How Tall Will Your Kids Be When They Grow Up

Just like most moms out there, I am quite obsessed about my children’s growth. I am constantly worrying whether or not they are getting enough nutrients especially calcium, protein and vitamins. I am also extremely worried if they are small, look frail and fragile or kudut. Yes, kudut! Like when you are at the pet shop wanting to buy a pet bunny rabbit, and you ended up not getting any cause they are all looking kudut-kudut!

Despite both Azman and I am small sized and we both are just average in height, I believe that nutrients play more pivotal role than genetics. If children are fed right, they can be bigger, taller and stronger than their parents. This is what I believe lah, actually a child’s adult height is determined by many things, including inherited factors, gender, nutrition, and health status during childhood.

Anyway, as having short kids is one of my motherhood fear, I charted Miki’s growth  since he was an infant HERE.   We are also doing the same thing to Rafa and boohooo!! At age 3, Rafa is 2 cm shorter than Miki when he was his age.

Should I worry? Should I not worry? Should I worry? I know I should not worry. I know there is nothing for me to worry. But I worry. I worry worry worry.. Sue me!

So because I am dead curious, to see if I have been feeding my kids right so far, and if they are on the track to be tall strong adults, I found this Child’s Estimated Adult Height Calculator at University Of Arizona website.

It says although a child’s adult height cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, a number of methods are available for estimating how tall a child will grow to be. One method requires a bone age X-ray. Another method, the Khamis-Roche method used in this calculator, is based on a child’s gender, height, and weight and the height of both parents.

Using that method, it is predicted that Miki will grow up to be 6 feet tall when he is an adult, insyaAllah.

Thanks Dr Khamis and Dr Rocher, you make me feel better, I guess Miki has been raised well physically until today ( he is 7.5 years old) and hopefully if we can maintain his good health, balanced and healthy diet and also his active lifestyle, Miki can be 6 feet tall and strong later.

Eiii macam galah la pulak… Tak payah tinggi sangat pun takpelah, because another important factor is the BMI.

I found the Body Mass Index Calculator for Children and Teens HERE. This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a CDC BMI-for-age growth chart. This calculator is used for children and teens, aged 2 through 19 years old.

I entered Miki’s datas and his BMI is 17.2, although at 80th percentile and looking very skinny, but Miki has a healthy weight for his age Alhamdulillah. Lega!

I did the same for Rafa and phewww!! I was so relieved to see that he also has a healthy weight! I was really afraid that he is small for his age! Rafa at age 3 is 14 kilos and 96cm tall, his BMI is 15.2, at 24th percentile.

The Khamis- Rocher method doesn’t calculate children’s estimated height at age 5 and below so I can’t use it to predict’s Rafa. But I found this to satisfy my curiosity and it says Rafa will be (InsyaAllah) 171.9cm. Taller than both MummyDaddy! Bagus! Dan tak segalahpanjang Miki! hahaha… InsyaAllah InsyaAllah….

The above calculator is by infantchart.com. It is using the Mid-Parent Rule which similar to Khamis-Rocher.

I guess now I must  ensure that Miki and Rafa continue to eat right, try not to get sick and maintain an active lifestyle. Barulah boleh membesar bagai johan. But the problem with Rafa is :-

Rafa is currently in the phase of TAKNAK MAKAN! Feeding him at meal time is a challenge so difficult it goes beyond my patience limit. But because I love you Rafa and Miki, listen to me now… look at me in the eyes, and read my lips….

I WILL FEED YOU! I WILL FEED YOU AND YOU WILL EAT!

Because I am the boss of this house and the boss do not want kudut kids! You understand? Now eat that celery sticks.. Eat!