Question 1

My child's height: what should I look at before comparing with peers?

Accepted Answer

How many centimeters your child grew over the past year matters more than where their current height ranks among peers. We look at whether the growth rate is slowing.

Question 2

How true is the idea of a "golden time" for growth?

Accepted Answer

It is true that the room to grow differs by age. But "now or never" is an exaggeration, and it's not right to use it to rush people.

Question 3

How do you decide whether it's fine to keep watching instead of starting growth treatment?

Accepted Answer

There are cases where it's fine to watch and cases where it isn't. What decides it is not age, but how far the bones have developed.

Question 4

Why does precocious puberty affect final adult height?

Accepted Answer

When puberty starts early, the child grows faster than peers for a while, but the growth plates close that much earlier too. The growing period is shortened, so the child loses out in final height.

Question 5

When supplements make no difference, what do you check about growth?

Accepted Answer

Before adding more food, we look at whether the body is ready to grow. Two things — posture and sleep — are closely tied to growing.

Question 6

If my child eats well but isn't getting taller, how do you look at digestion?

Accepted Answer

Parents tell us their child doesn't eat little, but only their weight goes up while their height stays the same. They come with the question, "They eat well, so why doesn't it turn into height?"

Question 7

When growth care shows no change, what do you check again?

Accepted Answer

Parents come to us after their child has been tested and they've paid attention to diet, but it hasn't gone as hoped. Having already tried many things, they are often worn out.

Question 8

How do you look at a child who eats little and sleeps lightly?

Accepted Answer

Parents tell us their child is a picky eater who can't finish a meal, and puts the spoon down saying they're full after just a little. They also say the child has trouble falling asleep at night and tosses and turns for a long time.

Question 9

Is there any basis for the name "growing pains"?

Accepted Answer

Despite the name, the evidence that it's directly linked to growing itself is unclear. A link to more pain during growth spurts has not been confirmed either.

Question 10

A child's poor concentration: what do you look at in the body's condition?

Accepted Answer

Concentration comes not from willpower but from the body's condition. Sleep, breathing, sitting posture and comfortable eyes need to be in place first before a child can sit for long.

Question 11

When a child's walk looks odd, what else do you check?

Accepted Answer

Parents tell us that when their child walks, the toes point outward or turn inward. Many come in because something about the way the child walks, seen from behind, bothered them.

Question 12

A child who goes to bed late and can't get up in the morning: is it a stamina problem?

Accepted Answer

The child falls asleep at 1 or 2 a.m. and gets up at 7 a.m., day after day, and is always tired during the day. During exam periods, the child even complains of stomachaches.

Question 13

For a child who wakes at night to urinate, what else do you look at?

Accepted Answer

Parents tell us their child often wakes up at night to urinate, and during the day goes often or suddenly finds it hard to hold it. Other things tend to come up with it.

Children's Growth

🏥 FAQs by Condition

Assessing growth

When growth is slow

Growing pains · Posture · Focus

Sleep · Bedwetting

💬 All FAQs 13questions