We are short parents who grew late, with a 32-weeker ex-preemie son who also grew late. ADHD runs in the family, and we have been careful to put him on a suboptimal dose and give him med breaks. But honestly, for us it wasn't "delayed" puberty so much as "on-time for our family" puberty! The timing was similar to your son. He is similarly naive and baby-like, which is very much how we were at the same age. And he is predicted to grow as tall as his father: 5'5". Multiple endocrinologists refused to give us growth hormones, despite one saying he qualified for it under one of the allowed criteria, but that it was borderline, so ultimately said no.

Our daughter has "delayed" (right on time for us) puberty and sadly, being a girl, she won't even be 5'4" like me. She has never taken ADHD meds, but even with a natural growth pattern, at best, she'll be 5'1".

Is he in ADHD meds? It can delay puberty. My nephew had delayed puberty and was short at age 15 but eventually caught up. Only later did my sister find out that is can be a side effect.

I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it but I’d check in with an endocrinologist- they can help. Good luck!

I have been in exactly your shoes. I'll cut to the chase and tell you it all works out!

Here's the long answer:
Son also was delayed to hit puberty, also tracked by endocrinologist at NIH and told delayed but not enough to take hormones. Started to grow in 11th grade and still growing at age 20. Is now over 6 ft 1 inches. Totally normal size.

The impact, though, was significant. Fell behind in sports (and therefore confidence) and friend group changed because he was so much smaller and less "fast" than his previous friends. His new friends were a much better match for him but it was a difficult adjustment, admittedly likely more for me because it is hard to see your child in pain. I think we underestimate how hard being small physically is for boys in high school.

So, long term, everything has worked out. GL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he skinny? Doesn’t eat too much junk? Back in the day, lots of kids entered puberty in late teens. Everyone is so fat and overfed now, kids enter puberty early. But it’s not “normal”.

This is horrible advice. OP talk to an endocrinologist.

The bloodwork was done at a endocrinologist we were referred to by his pediatrician. She said his bloodwork looks fine that he is just behind but should be starting puberty soon, she said in less than a year. I just hope he can catch back up soon.

Anonymous wrote:Is he skinny? Doesn’t eat too much junk? Back in the day, lots of kids entered puberty in late teens. Everyone is so fat and overfed now, kids enter puberty early. But it’s not “normal”.

He is very skinny, all my kids are. They are all very active. You can see his ribs but he eats well. We’re not a junk food family. When most of his peers started having big growth spits around 11, 12, and 13 he hasn’t. He has always been small for his age but now his peers have short way past him. We have a pool and several of his friends come over to swim. Several already have armpit hair and hairy legs, some have faint little mustache. He is still as hairless and genitalia sized as my other boys.

Anonymous wrote:I’d go to an endocrinologist

+1 This isn't something you want to rely upon a generalist for. Go to an endocrinologist.

My BFFs Ds was very small for his age (then about 15) and she, eventually, had him see an endocrinologist. he had some sort of disorder that caused a hormone deficiency. Her DS received injections once a week for about 2 years. He's now 20 and seems typical. His growth caught up.

Anonymous wrote:Going bed to bathroom or back naked is no big deal. There’s no hanging around common areas naked. No eating naked.

He doesn’t hang out naked or eat naked. No one in our family does. It’s mostly just going back and forth from the bathroom, or going to the laundry room and getting cloths to put on and instead of taking the cloths to his room or bathroom he will just change right there with anyone around.

Anonymous wrote:Is he skinny? Doesn’t eat too much junk? Back in the day, lots of kids entered puberty in late teens. Everyone is so fat and overfed now, kids enter puberty early. But it’s not “normal”.

While I agree that obesity in children can cause earlier growth and puberty, I disagree that "back in the day" kids entered puberty in their late teens. I do not believe that is true.

Anonymous wrote:Is he skinny? Doesn’t eat too much junk? Back in the day, lots of kids entered puberty in late teens. Everyone is so fat and overfed now, kids enter puberty early. But it’s not “normal”.

This is horrible advice. OP talk to an endocrinologist.

Is he skinny? Doesn’t eat too much junk? Back in the day, lots of kids entered puberty in late teens. Everyone is so fat and overfed now, kids enter puberty early. But it’s not “normal”.

Going bed to bathroom or back naked is no big deal. There’s no hanging around common areas naked. No eating naked.

I wouldn't let a 7 year old walk naked in the house either. Make that a house rule. And see and endocrinologist.

I’d go to an endocrinologist

I’m concerned about my oldest son, who is 15. He is very small for his age and hasn’t started puberty at all. At his last checkup the doctor had us do bloodwork which said he is just behind but will get there. I feel like he is falling behind his peers. He has always been big into sports but he struggles to keep up now. He is also very immature, he will still walk naked from his room to the bathroom or change in front of our family without a care in the wold. I’m glad he still has his innocence but regardless he is 15. I will say he needs to go change in his room or make the comment, put some cloths on, and he will make the argument that his brothers don’t. They are half his age. Fortunately the doctor thinks he will start within a year and will grow quickly and I pray that does happen and soon. So 2 part question, 1. If your son was delayed did he catch up quickly when he started, and what are your thoughts on the modesty? Let him be as once he starts puberty he will get modesty on his own or make him no longer walk from bathroom naked and stop changing in front of us?