Tall, short or in between - parents can worry excessively about how their child is growing, and it starts during those first newborn checkups. Pediatricians will expect babies to grow consistently according to the height and weight chart, checking to be sure the two are roughly in the same percentile. The doctor should, however, take into account genetics. If there is a great divide - height in the 90^th percentile and weight in the 50^th, for example, and parents are tall and lanky, then there probably isn't anything wrong. As she grows, if your child seems shorter than her peers, then again, genetics may be at work. Pediatricians roughly estimate kids' adult height as an average of the parents' height, adding two inches for boys and subtracting two inches for girls. Preemies tend to be smaller than their peers until about age 8, but babies born before the 32^nd week may stay smaller.
Growth spurts can happen at any age, so if you're worried about your child's height at this year's checkup, then the story may be different next year. If your child's growth pattern has been consistent since birth - taking into account those ups and downs of growth spurts - then there's probably nothing to worry about if the child seems on the short side. Only a very small percentage of children are found to have medical problems that stunt their growth. These might include underproduction of thyroid hormones or growth hormone. Specific treatments are available if this is determined to be the problem. Inadequate nutrition or chronic illness can affect height as well, particularly diseases that affect the lungs, kidneys or intestines. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're worried about your child's growth.