Mrs. Li: My child hasnt grown much this year. Is there a delay in his development? Kids of the same age are half a head taller than my child. Does he need intervention?
Mrs. Chen: These questions are common concerns for many parents.
Professor Yang Shufen, the vice president of Hainan Chengmei Hospital and an expert in childrens health care, has been dedicated to the field of childrens health care for over 30 years. She is proficient in providing nutritional guidance for children, monitoring their growth and development, and managing their height.
She pointed out that childrens height growth shows a non-linear characteristic, and the growth rates vary significantly among different age groups. If the normal range and the "warning line" are ignored, it is very easy to miss the golden period for intervention. Therefore, mastering the scientific height development standards is the key to parenting.
Height growth standards for different age groups
Professor Yang Shufen introduced that childrens height growth is not uniform, and there are clear reference ranges for each stage:
Newborns are about 50 centimeters tall on average at birth. The first year after birth is the first growth peak, with an average increase of 25 centimeters throughout the year. By the age of one, their height is approximately 75 centimeters.
The growth rate slows down but remains relatively fast during the toddler stage from 1 to 3 years old: 10 to 12 centimeters per year from 1 to 2 years old, and 8 to 10 centimeters per year from 2 to 3 years old.
From the age of 3 to puberty, children enter a steady growth phase, during which they should grow 5 to 7 centimeters each year. If the growth is less than 5 centimeters, it should be a cause for concern.
Puberty is the second growth spurt, with gender differences: girls enter puberty at 10-12 years old, growing 8-10 cm per year, with a total increase of about 25 cm throughout puberty; boys enter puberty at 12-14 years old, growing 10-12 cm per year, with a total increase of about 28-30 cm during puberty.
Percentile standards for height of children in China
The key factors influencing height growth
Professor Yang Shufen stated that height development is the result of the combined influence of genetics and the environment.
Genetic factors determine the basic potential. The height of parents has a significant impact on their children, but postnatal intervention can break through the genetic limitations.
Nutrition is the material basis for bone growth, and it is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of key nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Protein forms the cellular skeleton, calcium is the main component of bones, and vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. Long-term nutritional imbalance will directly hinder growth.
Sleep is closely related to the secretion of growth hormone, which is released in pulses during deep sleep at night. It is recommended that children aged 3 to 6 sleep for 10 to 12 hours a day, primary school students for 9 to 10 hours, and middle school students for 8 to 9 hours. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep can inhibit the secretion of this hormone.
Exercise can stimulate bone growth. Longitudinal stretching exercises such as rope skipping, basketball and swimming can enhance bone density and toughness and promote the development of epiphyses.
Disease factors should be taken seriously. Hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, chronic digestive system diseases and repeated infections, etc., may all lead to growth retardation.
It is worth noting that bone age assessment is an important method for evaluating childrens growth and development. By taking an X-ray of the left hand and observing the degree of bone development, the growth potential can be determined. There may be a difference between bone age and actual age. If the bone age is advanced, it may lead to a shortened growth space; if it is delayed, it indicates growth retardation. It can help doctors accurately predict adult height, promptly identify problems such as precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency, and provide a key basis for formulating intervention plans. It is recommended that children with abnormal growth or early or delayed puberty undergo regular bone age tests.
Chinese Childrens Bone Age and Growth Potential Table
Height Development "Warning Line" and Intervention Principles
Professor Yang Shufen reminds that medical attention should be sought promptly if any of the following situations occur:
Abnormal growth rate: less than 5 cm per year from age 3 to pre-puberty, less than 6 cm per year for girls and less than 7 cm per year for boys during puberty.
Height gap widening: The child remains consistently at the lower end among peers or the disparity from the reference standard gradually increases.
Growth curve deviation: A regularly plotted growth curve showing a significant downward trend indicates abnormal development.
Professor Yang Shufen emphasized that height development is a dynamic process. Parents should take their children for regular physical examinations and intervene promptly if any abnormalities are detected. For nutritional issues, dietary structure should be adjusted; for sleep problems, a regular schedule should be established; for disease factors, targeted treatment is necessary; and for conditions such as growth hormone deficiency, standardized treatment under the guidance of a doctor can be carried out.
Childrens Health Care Clinic of Hainan Chengmei Hospital
The Childrens Health Care Clinic of Hainan Chengmei Hospital, relying on the hospitals high-quality resources, is dedicated to providing professional services for childrens healthy growth. The clinic adheres to the concept of "prevention first and precise intervention", focusing on disease prevention and growth and development monitoring. By means of scientific methods, such as height management, nutrition guidance, and psychological and behavioral intervention, it can detect potential problems in childrens growth process in advance and take intervention measures, helping children lay a solid foundation for health.
Outpatient specialist
YANG Shufen, Vice President
Chief Physician, Professor
Postgraduate supervisor, expert in child health care
Medical expertise
Having been deeply engaged in childrens health care for over 30 years, I am proficient in providing guidance on childrens nutrition and feeding, monitoring and evaluating childrens growth and development, especially in the management of childrens height.
Outpatient visit time
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from morning till night.
Xian Yu Shuming, Chief Physician
Postdoctoral fellow, pediatrician expert
Medical expertise
Senior visiting scholar at the University of Miami School of Medicine, familiar with domestic and international guidelines for childrens health care, specializing in pediatric health monitoring and assessment, disease prevention and health management, family health education, etc.
Outpatient visit time
Every Tuesday and Thursday, all day long
Editor | Huang Fei