16
2022
-
02
"Spring is a great time, perfect for growth" - Pediatric experts help you highlight the key points.
"Spring is a great time, perfect for growth" - Pediatric experts help you highlight the key points.
Author:
A year's plan starts in spring.
Spring is the golden period for children's growth.
Parents must not miss it.
How to seize the golden season for children's growth,
to help children grow taller quickly?
Moderate exercise
Research shows that children who regularly participate in sports are about 4 cm taller than those who do not. This is because the secretion of growth hormone in the body significantly increases after exercise, promoting height development..
Jumping rope has a noticeable effect on improving children's height, is easy to do, and parents can have their children jump once a day for ten minutes, continuing until small beads of sweat appear on their foreheads for good results. Moreover, basketball, badminton, swimming, and other sports are also excellent ways to exercise, and parents should help their children develop a love for sports.
Sufficient sleep
It's best to go to bed early, as the secretion of growth hormone is most vigorous from 10 PM to midnight. Parents should not let their children stay up past 10 PM. Generally, newborns need to sleep 14 to 20 hours a day, 1 to 3 years old need 12 to 14 hours, and 4 to 6 years old need 11 to 12 hours. The Ministry of Education in China clearly states that elementary school students should ensure 10 hours of sleep daily, middle school students 9 hours, and high school students 8 hours.
Nighttime sleep should ideally be deep sleep; tossing and turning usually indicates poor sleep quality, which affects the secretion of growth hormone. Children should not eat too much for dinner, nor drink a lot of water right before bed. Eating too much puts a burden on the stomach, leading to discomfort, while drinking too much can cause frequent trips to the bathroom, affecting sleep. The old saying "seven parts full, three parts cold" has some scientific basis!
Balanced nutrition
In spring, children grow the fastest, their digestive absorption functions are enhanced, and their food intake increases. During this time, it is important to provide a variety of foods for children and supplement with calcium-rich foods to seize the best time for growth in the year.
Additionally, it must be balanced; if children are picky eaters, they may not grow tall. Parents should ensure their children get enough protein, such as milk and meat, and pay attention to trace elements like zinc, calcium, and iron, as deficiencies can also lead to stunted growth, making it difficult to catch up after missing the best growth period.
Avoid diseases
This includes both physical and psychological diseases. If a child's physical condition has issues, it can be a key factor affecting height. When a child is ill, it will definitely impact their height and weight, especially after using antibiotics, where development can slow down for about a week. Parents should also pay attention to improving their child's immunity; if a child has chronic illnesses like a persistent cough or allergic rhinitis, early treatment is necessary.
Equally important as physical diseases, if a child has psychological barriers, such as living in a tense or oppressive environment for a long time, it is also detrimental to height growth.
Four major misconceptions about growing taller
Misconception 1: The child is still young, and if they don't grow now, they will grow later.
In fact, this waiting mentality of parents is incorrect. If they do not promptly take their child to a professional medical testing institution for evaluation, and if there is insufficient secretion of growth hormone or other health issues causing short stature, the child's growth rate may slow down or even stop. Once the growth plates close, the child will no longer grow taller.
Misconception 2: Both parents are not short, so the child's height will definitely be fine.
While genetics is an important factor affecting height, it only accounts for about 70%. Environmental factors also determine the child's final height. If a child suffers from conditions like hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, or idiopathic short stature, then genetic height becomes irrelevant.
Misconception 3: We are all so short, the child definitely won't grow tall.
Some parents, who are not tall themselves, assume their child will also be short by nature, and even if the child has the opportunity to grow taller, they do not help the child strive for it. This is a very incorrect mindset.
Misconception 4: Blindly believing in advertising.
Holding a "desperate times call for desperate measures" mentality, blindly trusting various advertisements, and randomly giving children various height-increasing health products and devices, or taking them to unregulated hospitals or institutions masquerading as "height guidance centers" for treatment, not only severely delays the child's precious treatment time but can also lead to side effects like precocious puberty.
If parents have any doubts about their child's height development, they are welcome to consult at the pediatrics outpatient department of Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital. We will conduct personalized growth assessments and height management based on each child's specific situation and bone age analysis.
Key words:
Activity Information
Health Hotline
Address: No.18, Zhongshan Road, Lanshan District, Linyi City, Shandong Province
Outpatient service hours: 8:00-20:00 (24 hours a day)
Night clinic: 24 hours (24 hours a day)
Public Number
Video Number
Tiktok