Growth calculator: How big will my child get?
The question “How big will my child get?” haunts not only you, but also many other parents in your head. In this article, you can learn about your child’s growth and what methods there are to calculate your child’s height. Also learn how you can detect a possible growth disorder in your child at an early stage and how the growth of your child can be influenced.
What affects my child’s growth?
Basically, the growth of children is stimulated by the growth hormone somatropin. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and is usually released during sleep. It controls both bone growth and muscle building and is therefore mainly responsible for the growth of children.
The pace of development is very individual: Some children grow slowly but constantly, others suddenly make a big move upwards. How big a child ultimately becomes is, of course, strongly dependent on the genes of the parents. But in addition to the genetic material, there are other interesting factors, for example:
- The nutrition of the child
- Amount of exercise
- Diseases
- How much sleep the child gets
- Damage caused by alcohol and cigarettes
You can find out more about this and much more information about children’s growth in ourchildren’s growth chart.
How big will my child be? Here’s how you can calculate it
How big your child will be when they are fully grown actually depends largely on parental genes. There are different methods for calculating your child’s likely height. It is important to note that all calculations do not provide exact values, but only guideline values. We have presented three methods that can help you determine the height of your child:
1. Hand bone measurement:
This method requires a medical examination. Your child’s left hand will be x-rayed. Based on the images, the bone age can be determined, which in turn provides information on growth retardation and the final size. However, due to the X-rays, this method is recommended only from the age of 7 years.
2. Calculation by parent size:
A faster way is to calculate based on the height of the parents.
Only three things are important for this calculation: the height of the father in centimeters, the height of the mother in centimeters and the sex of the child. The following formulas apply:
For boys:
End height boys = (height father in cm + height mother in cm) /2 + 6,5cm
For girls, the expected height is calculated differently. Here the 6.5 centimeters are subtracted at the end:
Final height girl = (height father in cm + height mother in cm) /2 – 6.5cm
3. Percentile calculator:
The percentile curve is another way to constantly observe and keep an eye on your child’s growth. The curve shows you what percentage of children in the same age group have this height on average.
How fast is my child growing?
The growth of children can be divided into three distinct phases, which are experienced in a period from birth to puberty. On average, a child grows by 3% each year until it is fully grown at 16-19 years old. This also means that your child will often need new clothes as they will quickly grow out of their current size. In oursize chart forchildren you will find the dress sizes of children listed by age.
How often should I measure?
It is enough to measure your child once a month to be able to assess the current development. Even duringthe check-ups, which are carried out regularly in the initial period, the pediatrician checks the size of your child. In this way, abnormalities can be diagnosed at an early stage.
When is there a growth disorder and what is it?
A growth disorder is a body length deviating from the norm in children and adolescents. The expression can mean small or even large. If the growth of a child is slower or faster for a short time than in other children, this does not have to be a direct sign of a growth disorder. This can also be the case, for example, after a prolonged illness and does not always have to be a cause for concern.
One speaks of a growth disorder only if the growth of a child is conspicuous over a period of at least half a year. You should then always discuss abnormalities with your pediatrician and get advice from him on what to do. If you are looking for detailed information on this topic, check out our articleon growth disorders.
The important thing is that every child has its own growth rate and individual body size. Growth differences between children are therefore completely normal.