“Shortness in children ”, the parents’ concerned problem

Children ’s height increasing rate in each age is different. For children aged under 1 year old, their height will increase about 18 – 25 cm. per year.  Children aged between 1 -2 years old, their height will increase 10 – 12 cm. per year. Children aged between 2 – 4 years old, their height will increase 6 – 7 cm. per year. Children aged over 4 years old and turning to a young age, their height will increase 4 – 6 cm. per year. In the young female, their height will increase 7 – 10 cm. per year, as well as the young male’s height will increase 8 – 12 cm. per year. However, the height increasing rate in youngs will be decreased after 1 – 2 years and stop eventually.

Therefore, receiving high nutritional foods is an essential factor of a child’s growth. Every child should consume 5 food groups, which are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins and Minerals. Drinking milk is also important because milk is the source of calcium and proteins, but drinking milk instead of drinking water doesn’t increase or speed up the child’s height because children aged between 1 – 3 years old need just 700 mg. of calcium per day, children aged between 4 – 8 years old need 1,000 mg. of calcium per day, and children aged over 9 years old need 1,300 mg. of calcium per day. A glass of milk (200CC) contains 220 – 240 mg. of calcium, thus children should drink just 2 -3 glasses of milk per day, along with consuming various types of food in order to receive calcium from difference sources, such as tofu, sesame, dried shrimp, etc.