[coachmom]

I took our son to the ped yesterday and he is 23 pounds and 33 inches tall.. he is going to be 3 the end of June. He is still wearing 12 month tops and 18 month pants. Is this something to be worried about?
The ped says he is healthy and not to worry..
Thanks,
Coachmom

[jeannecr]

Hi Coachmom, my Guatemalan son who just turned 3 is still wearing 18-24 mos. clothes and is 34 in. tall. Some kids are naturally small. It's good that you have a healthy report from the doctor. But considering that he just came home from the orphanage, I would bet he will have more food to eat and definitely more love in your home. It would be interesting to hear how long it has taken other kids to catch up to their growth potential after coming home from orphanages.

[kretzklan]

I wouldn't be worried...keep an eye on it. As mentioned above, with the food and nutrients that he's now getting, he'll probably grow like a weed. He could also just be a little guy - there are many on this board with slight build little men. My son (age 10) just hit the 30% in height and weight...he wasn't even on the charts when he came home!

[momofMikhail]

Hi Coachmom! I agree I wouldn't be worried. My son came home in 9 month clothes at 17 months old. In the last year he has grown, but still weighs on the low end of the scale for his age. Just in case, have you had him tested for parasites yet. It's common for them to come home with parasites. My son had giardia when he came home. It was easily treated with antibiotics for a week, but still needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

[Mailbox13]

As long as your doctor is happy, I wouldn't worry about it to much. As some of the other posters noted, the diet in the orphanages is less than ideal. Our son was very light weight when we brought him home. It didn't take very long for him to go from the bottom ten percent on weight to average once he got on a regular diet.

[pwnort64]

Another mom to a small statured boy weighing in. Just check Henry's growth chart...he was just over 35 inches when he turned 3. If memory serves me, you've just recently returned home with your little guy. Don't be surprised if you don't see some kind of tremendous growth spurt in the next year. You may even be surprised what he does between now and the end of June.

My little guy is 5 1/2 now and wears mostly size 4 clothing still.

[MamaChinch]

I agree with all the other posters.....measure and check his weight in six months and you'll be amazed! In a year from now, you'll be stunned!
As long as the ped says he is healthy, he'll grow like a weed and you will be shopping a lot!!
Glad to hear his is well !!!!

[erickk]

Coachmom our son is 4 years old and is 36" tall and weighs 31 pounds. He is just a little guy. He has been home since 13 months and his growth curve has remained the same since he got home. The ped told us at his 4 year old check up last month that he was fine with our son's size since he is staying right on his growth curve. He eats like a horse but he also goes about 100 mph all day so burns it all off.
Last summer he was wearing 12-18 month shorts--when fall came that was a bit of a problem because he has longer legs and needed 3T to 4T pants--I used suspenders until he discovered how to take them off. Now I just buy those jeans with the elastic waist that you can adjust. Works like a charm.

[JustBarbara]

Weighing in here from the Guatemala board - DS just turned 3 - he is 35 inches and weighs 31.5 pounds. My ped also is not worried as long as he keeps progressing/ growing even though he is small of stature (and big/HUGE of heart!).

[MamaS]

Is your pediatrician using a U.S. standard chart? Central American children tend to "run smaller" and their hgt/wgt charts are different from our norms.
Even the best of nutrition is not going to change genetics. My oldest was wearing 2T at age 3 years when she arrived. She finally "topped out" at 5'1" and her sister peaked at 5'0". And this was after 18 years of the best nutrition plus plenty of junk food!

[sakelley]

I agree with others - I wouldn't be worried. My oldest daughter is from China. She was 34 months at adoption, weighed 24 lbs and was 36 inches tall. She was perfectly healthy - just tall and skinny. Now, at 5.33 years, she is 37 lbs and 46 inches. The only issue - trying to find clothes that fit - thank goodness for adjustable waists.

[coachmom]

MamaS-this is my russian son who we just brought home..is there a Russian growth chart too?
I guess since most have posted to not worry, I wont..its just seems weird to buy 12 month shirts for a almost 3 yr old..But I'm sure with good eating, it wont be long before he gets on the charts!
Coachmom

[DPline]

First, I would bet you will see him jump up on the charts once he has been home for a while. Second, it isn't so much where he lands on the chart or what chart you look at as that he is continuing to grow on his curve as others have said.

My Guatemalan daughter has been home for 4 years and while she did have an initial jump in height and weight after she came home, she continues to maintain in the 3rd to 5th percentile. At age 5 years 3 months she is around 32 lbs and 38 inches. A lot of 4 and 4T clothing is still too big. That is just her. No high hurdles or basketball in her future probably, but she is turning into quite the gymnest!

[ddahl]

DS came home at 18 months weighing 17 pounds. Little to no growth really for the first few monts. Home 1 year and a massive growth spurt during summer of 5 pounds and 3 and 1/4 inches. WOW! Three shoe changes in less than 4 months! He has been hme since September of 2005 and is built on the small side. He is in the 25 percentile for both height and weight.

My thoughts: Rule out any parasites etc. and protien load. The hair, skin and major organs will take all the nutrients first then once that levels off the fram growth will happen.

2008 I did a birth mother search and now have photos and vide of DS family. They are all on the smaller side and he looks just like his bio-sister who is one year older. It eased my mind to see that but many of us do not have that option.

I felt horroble about DS nutrition the first yer because he was living off of macaroni and cheese and yogurt! I can not believe he is not orange! Anyway we got through it. I was worried the entire time but my Ped was not in the least bit concerned...

Best of luck!

[Sally26]

My dd is the same as sakelley,but from Russia. Her growth has been slow but steady. For the past two years she has remained a size below her age (5.33 yrs old-wears 4T). One Pediatrician made me feel bad about her weight when I was feeding or giving her a bottle every two hours. She drank Pediasure until she was four and finally fell just shy of the 25% in weight. They always say "She is healthy" when I bring her in because they seldom see her. Just give him healthy food as often as he will eat.