Predicting kids height

[Anonymous]

Oyr boys were both in the 95-99 percentile ranges from birth through around age 2 or 2.5. Since then, they have hovered between 85-90 (they are now ages 5 and 7). DH is 5'8" and I am 5'4" so it would be surprising if they ended up tall, but we each have both very tall and very short genes in our families so you never know.

[Anonymous]

My 6'2 husband was average height as a kid and didn't really shoot up until he was 15. I'm 5'1 and was never the shortest kid in my class until middle school. I got my period early and didn't grow much after that. Our DD has always been around the 80th %tile for height, while our DS has hovered around average or below. Based on their parents' growth history it's so hard to tell where they'll end up!

[Anonymous]

The main thing that throws off growth charts is having puberty earlier or later than typical. That will shift the growth chart backwards or forwards at the time of puberty, because you deviate from the typical track.

And nothing wrong with that! But if either or both parents have particularly early or late puberty times, the growth chart tracking may not be as reliable for the kid.

[Anonymous]

My oldest was an IUGR baby. Four pounds at birth. The pediatrician told us he would always be small and short. He is 6’3. They are clueless at guessing height.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure 6'3 was much more likely.

Glad he is doing well, PP, and that he is thriving. That's wonderful.

[Anonymous]

If PPs are correct about the growth curve, here is a calculator.

https://www.babycenter.com/child-height-predictor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If PPs are correct about the growth curve, here is a calculator.

https://www.babycenter.com/child-height-predictor

No, PP, that's primarily based on mid-parental height, not primarily on the growth curve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother is 5 foot nothing. My dad is 5’8”. My sister is 5’10”. She’s definitely both of their child. It’s so weird. People are always like, where did the talk genes come from? I am 5’3”. It’s so interesting!

Genes are definitely funny. There must be a tall person in the family somewhere.

Red hair is the same. DC's grandfather has red hair. Skipped a generation. DC has red hair. Totally different hair color to all of us.

As for height, statistically, the height chart is a good indicator, and statistically, on average, boys stop growing around 16.

BUT, "average" means that there are those who grow way after 16. It also depends on when the boy hit puberty. Generally, the later you hit puberty, the longer time you have to grow. DH and I both hit puberty late, so no surprise that all of our kids are hitting puberty late, and that includes growth.

[Anonymous]

OP here - this is all very interesting! DH and I both hit puberty late as well. I didn't get my period until 13 and DH didn't stop growing until he was almost 20. He went to college at 18 at 5'8" and grew another 2" while in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure 6'3 was much more likely.

Glad he is doing well, PP, and that he is thriving. That's wonderful.

Thanks. 💙

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If PPs are correct about the growth curve, here is a calculator.

https://www.babycenter.com/child-height-predictor

No, PP, that's primarily based on mid-parental height, not primarily on the growth curve.

No it doesn't, when I adjust the parents height the predicted height doesn't change. It goes off the growth curve, I got the same results with both ways.

[Anonymous]

For the most part kids will stay on their growth curve unless there was some kind of severe lack of nutrition or other health problems. Both my older kids were ~60th percentile from six months through age 12. Younger one has been a consistent 90th percentile for the first two years. I was 15th percentile my entire live from infant to adult

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If PPs are correct about the growth curve, here is a calculator.

https://www.babycenter.com/child-height-predictor

No, PP, that's primarily based on mid-parental height, not primarily on the growth curve.

No it doesn't, when I adjust the parents height the predicted height doesn't change. It goes off the growth curve, I got the same results with both ways.

OP here - well that is relatively scary haha. The calculator said my boy is going to be between 6'4" and 6'6" tall. I am not 100% sure of his height at 2 because he doesn't turn 2 for another few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother is 5 foot nothing. My dad is 5’8”. My sister is 5’10”. She’s definitely both of their child. It’s so weird. People are always like, where did the talk genes come from? I am 5’3”. It’s so interesting!

I have a sibling like this too - my mom is 5'2", dad is 5'4", my brother is 5'9"

There is definitely an environmental and nutritional factor to height that isn't being taken into account here, especially for children of immigrants who grew up somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mother is 5 foot nothing. My dad is 5’8”. My sister is 5’10”. She’s definitely both of their child. It’s so weird. People are always like, where did the talk genes come from? I am 5’3”. It’s so interesting!

I have a sibling like this too - my mom is 5'2", dad is 5'4", my brother is 5'9"

There is definitely an environmental and nutritional factor to height that isn't being taken into account here, especially for children of immigrants who grew up somewhere else.

OP Here - that is also an interesting point. DH's mom was very short (about 5'1") but she also grew up during WWII in Europe and was in fleeing for her life when she was a baby and then spent her formative years very poor in rural America. I wonder if that impacted her height. I am asian but pretty tall (5'7") but grew up here in America.