Parents love to wonder what their baby will be like when they grow up, like what their personality will be or what talents they'll possess. Parents also love predicting more measurable aspects, like IQ, weight, and height. Do you want to know if your baby will grow up tall? Aside from gender---boys usually grow taller than girls--here are some signs to help you better predict your child's future height.
1. They were long at birth
Your baby's length at birth can be very telling of their future height. On average, the length of a full-term baby is about 20 inches (50 cm). It usually ranges from 18 in. (45.7 cm) to 22 in. (60 cm). After the first month of life, babies usually grow 1.5 in. (4 cm) to 2 in. (5 cm) more.
2. They're tall compared to other toddlers
Once your little one reaches the toddler stage, observe his height as compared to his peers. If he seems taller, then he will most likely grow up to be taller than his classmates. If they appear shorter, though, don't worry. Growth spurts happen throughout childhood and extends until puberty. Girls normally stop growing at age 16, while boys reach their adult height by age 18.
photo: dreamstime
3. You and your partner are tall
As with many other aspects of growth and development, genetics play a huge part. If you and your spouse or partner are naturally tall, then your child will most likely inherit your height. But there are cases where the children of average sized or tall parents can suddenly stop growing for some unknown reason, or what is known as Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS).
4. Your baby gets good nutrition
Making sure your child gets the nourishment and nutrition he needs is integral to boosting his growth potential. Giving them the right vitamins and nutrients is most crucial during the first three years of life. Examples of the right food to raise tall kids are foods rich in calcium, like milk, yogurt, and spinach as well as protein-rich foods, such as eggs, oatmeal, and lean meat.
5. They have no condition that could hinder growth
There are conditions that can stunt your child's growth, like dwarfism, which is a genetic disorder that causes a child to grow to an adult height not exceeding 4'10". Another condition that might stop your kid from reaching their height potential is childhood growth-hormone deficiency, which occurs when the pituitary gland isn't producing enough growth hormone. Usually diagnosed by the age of 2 or 3, this deficiency can massively slow down your child's growth.
Here are some formulas that will help you predict it (somewhat) more accurately.
The Height at Young Age Method
If you have a son, double his height at age 2. If you have a daughter, double her height at 18 months.
example: A boy is 35 inches at age 2. 35 doubled = 70 inches, or 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
Getting the Mother and Father’s Height Average
Add your height to your partner's height. For boys, add 5 inches. If you have a daughter, subtract 5 inches from the total. Then, divide it by two.
example: A girl's mother is 5 feet, 3 inches tall (63 inches), while her father is 6 feet tall (72 inches).
- 63 + 72 = 135 inches
- 135 - 5 inches for a girl = 130 inches
- 130 divided by 2 =65 inches
The girl will be an estimated 5 feet, 4 inches tall.
We hope this helps you confirm if you're child will truly reach his full height potential!
sources: Romper, Healthline, Babycenter, EMedicineHealth, WhatToExpect
*Republished with permission from The Asianparent Philippines
