Steriods for a Two Year Old

Steroids given at ANY age have profound, often unintended consequences. I would search for a new pediatrician instead!

Hi Momma!

It sounds like you already have a gut reaction to the steroids, so I would suggest getting a second opinion from another doctor. I would also question giving steroids to a two year old.

Also, if you and/or your husband are small people, your child will be small. I am small and my husband is tall, and I'm pretty sure my daughter will be on the small side like me. I too, was worried about her at one time until someone presented me with the question, "What did parent do before those percentile charts in the doctor's offices?" People would just say, "Your child is small" instead of comparing everything to a national average.

My sis-in-law wanted to give my nephew steroids at one time (thankfully, she didn't!) because she wanted him to be taller. Well, she's under 5 feet, and my brother is not much bigger than that. As my friend told me, "You aren't going to get a Great Dane from two Chihuahuas." If you are a Chihuahua and your husband is a Great Dane, you might just end up with a smaller child.

If you do decide to go with the steroids, I'd just be sure to research as much as you can and be as informed as possible about the actual steroids. Some have long lasting effects that don't present themselves until later.

I wish you the best of luck with your decision. It's a tough one, but don't ignore your gut instinct if you have a strong feeling about it either way.

Take care,
L.

um, he is not a "Pediatric Endocrinologist".... which is the kind of specialist you should be seeing, IF needed.

Just because he is shorter/smaller for his age, does not mean he needs medical intervention.

For your Doc to say to go to a specialist, to "get some steroids" is really jumping the gun and is not the across the board answer.
Growth, has many reasons....

The endocrine system, especially in children, is VERY complicated. And there are so many types of meds. for growth.... not to mention side-effects.
I really would get a 2nd opinion... and not get too worried just based on what your Pediatrician said.

all the best,
Susan

He would most likely be sent to an endocrinologist to check his growth. I know that I had to be evalated when I was a child. I'm guessing he is talking about human growth hormone instead of actual steriods, which is sometimes recommended for asthma and other issues, but usually causes less growth in the height department. There are a lot of different forms of steriods basically.

this may help explain the differences
http://www.content4reprint.com/health/alternative-medicin...

Anabolic steroids could be used for height, but there is a lot of controversy, but it seems that at 2, he is taking a small height difference seriously, a lot of children slow down in growth at this age, then hit a growth spurt soon.

Find out exactly what they are wanting to prescribe, then do a lot of research on it before you agree to it, maybe get a second opinion.

Corrine gave you an excellent answer. Go to the specialist and hear what they have to say. The specialist may say, he's just fine. If you don't go, you'll always wonder if you should've or not. And if he continues to not grow you'll feel badly if you didn't go and learn later that he is suffering because of it.

Are you sure the pediatrician said steroids? I've not heard of using steroids for growth. Growth hormone yes. Do not decide to not go based on the word steroids. You may have heard wrong. Or if the pediatrician did say steroids you need to know why he's suggesting their use. There are good medical reasons to take steroids. You want to do the best for your son.

Taking your son to the specialist is not agreeing to any treatment. Take him to learn more about what he may or may not need. Then decide what you're going to do, based on accurate information and not on fear.

Sounds a little crazy to me. My son was on steroids at 13 months for a platelet disorder and it didn't make him any taller....he just ate a like a teenager and gained weight! I would agree with Susan's post that it seems a little broad brushed to just say "go and get some steroids". Maybe you're paraphrasing and there is more to it, but I would definitely get a second opinion and be very careful with the steroids. They would only give them to my son for 10 days and then took him off of them.

FYI...both of my kids are little for their age, but I am very short statured and my hubby is barely average height. I tend not to worry too much as long as they are hitting their developmental milestones. Definitely seek another opinion and go from there. Good luck!

Get a second opinion from another ped before you go to a specialist. Some docs are a little over eager so you'd probablly feel more comfortable if you had a second point of view.

Our daughter (now 23) was born normal weight, 7.14, however, my husband is 5.7 and I am 5.3. So our children will never be too huge. But all growing up (and as we had 3 more children), our kids werenever going to be big. So, when our first girl was young, she starting falling off the charts for being small until she was on her "own" chart for height and weight. Being in Seattle at that time, the doc was concerned and sent us to Children's Hospital. They did all kinds of tests on her...she was totally healthy, totally happy...just not big enough to fit into their charts! Then our son came (he is now 20)...he was 8.2 at birth...normal height and weight, however, he began falling off the chart and was on his "own" chart and yep, you guessed it, the doc (a different doc) wanted to send him to Children's Hospital...for testing because he was "small"...this time I refused and said it wasn't necessary...and then when our normal-sized twins (boy/girl) came along and followed the same pattern and the same concern...I just told them "NO" I wasn't going to do further testing. They were healthy and happy. Now as adults, our daughter is still small...5.1 and 100 lbs., our son, 5.9 & 132 lbs. and our twins, our son, 5.10 & 135 and his twin sister is 5.0 and 135 (she has put on weight but was always tiny growing up). So, I say this...if you and your hubby are not huge your kids are not going to be either...maybe you need to see another doctor or at least question some more, your son is only two. When our first daughter was in kindergarten she was 30 lbs. And, it never hurt our children to be small growing up!

this is the kind of thing that is 100% up to you. But to me it sounds like you dont think this is necessary, so do not go through with it.
drs (especially in this economy) are going to do anything and everything to make an extra buck. since our children are so precious to us we want to do everything and anything to make them happy and make sure they are growing right. and trust me that drugging them is hardly ever the way to do this!

everyone grows at their own pace! unless his lack of height is affecting his health, this is not something i would do to my child.

good luck and when in doubt, ask God

It sounds like your pediatrician is sending you to another doctor in order to get a second opinion because your pediatrician is concerned that something is wrong. The specialist will make their own evaluation and may recommend for or against a treatment for your child. It can't hurt to hear the specialist out. They aren't going to start anything without your consent regardless and the specialist may be able to explain their concern a little bit better.

Hi, My son started on Growth hormones when he was three. My son was born at full gestational age, but weighed 4.9 pounds and was "diagnosed" with failure to thrive syndrome as a baby. Would not nurse, had a hard time eating solid food, had a G tube placed at 1 year to help him gain weight. At three he was doing better but still very small in all areas...in some cases off the bottom of all growth charts... My husband and I are both tall.. I 5'8", hubby 6'1"... so we saw an endocrinolgist and started the growth hormones ( Nutropin). My son is now 10 and is in the ~ 60th percentile, so this has helped him...he has now caught up to his class and is more "normal" with his classmates. We fortunately have not seen any side effects or issues with the GH. The only draw back... is now that he is caught up, we asked to take him off the GH and were told that would not be wise, as his natural endocrines may or may not kick in and continue his growth pattern. If he did not continue to grow on his own... the chances of him then starting back on the GH and it then continuing to help him grow... it may or may not work then... once you take them off... you may not be able to put them back on and see the same results...it may have no effect. So we were told better to be safe than sorry and to leave him on the GH until he reached a height that would be acceptable for him to be as an adult... So say 5'7" which is on the short side for a man, but reasonalbe... in the event that when we take him off at 5'7" ( or the ideal height) if his body does not take over to continue his growth to his natural potential... he would still be OK as a man at that height. So we are still on GH.
So I would say ...for us they have been a good thing... it depends on your child's situation... if they are just a bit smaller... I would explore your options and not rush into getting started on them.... if the growth does not seem to be there in another year / years perhaps that is the time to start? Good luck! C.