaluted by a pediatric endocrinologist, epsecially if she hasn't stayed at the same % on the growth curve. If she has a growth hormone deficiency, it can be treated, but it's better to start before puberty. Good luck to you.
Do you know how you, your husband and your siblings grew? The reason I ask is My Mom and I both grew a good 1/2-1" in our late late teens. Sorry, I know this may be too close to "genetics" for your liking but I thought this knowledge may help you. If people in your family "caught up" with thier peers at some point the same thing might happen for your daughter.
No, our small kid didn't grow later - our SD (14) was always tiny and reached her full height (5'2") at age 13. Her mom is about that height, my husband is 5'6". My oldest son (13) is already taller than me (I'm just under 5'6") but his birth dad is 5'10" and there's a lot of male height in my family so he is on track for 6 feet + but has been on that track since age 3. Our two little boys are quite small and will probably always will be. They're predicted to top out at 5'6" - 5'8" based on growth tracking.
I've never heard of anyone beating their genetics.
hmmm, my 15yo niece just grew almost 2" in the last 2 years.
my 24yo son grew 1" between 20 & 21.
As long as the dr is not concerned,
as long as you're pumping protein thru alternative choices (other than meat),
as long as she's eating healthy (well within the food pyramid),
then I would NOT worry.
I will admit, though, that the image of her....8yo, 4' tall, & < 50lbs.....is a tiny picture!
I think my concern, more so, would be your comments about her. If she's happy & well-accepted....& the dr is not concerned, then why is this such an issue for you? Is her size somehow limiting her? Is she training in gymnastics to compete professionally? That's a lot of training for an 8yo! You would think from muscle mass alone....she'd weigh more!
Peace to you....it's hard to sit back & see what genetics brings us!
I agree with Leigh R. wholeheartedly! Very well said!
I have a niece who is now 29, but she was soooo petite up until the age of 10. She now towers over all the women in our family at 5'10". Although, her parents are 5'9" and 6'1". You and your husband are smaller, so it's expected that your child will be more petite. If you have her tested and get normal results, please leave the issue alone for your daughter's well-being!
For now, feed her well and go from there!
Some of our kids were very tall when young and everyone thought they'd be giants. The others were shorter and all are about the same size now they're grown. I do think not eating enough can stunt the growth and if they begin to eat in time they can grow again. Also, like you said the extreme exercise or sports can do it. I would take her to a good doctor and get her checked out to be sure. That sounds very small even if she is a slow growth person.
I also stopped growing in jr high..age 11. I think that's normal for girls. Boys tend to have their growth spurt towards the end of hs. She might just be a small girl, but she has a few more years to go.
If she doesn't like meat, look to other proteins like beans, nuts, nut butters, eggs, cheese, quinoa, etc.
J., althiugh my DD is only five years old, my DH and I found out while I was pregnant that she has Turner Syndrome. Its not as bad as the websites could make it out to be. She is completely normal on the outside but has some problems with her internal organs. I would have your pediatrician test your DD chromosones and go from there. Many gymnists have Turners and go a lifetime with out knowing. There are HCG shots that are legally given to children to help them grow. Hope this helps.
My brother was always among the tallest kids when he was younger...and he was very shy. In sixth grade his voice started changing...he was about 5'7"...and one of the tallest kids in his grade...he HATED standing out. He told my mom once that he wished he would just stop growing already...and he did. Poor kid hasn't gotten much taller than 5'7" (he's 28)...and still weighs about 130-140. My daughter is 8 and the exact same height and weight as yours...she also is not a big meat eater (vegetarian for the most part...). I was (like my brother) always one of the taller and bigger kids growing up...and It was not my favorite thing...so I guess it doesn't bother me too much that she's small. I wish I could think of some advice as far as helping her grow...I would imagine in a few years she'll start hitting puberty and that'll help...If she's not getting the amount of protein she needs (you can google it for the requirements for her age...I forget what they are offhand)...you could look into smoothies with a protein/vitamin powder for kids (preferably with no artificial sweeteners) - reliv makes a good one...and make her a smoothie with a bunch of fruit. That's one thing my daughter loves. Good luck :)
If your doctor feels there is a potential problem, she can be evaluated by an endocrinologist to see if she has a growth hormone deficiency. If so, they can recommend starting her, at the appropriate age, on growth hormone shots. I would be sure to educate myself fully on the course of treatment and possible side effects. My understanding is, that once a child is started on this treatment, the entire course must be followed to allow for normal growth.
I sprouted late. Neither of my parents are tall. My mom swears it's all the vitamins and I read a book called the Tall Book that discusses nutrition and it's influence on growth. So I'd give her a ton of vitamins. I'm worried my girls will be "too" tall so no vitamins for them. And they're good eaters...
My son is 15, weighs 107 pounds and is 5'4". He is the slim and almost a head shorter than his friends, and was shorter than his last girlfriend. He really doesn't mind at all.
He has always been one of the "smaller" kids in his grade, partially because he is a June baby and started school as an early 5 year old, and partially b'c of genetics. I am only 5'2" and while his father is average height, he is slim build.
But, he did grow tremendously between 13 and 14, and seems to be on a steadier, though slower, growth pattern now. His pediatrician has told him that it would not hurt to gain weight, but has also made it very clear to him that he is healthy and normal.
He is also not a great meat eater. He prefers poultry and seafood over beef and pork, eats veggies and fruit, and drinks milk and loves peanut butter.
If your daughter is happy, accepted by her peers, and has a good self image it does not matter how tall she is. With my son, I found it more important to teach him self acceptance than dwell on the fact that he is "small". He likes himself for who he is, and that means so much more. Confident people attract other people to them. So it all evens out.
Ya know what as a vertically challenged person (5'--5'1" in tip toes) I am highly offended by this question. My siblings are much taller, as were my parents---but SO WHAT! it has nothing to do with WHO I AM!
So she is short SO WHAT---does that make her a bad person and inept just because she is short???? Sleep has nothing to do with it---you are grasping for a reason that may not be there--so why not just accept her for who she is---not what she looks like or how tall she is.
She may grow taller or she may not, but your words speak loudly to YOUR having an issue with it that could give her a complex--is that what you want.
Why not just love and accept your child for WHO SHE IS RATHER THAN HOW TALL SHE IS!
Her height has nothing to do with intelligence, a good heart and a healthy body
hi, I am 40 and am only 4' 8" there is nothing wrong with your child being small. I find that being small has become whom i am. I wouldnt change it for anything. if her doctor is not worried then you can relaxe. not everyone needs to be tall, her friends will except her that way and she will be fine.
I was (and still am) a small framed girl. Not really short- I'm about 5'6. However, I was very small until college. Weighed about 95 lbs soaking wet when I graduated high school and was about 5'3. I grew 3 inches in college and finally weighed about 112 when I graduated from there.
I was a very late bloomer- was almost 16 when I started my period. I always felt smaller and more immature looking than my friends, even though I had a large chest (yay genetics!). My mother took me to the doctor and he said everything was a-ok.
Anyway, you can talk to her doctor if you are concerned. Other than that, there isn't much you can do. Wish I could be more help.
