Toddler growth is highly variable – both emotionally and physically. All toddlers develop at different rates, and some grow to be significantly larger than their peers. Hey, someone has got to fill out the top of that growth chart, right?
Toddlers are small by definition, even a couple of inches can make a big difference when it comes to guessing a young child’s age. If a toddler is standing a full head taller than her peers, it’s definitely no reason to worry, as long as her pediatrician says she is growing on a typical growth curve.
Still, a tall toddler can raise some eyebrows from strangers, who may think she is older than she actually is. This can be frustrating, when children are expected to behave with a maturity they haven’t grown into yet. The parents of tall tots may find themselves constantly cluing strangers into how old their children actually are.
There are a few ways to handle assumptions about a toddler’s age that may not be strictly true.
- Brush it off: If someone in the grocery line is trying to strike up a conversation with Baby, but she isn’t there verbally because of her age, it can be helpful to try not to make a big deal of the situation. Respond for her and move along. As long as the person isn’t being rude, there’s no need to defend Baby for her reply (or lack of one), and keeping your response low-key can help to keep her from feeling like she’s behind where she should be.
- Acknowledge the situation: At other times, you may get looks or even comments you don’t care for, and may choose to respond. For example, if someone says something about Baby being “a little old” for that pacifier, you may decide to respond briefly with her actual age.
- Keep it light: Being tall or looking older is nothing to be ashamed of. Baby is always listening, especially when you’re talking about her, so keep that in mind every time the subject comes up. Responding apologetically, with sentences like, “She’s just really big for her age,” which may eventually open Baby up to feeling self-conscious about her size. If Baby brings up the topic to you, it’s a great chance to remind her that people come in all shapes and sizes, and that she is perfect just the way she is!
Growth rates in children aren’t always steady or predictable, so Baby may not always be the tallest one in the class – but whether she’s looking up at her classmates or towering over them, the important thing is to help her feel comfortable in her own skin.
