This was a huge concern of my son's. His dad is 6'1" & I'm 5'7". His dad was still growing at 17-18 so we just keep reminding him that he'll get there.

He really started growing a few months after 14. From his 1.5-2"/yr, he's not doing more like 3" & his dr has suggested based on his stage of puberty, the growth spurt likely hasn't even happened yet.

Obviously listen to the dr if there's medical concerns, but puberty is such a wild ride with boys. Some are 14 with facial hair. Some are 15 and still look like a kid.

My 14 yo just started growing a bunch. He will be 15 next week.

Is this your oldest child? DS14 is our 3rd kid, so we've seen that our kids just seem to grow late. DS19 grew a TON in his and added an inch his freshman year of college. That's when he also managed to grow some armpit hair and three whole chest hairs! (He is very proud of the chest hairs, which I really can't see without my reading glasses.) He's 6'2.

DD16 didn't get her period until the end of 8th grade and grew through her sophomore year of hs. She's a jr now and we think she's done.

As I told my oldest son, good things come to those who wait. This is especially true with growing. The kids who sprouted up in 6th and 7th stopped growing in early HS and topped out at 5'8.

If your DS was showing signs of early puberty at his 13yo appointment, his growth spurt is highly likely on the way. Usually the growth spurt comes more at mid-later puberty for boys (though every kid is different).

My DS was in the same “very early puberty” stage at his 13yo appointment but it was quite awhile before his growth spurt started. He was 14 1/2 or closer to 15 before it really got going. Then he grew almost 6 inches in one year. When he was 14.5 he looked like a 12 year old. By the time he was 15.5, he looked more or less his age. Some boys grow more gradually which is also normal.

Seems likely your DS’s growth with be starting sooner rather than later. Nothing to worry about. Just keep reassuring your son that everyone is on a different timeline and this is normal.

Our son was referred to an endocrinologist after his 15 year old check-up, for delayed puberty. He failed the stim test so we assumed growth hormone deficiency. However, the brain mri revealed a cyst on his pituitary gland, preventing the hormone. Cyst was removed and puberty finally started. I regretted not pursuing his concern about delayed puberty sooner, but everything worked out fine because the issue was resolved before growth plates closed. My son’s case is not common though and it’s more likely that your son is fine. My point is that I think there is cause for testing by 14.5 or 15 years old.

It is normal. Age 14ish is the peak age for these differences. Some boys are nearly done with puberty already, while others have barely started…the difference are vast. By the time they are 16, things will be much more evened out (most of the later maturing boys will have grown a lot by then, though not quite all).

I’ve BTDT with one of my sons and it is challenging. Socially, and for a lot of sports. But- they do get through it and come out on the other side.

As long as the doctor is not worried, try hard not to worry yourself. Medically, your DS is in the range of normal based on what you have said.

DS was a late bloomer, as was I and his dad. He also grew a steady 2" average per year.

DS growth at 14+:

61.25 in at 14
63 in at 15
65.5 at 16
68.5 at 17
70 at 18

(yes I tracked his growth). You can see, he didn't have a huge spurt anywhere, other than the 3" between 16 and 17. He just kept a steady pace of growth.

At 20, he's about 5'11.5". Not sure if he's done growing, but he's probably close to it. DH said he stopped at around 21. DS was always the shortest in his class (I'm super petite; DH is tall 6+). We were sure he'd be at most 5'9.5" per the calculator.

DS had a bone scan at like 10 due to an ailment in his foot every time he ran. That went on for many months until I finally took him to an ortho. His bone scan showed he was 12 to 18mo behind. That coupled with hitting puberty late allowed him to grow past his friends who all stopped growing by 17.

My son started his growth spurt just before this 14th birthday. Seemed like it took him forever to start, and he was so small and boyish compared to his peers.

But he finally did take off.

My DH is 6'5" and was average height when he started high school. He grew a foot from age 16-19.

Whether or not this is concerning is entirely correlated with individual factors. Discuss with your pediatrician or, if very concerned, a pediatric endocrinologist. There are tests like a bone age scan that are very non-invasive and can give some idea of what's going on.

Anonymous wrote:Some never have a spurt but just gradual increase in height. Which is much healthier btw.

A spurt can lead to health problems now, and especially later in life. Growing too much too fast is not good.

Mine is on this trajectory. 2 inches a year. Last year I think he grew 3.5 and the doctor called it his spurt. He is 15 and 5.5 with a projected growth, says his endocrinologist, of 5.10 or 5.11. The endocrinologist says he might be growing till 19 or 20 per his bone scans, so slow and steady 2 inches a year is possible going forward.

It sucks for sports.

He's still 13 OP

Normal for many.

My DS was 5’3” 90lbs on his 14th birthday.

He is now 16 and 6’1”.

For some, it just happens on the later side.

Team sports did not pan out- he was just too physically behind at ages 13-15ish & got left behind- but he found other things to do.

Anonymous wrote:Constitution growth delay - aka a late bloomer. My ped will refer to an endocrinologist if nothing is happening by 14 and a half. My DS started puberty right at 14 and a half.

Right. If nothing is happening by 14.5. OP said her kid will be 14 in a few months. He’s 13. It’s completely normal.