Growth & height concerns
Children grow at different rates, and many healthy children are shorter or taller than their friends. What matters most is how a child grows over time.
This guide is general information for parents, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your child, contact a doctor.
How growth is checked
The doctor measures height and weight and plots them on a growth chart, comparing your child with other children of the same age and sex. One measurement says little on its own; a series of measurements over months shows whether a child is following a steady line.
Bring any previous height and weight records you have, including those from vaccination cards or school check-ups. Knowing both parents’ heights also helps.
What affects growth
Growth depends on genes, nutrition, sleep and general health. Long-term illness, frequent infections, poor appetite or problems absorbing food can slow growth. Less often, hormone problems or genetic conditions are the cause.
- A balanced diet with enough protein, fruit, vegetables and dairy
- Regular sleep
- Physical activity
- Treating ongoing health problems
Book an appointment if
- Your child seems to have stopped growing, or has outgrown clothes much less than usual over a year.
- Your child’s measurements are dropping across the lines of the growth chart.
- Your child is much shorter than other children of the same age and than you would expect from the parents’ heights.
- Your child is losing weight, or not gaining weight as expected.
- Signs of puberty appear before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys, or have not started by age 13 in girls or age 14 in boys.
Dr Amir Rasheed sees children at 56 Sultan Mehmood Rd, Mehmood Booti, Shalamar Town, Lahore, 54000. Monday–Saturday, 7:00 pm–midnight. Sunday, 11:30 am–5:00 pm.
Good care starts with a conversation.
Request a consultation with Dr Amir Rasheed. Clinic staff will confirm an available time.