“Drink a bowl of seahorse herbal soup every day, and grow 5 centimeters taller in half a year!”
“Take calcium tablets like candy, and you’re sure to catch up in height!” ...
In order to make children “stand head and shoulders above others,” the “height-increasing secrets” circulating in parents’ circles are endless.
However, are they really reliable?
Professor Yang Shufen, Vice President of Hainan Chengmei Hospital and child health expert, particularly reminds us that managing children’s height is a crucial issue concerning their future. Blindly following trends may cause children to miss the golden growth period, while scientific planning and precise intervention can safeguard their development journey.
Parent: Is my child’s height normal?
Many parents have this doubt: Their child is half a head shorter than peers. Is it really growth delay?
Professor Yang Shufen stated that assessing whether a child’s height is normal should not rely solely on comparisons with others but should focus more on growth curves and annual growth rates. She recommends that parents measure their child’s height every 3 to 6 months and record it on a growth curve chart. If a child’s height falls below the 3rd percentile on the growth curve for two consecutive measurements or if the annual growth rate is less than 5 centimeters (from age 3 to pre-puberty), medical attention should be sought promptly.
Boys’ length/height growth chart
Girls’ length/height growth chart
Professor Yang Shufen reminds us that growth is irreversible, and missing the golden period makes it difficult to remedy. A child’s normal growth and development follow a pattern of continuity and stages, during which there are two peak periods.
●First growth peak: During infancy, length and weight increase most rapidly in the first year after birth, with length potentially growing by 25 cm; in the second year, height may increase by 12-13 cm.
● Second growth peak: Adolescence, during which rapid increases in height and weight occur, growing approximately 20-25 cm.
And once the epiphyseal line closes (around 16-18 years old for girls and 18-20 years old for boys), height is basically set.
Have you fallen for these height growth myths?
Misunderstanding 1: If parents are short, their child will definitely not grow tall.
The saying “A short father means one short child; a short mother means a whole brood of short children” is deeply ingrained in people’s minds. However, in reality, genetics only accounts for 70% of height influence, while the remaining 30% depends on acquired factors such as nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
Even if parents are not tall, children may still surpass their genetic potential through scientific management.
Misunderstanding 2: The more supplements, the taller the height
Some parents believe that “eating more and supplementing more leads to taller height,” blindly over-nourishing their children, only to find them gaining weight instead of height. Growing taller is a complex process. Excessive nutrition not only fails to promote growth but may also lead to premature closure of the growth plates.
Height growth requires a balanced intake of various nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin D, and zinc, combined with regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Misunderstanding 3: Growth spurt happens during puberty. Being short in childhood doesn’t matter
Many parents believe that “it’s not too late to grow during puberty if one is short in childhood,” but medically speaking, “late growth” (constitutional delay of puberty) accounts for only 5% - 10% of children with growth retardation, and most cases have familial genetic characteristics.
To determine whether a child is a late bloomer, professional methods such as bone age assessment and growth hormone level evaluation are required. Blindly waiting may result in missing the golden window for intervention.
Scientific management of children’s height
Regular monitoring, and plotting a personalized growth curve
Measure and record the child’s height every 3-6 months persistently, dynamically observe growth trends. Seek medical attention promptly if abnormalities are found, and assess growth conditions through professional examinations.
Adjust diet, and ensure balanced nutrition
Abandon the wrong practices of only supplementing calcium and frantically drinking bone soup, and follow the principle of “balanced diet and varied types”. Ensure 1 glass of milk, 1 egg, and an appropriate amount of lean meat or fish or shrimp every day, paired with fresh vegetables and fruits, while reducing the intake of high-sugar and high-fat snacks.
Engage in reasonable exercise, and activate the body’s “height growth switch.”
The benefits of exercise for height growth are undeniable. Reasonable physical activity can accelerate blood circulation throughout the body and promote bone development. It is advisable to engage in moderate-to-high-intensity exercise for a cumulative total of 1 hour per day, with an emphasis on vertical jumping movements such as reaching for heights, jump rope, ball sports, running, and similar activities.
Adequate sleep, ensures growth hormone secretion.
The period from 9 to 11 PM is the peak time for growth hormone secretion, during which children should be in a deep sleep state. School-age children should get 9 to 11 hours of sleep. Growth hormone is primarily secreted during deep sleep, chronic sleep deprivation will have a negative impact on height.
Good emotions, alleviate growth anxiety
The love of parents for their children is like a wonderful magic. It can trigger and activate the secretion of growth hormones within the child. Parents should communicate more with their children, helping them learn to recognize and manage their emotions, allowing them to grow taller and mature in a happy and relaxed family environment.
Pediatric Healthcare Clinic
The Pediatric Healthcare Clinic at Hainan Chengmei Hospital leverages the hospital’s high-quality resources to focus on providing professional services for the healthy growth of children.
The clinic upholds the concept of “prevention first, precise intervention,” focusing its efforts on disease prevention and growth monitoring. With scientific methods, through height management, nutritional guidance, psychological and behavioral interventions, and other approaches, it detects potential issues in children’s development early and intervenes, helping lay a healthy foundation for children.
Manuscript | Fei Huang