Having tall parents is no guarantee that the son or daughter will end up a towering adult.
Genes have a knack of keeping humans in-check, preventing subsequent generations growing to the size of Godzilla.
I'm an example of the not so rare phenomena of not being as tall as my Father. Being 5ft 8, I stand a couple of inches shorter than my Dad. At his peak, he was 5ft 10, although only claimed 5ft 9.75, a figure at which he once measured in the army.
Another example in our family is Big Iona, who has been measured in numerous videos on my Youtube channel. Iona was born a few months before CelebHeights launched. Her Mother's height is a strong 5ft 9, her Father a solid 6ft 2.
Here is Iona and myself in July 2009, at the tender age of 5 years and 1 month:
On that occasion, she measured around 3ft 9 inches (114cm), with the 50th percentile for girls of that age in the UK being roughly around 3ft 8.
Her first measurement on Youtube occurred in March 2015, aged 10 years 9 months. Iona measured 4ft 8.25 or 143cm, which is around the 50th percentile.
Then 5 months later, Iona appeared in another video and was measured again.
Iona was now aged 11 years and 2 months and stood a solid 146cm, slightly above the 50th percentile.
Another year passed by before we measured Iona once again, this time in June 2016.
Now age 12, Iona was approaching 5ft, clocking in at 151cm, which for a girl that age was just above the 50th percentile.
The next time we measured Iona, was over a year later and now aged 13 years and 3 months:
Iona had went through a spurt of 3.5 inches, growing to a solid 5ft 3 or 160.5cm. In terms of percentiles, she was closer to the 75th percentile at this stage.
The following occasion that Iona returned to CelebHeights Headquarters was in March 2019, and of course we measured her height again:
Now aged 14 and 3/4's, Iona had grown to 5ft 4 and 5/8ths, a solid 164cm, which was around the 70th percentile for her age.
Then the pandemic happened and a few years passed. Finally, Iona agreed to return for one final measurement in April 2022, now aged 17 and 10 months.
So at almost 18 she has pretty much reached her full adult height, which is almost 5ft 6 (167.5cm), roughly 75th percentile.
In Iona's case, she is still above average for an 18 year old in the UK, but is another example of a child not reaching their Parental height. In this case, Iona is a solid 3 inches shorter than her Mother.
I'm an example of the not so rare phenomena of not being as tall as my Father. Being 5ft 8, I stand a couple of inches shorter than my Dad. At his peak, he was 5ft 10, although only claimed 5ft 9.75, a figure at which he once measured in the army.
5ft 8 Rob (age 21) and 5ft 10 Father in 1998
Another example in our family is Big Iona, who has been measured in numerous videos on my Youtube channel. Iona was born a few months before CelebHeights launched. Her Mother's height is a strong 5ft 9, her Father a solid 6ft 2.
Here is Iona and myself in July 2009, at the tender age of 5 years and 1 month:
5ft 8 Rob and Big Iona in 2009
On that occasion, she measured around 3ft 9 inches (114cm), with the 50th percentile for girls of that age in the UK being roughly around 3ft 8.
Her first measurement on Youtube occurred in March 2015, aged 10 years 9 months. Iona measured 4ft 8.25 or 143cm, which is around the 50th percentile.
Then 5 months later, Iona appeared in another video and was measured again.
Iona was now aged 11 years and 2 months and stood a solid 146cm, slightly above the 50th percentile.
Another year passed by before we measured Iona once again, this time in June 2016.
Now age 12, Iona was approaching 5ft, clocking in at 151cm, which for a girl that age was just above the 50th percentile.
The next time we measured Iona, was over a year later and now aged 13 years and 3 months:
Iona had went through a spurt of 3.5 inches, growing to a solid 5ft 3 or 160.5cm. In terms of percentiles, she was closer to the 75th percentile at this stage.
The following occasion that Iona returned to CelebHeights Headquarters was in March 2019, and of course we measured her height again:
Now aged 14 and 3/4's, Iona had grown to 5ft 4 and 5/8ths, a solid 164cm, which was around the 70th percentile for her age.
Then the pandemic happened and a few years passed. Finally, Iona agreed to return for one final measurement in April 2022, now aged 17 and 10 months.
So at almost 18 she has pretty much reached her full adult height, which is almost 5ft 6 (167.5cm), roughly 75th percentile.
Aunt Jenny measuring Iona
Rob and Big Iona
In Iona's case, she is still above average for an 18 year old in the UK, but is another example of a child not reaching their Parental height. In this case, Iona is a solid 3 inches shorter than her Mother.
Add a Comment8 comments
Black Noir said on 12/Jul/22
Hi Rob, if a boy is around 56 kilos and about 169 cm at 13 how tall do u think he’s grow too?
Editor Rob
Hi Rob, if a boy is around 56 kilos and about 169 cm at 13 how tall do u think he’s grow too?
Editor RobI would use the Omni Calculator because knowing the parental heights would refine a prediction.
Matt N said on 5/Jul/22
I’m a particularly extreme example of a male who didn’t hit his father’s height. My dad is 6’6”, while I’m only 5’9.5”.
My sister is only 5’4”, and my mother is 5’3”, so it looks like the shorter genes won out in our family!
I’m a particularly extreme example of a male who didn’t hit his father’s height. My dad is 6’6”, while I’m only 5’9.5”.
My sister is only 5’4”, and my mother is 5’3”, so it looks like the shorter genes won out in our family!
Abdul-DK said on 22/Jun/22
Rob.
Yeah, I think you got it right. My mothers height might have been influenced. Her peak is by the way 162, and she is today 56 years old and about 5’3 1/4. I know height calculator are supposed to be incorrect about predicting the adult height. But by a height calculator I am supposed to be 180 cm. Maybe I have luck to grow 3-5 cm more. Other wise I might be pretty much done growing. I have so far grown about 3/4 of an inch since I just turned 18, and today I am 18 and roughly 8 months. I was born 29th October 2003.
At 17 I was 171.2
At 18.0 I was 174.6 or 174.5.
And right now I am 176.3 at my low during a day where I walk 10.000 steps. I walk daily about 10-15 thousand steps.
Editor Rob
Rob.
Yeah, I think you got it right. My mothers height might have been influenced. Her peak is by the way 162, and she is today 56 years old and about 5’3 1/4. I know height calculator are supposed to be incorrect about predicting the adult height. But by a height calculator I am supposed to be 180 cm. Maybe I have luck to grow 3-5 cm more. Other wise I might be pretty much done growing. I have so far grown about 3/4 of an inch since I just turned 18, and today I am 18 and roughly 8 months. I was born 29th October 2003.
At 17 I was 171.2
At 18.0 I was 174.6 or 174.5.
And right now I am 176.3 at my low during a day where I walk 10.000 steps. I walk daily about 10-15 thousand steps.
Editor RobThe calculators sometimes say the margin is like plus or minus 2-3cm from the figure they offer.
Parker said on 22/Jun/22
Yes - It feels like a bit of a lottery. This is the height calculator thats used by most pediatricians Click Here. Prebirth in Iona's example she is within the estimated range (high error width of +/- 4inches) 165-186 with an estimated height of 175.
Post birth at 5 years old she was on target for 175 (tighter error rate 170-179), so it was an inch out on the lowest estimate
I have friends of Father 5'4 and Mother 5'6. Adult son is 6'2
Yes - It feels like a bit of a lottery. This is the height calculator thats used by most pediatricians Click Here. Prebirth in Iona's example she is within the estimated range (high error width of +/- 4inches) 165-186 with an estimated height of 175.
Post birth at 5 years old she was on target for 175 (tighter error rate 170-179), so it was an inch out on the lowest estimate
I have friends of Father 5'4 and Mother 5'6. Adult son is 6'2
jayp said on 22/Jun/22
hi i grew to the same height as my father at 174-175cm my mother is about 5'1 i believe
hi i grew to the same height as my father at 174-175cm my mother is about 5'1 i believe
Abdul-DK said on 22/Jun/22
Rob. I can speak from my own experience of not growing as tall as my fathers height. My father was 186.7 cm at his peak, and I am 4 inches shorter at 176.5 cm.
Editor Rob
Rob. I can speak from my own experience of not growing as tall as my fathers height. My father was 186.7 cm at his peak, and I am 4 inches shorter at 176.5 cm.
Editor RobYes, you are several inches shy of your Father's peak, but maybe your Mother's height influenced it a bit more.
Zach Catselbow said on 4/Jun/22
Rob, I’m probably somewhat of a good example of this too. I’m 17 1/2 and I’m pretty much done growing now. My mom is 5’3”, my dad is 5’7.5” and I am 5’6”. 1.5 inches isn’t that much but it is still a fair amount shorter.
Rob, I’m probably somewhat of a good example of this too. I’m 17 1/2 and I’m pretty much done growing now. My mom is 5’3”, my dad is 5’7.5” and I am 5’6”. 1.5 inches isn’t that much but it is still a fair amount shorter.
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