Many parents worry when their child seems to be shorter than most of the other children their age. However, while your child is growing, there’s a huge range of heights that are considered normal, so it’s entirely probable that your child is perfectly normal.
If you are concerned that your child is dramatically shorter than his or her peers, or that your child seems to have stopped growing altogether, the best person to speak to is your paediatrician, who should be able to rule out any growth problems.
Your doctor will probably look into your family history, as many genuine health issues relating to stature can be inherited. These histories may include extended family, like aunts, uncles and grandparents.
He or she will also want to take a look at your child’s growth chart, so that your child’s average growth patterns can be assessed.
There may be tests that will need to be run, including x-rays, and even endocrinological tests, that will measure the growth hormones that your child is producing. If this is found to be low, then there are injections your doctor can administer to encourage production.
