Dr suggested growth hormones for my 4 year old..

[mom'sfolly]

I think your doctor's concern is that the growth pattern has changed, more than that your child is small for his age. Your child going from 35th percentile to 5th percentile is the cause for concern, not that your child is simply small. With any kind of serious recomendation of this sort, I would get a second opinion. I would also expect the doctor to run hormone level before prescribing anything. You might want to consult a pediatric endocrinologist for this. I would not expect any doctor to put such a young child on this sort of therapy without a broader set of indications than one exam where the child is smaller than expected.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

My sister in law had them for her son - her brother, however, has dwarfism (is that the PC term?). Her son is now tall and very skinny - he is in college. As far as I know the growth hormones didnt' cause other problems (yet).

But, I would say that if you and hubby are not tall, then I wouldn't worry about it at this stage. Unless there is a family history of dwarfism or some other genetic thing, then let him grow at his own pace.

My two younger sons were short and they hated it. Hubby and I (and everyone else in our family) is short. Their dad is only 5'6".
They hit their teen years (high school, around 10th grade, I think) and all of a sudden one summer they both shot up - both are much taller than me and hubby, now.

meri

 

[ravencreek]

I am in the same boat you are. Last year my son was "smaller" than the "average" 5yr old. Yes he was shorter than all the boys and most of the girls. Big deal. He went for his checkup and his doctor also suggested the growth hormones. HELLO I am 4' 10 and his dad is 5'1. How tall do they think he should get? Anyway I REFUSED the injections for 2 simple reasons that I went to high school with a girl that got them and she ended up having to get surgery on both her knees because she grew to fast and they pretty much gave out on her. The other reason is that I knew he was going to be on the short end because both his parents are short...I didn't expect him to be overly tall. But guess what, this year he is one of the tallest kids. Yep those same kids that were taller than him last year are smaller or the same height as him. Go figure! So if your asking me if I were in your place and it was my child...Then NO I wouldn't do it....yet.

I decided I would wait til he was 14-16 and see how or if it affected him. If he is way shorter than everyone else or if he chooses to be taller I will then consider it. But I want to wait it out and give his body a chance to sort it out.

 

[luvchicks8]

I would get a second opinion this is your child and if you are questioning the Dr. then I would definatly look into it more before doing it.Research it yourself also online there is a ton od information to read.

 

[SarahFair]

He has to go back next week. I think that Ill see another Dr in the practice to see what they think.

My MIL got her feathers all in a tiff over this. Calling them crazy and insain.

Dont mess with her grandbabies!

 

[key west chick]

As long as your son is healthy, I wouldn't do it. My DS was always the little guy. But now at 14, he is just where they are. My DH is a little guy. DS is almost as tall as he is. Dont be afraid of a second opinion. But I would rather have a naturally shorter child than one that grew tall with hormones.

 

[dun chick]

I would not do it. You could get a second opinion though with another pediatrician. What is his percentile for his age? Kids grpw at different ages and I would honestly give him some time, he is only four.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Ok, now you have demonstrated a possible problem in his development.

If he was holding steady at the 5%tile, or the 95%tile or anywhere in between, or very gradually moving from one to another, then there wouldn't be a cause for concern, but to lose that much growth in that short a time span is cause for concern.

Growth hormones only work when the body is actively growing. If you don;t start them until most growth is complete, they have little chance to work and make a difference.

Regardless of what you ultimately decide, I think you need to query the doctor about testing for WHY he is not growing. Did they check his natural levels of GH and determine him to be deficient? If so, have they considered and tested for things that could cause the deficiency? Have they collected detailed growth and genetic history of you, your husband and both your families?


My youngest was born full term at 3 lb 5 oz; yes, I had good prenatal care. No, they didn't detect his size--he measured fairly typically for a baby who has moved down into the birth canal. DS didn't make it onto the growth charts until he was about 7 or 8. Because of his continued small size and some other areas of concern with his appearance, his pediatrician sent us to a geneticist to rule out any underlying issues.

The geneticist asked me to bring in photos of family members going back as many generations as possible, and also information about adult heights of everyone. We also had a full skeletal scan (his entire body was x-rayed). At the appointment the doctor measured all sorts of things--length of lower arms compared with upper arms, length from neck to shoulder, length of neck, length of palm and fingers, ... everything you can think of, and then some. End result, DS simply inherited all the "small" genes, and also has delayed growth--meaning that he will continue growing for up to a year later than most young men. I *think* they probably test his GH level, but I don't specifically recall that. I do remember discussing with his doctor that researchers were not sure if GH therapy in a child with sufficient levels would cause a smaller child to grow taller than his genetic predisposition, of if it would simply cause the child to reach that heigt earlier in time. I don't know if they have answered that question yet or not--there were ongoing studies back then--DS is 16.

 

[The Chicken People]

Just play tug of war with him daily! LOL! They told me my son was too tall so I ask them if I should attach a brick to his head to weigh him down..my friends boy was older by a month and shorter than my son..both are fine today!And they are 19!

 

[australorpchick]

I'd be more concerned on why his growing slowed, than his actual size. Get a second opinion.

I was predicted to be 5'10". I topped out at 5'5". I blame it on my mother's insistence on buying 2 door vehicles with tiny backseats. My knees were always jammed into the back of the seat. That would also explain why I have big feet, since they had room to grow underneath the seat.