Would this worry you? Growth charts

Anonymous
My daughter is my youngest of three. She's eight and at the 5th percentile for height. Her growth chart has been falling over time. I think a few years ago she was at the 20th percentile for height. She was a big baby and toddler but that has not continued, unlike with my two sons. My sons at the same ages were 60th or higher for height.

The doctor said if this continues, we can measure her wrist bones and figure out what her adult height might be and if she needs growth hormones to stimulate growth.

Is this something you would do?

My husband is 6'0 and I am 5'7. However, my MIL is really short, like probably 5'2 or shorter and my own mother is 5'4.
Anonymous
She may have inherited the short gene from the grandparent. It happens. You could try changing her diet. Apparent gluten intolerance can impact growth.

https://www.livescience.com/50002-children-celiac-disease.html
Anonymous
We took my son to a specialist, a pediatric endocrinologist, when his growth slowed significantly. The doctor ran a bunch of tests to rule out a number of conditions and now we’ll wait for a few years (DS is seven).

Definitely see a specialist but don’t get ahead of yourselves.
Anonymous
Yes, see an endo, and ped or ending should test for various things including celiac. Growth hormone is not necessarily likely so don’t assume you are going down that road by seeing a specialist. A hand Xray is typical and no big deal.
Anonymous
Because of a decline in the growth curve, yes, I'd be concerned and I'd see a pediatric endocrinologist.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Because of a decline in the growth curve, yes, I'd be concerned and I'd see a pediatric endocrinologist.


Yep
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Because of a decline in the growth curve, yes, I'd be concerned and I'd see a pediatric endocrinologist.


Yep


+1 and I have a kid who has always been between the 2nd-5th%. Her docs have always stressed that as long as she maintains her curve we shouldn't worry, but a drop would be worrisome.
Anonymous
The drop in curve is very concerning. She hasn't stayed on her own growth curve and that is the big problem.

Identifying this is the big benefit of those growth charts. See a specialist.
Anonymous
Yes, this happened to me. My child had gastroparesis.

Definitely something to take to a specialist.
Anonymous
Yes like others have said the issue is not that she is small, or that she is 5th percentile (that’s fine!
) the issue is falling off her growth curve. That is usually when there is cause to look into it more from what I’ve heard.
Anonymous
My son was on the higher end of the growth curve at age 2 and 3 but dropped to the 5th-10th percentiles after that. I think I remember the doctor saying that ages 2 and 3 aren't really good ages for determining a set point on the growth curve. He is still in the 5th for weight and height and this has been consistent since age 4.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My son was on the higher end of the growth curve at age 2 and 3 but dropped to the 5th-10th percentiles after that. I think I remember the doctor saying that ages 2 and 3 aren't really good ages for determining a set point on the growth curve. He is still in the 5th for weight and height and this has been consistent since age 4.

It really depends. My kid was in the 30th until a year than dropped to the 0th over the next year. It was a medical issue.

It's always worth checking out. You don't want to miss something serious. My kid appeared healthy except for lack of appetite.
Anonymous
Could be celiac disease, could be low growth hormone, could be delayed puberty, could be bad measuring in the past, could be nothing.
Anonymous
OP here. I feel I have articulated this wrong. She didn’t go from 20th to 5th percentile in one year. I agree that would be concerning.

I can’t remember what her % was last year but it’s edging down slowly over time. There wasn’t a huge, dramatic drop off I e year. Plus, she still grew 2 inches and gained 5 lbs in the last year which he said is good. My concern is more that her growth chart is not like her siblings.’

Actually I didn’t think anything of it until the doctor mentioned the wrist x ray.

Would you call them back to get more info or assume all is ok for the time being? She eats well, no dietary or digestion problems, no sick visits at all in the last year.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Yes, this happened to me. My child had gastroparesis.

Definitely something to take to a specialist.


I hate to hijack, but my kid is struggling with gastroparesis. Did you find some solutions?
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