Height penctiles-21 month old has dropped from 50th to just above 0.4 since 12 mths- is this normal.

[cheesenpickle]

I have been monitoring my DS weight as ive had concerns hes a bit tubby. Despite my concerns hes been tracking the 50th on weight. I thought thats fine as at his 1 yr old check he was 50th on the height percentile. However I ive had still had a worry hes a bit chunky so i measured his height (lying down) and hes 79cm which puts him in between 0.4 and 2nd percentile. (no wonder hes looking a bit round), but what is concerning me is the massive drop in his height percentile since his year check. Is this normal, should i be worried. Im thinking of seeing the HV but my husband thinks im ridiculous.

[GreatUncleEddie]

Is he walking? They change shape then (I only ask as you measured him lying down which is an odd way to do it). If he is, first measure him standing up. If it is the same then yes get him seen, this is one if the points if the charts. There may be no problem but the GP might refer you for X-rays just to be sure.

[cheesenpickle]

He is walking (was late at 17mths). I checked the red book and you measure under 2's lying down. Hes actually 78 cm if you measure him standing up.

[GreatUncleEddie]

In that case you get him checked. Ds2 was referred at about 2.6 iirc as he had fallen off his chart. He was and is fine, he's just not very tall. His brother is also small but I expect they will grow in the end as DH and I are both above average height.

[cheesenpickle]

Thankyou, i will make an appt with the hv , i hope its nothing. How will they know if its anyhing serious. Do they just monitor it for a while ( how long?).

[cheesenpickle]

Bump.

[ceeveebee]

It's really hard to measure accurately when they are lying down as you have to make them stretch their legs straight and hold their head against the top of the measuring table thing, , so it could be that the first measurement was wrong or that your latest one is wrong - don't worry until you have seen HV.

[cheesenpickle]

We lay him on the floor with his head against a wall and straightened his knees so whilst it might not be totally accurate i dont think we are way out. ( hes also a lot smaller than 2 boys in my nct group and hes about a month older than them).

[GreatUncleEddie]

It isn't his actual height that will maybe mean he should be investigated - more the fact that he has crossed from the 50th centile to almost the bottom.

[nutterbutsquash]

Both my DC started on 50th centile and slid down to 0.4 too. Ds has seen paed who did a load of dev tests and wasn't concerned and put it down to parental stature. How tall are you and your partner? I am also not sure when they start to measure length so it could be he has always been on a low centile? Def get it checked out but hope that reassures you.

[firawla]

one of mine went from 99th percentile height as a baby to 25th at 2 years check, I was a bit alarmed but hv said it's not likely anything to worry about as me and his dad are not tall ourselves but I would still go and ask though to put your mind at ease?