How to Predict Future Height

You can get a good sense for how tall your child will grow even at a young age.

Before children are born, parents wonder what they will look like, how tall they will be, what their personalities will be like and what they will be when they grow up. As soon as the baby is born, you know what she looks like and you have a tiny glimpse into her personality. You will have to wait many years, however to see how tall she becomes, or what she does with her life. There are some ways, however, to predict how tall your child will be. Even as young children, you can get a good estimate of height.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator
• Tape measure
• Records of your child's growth

Instructions

1. Calculate each parent's height in inches. For each foot, multiply times 12. Then add the remaining inches. For example, a 5-foot-4 woman would be 64 inches tall.

2. Add the mother's height in inches to the father's height in inches. If dad is 5-foot-11, the formula would be 64+71=135 inches. Next, divide that number by 2.

3. Subtract 2 1/2 inches if your child is a girl, and add 2 1/2 inches if your child is a boy. This number is the estimated height of your child in adulthood.

4. Convert the number back to feet and inches. Divide the final number by 12. If you get a decimal number, only look at the number before the decimal. This represents the feet. Then, multiply the feet by 12. Take this number and subtract it from the estimated height in inches. This number is the extra amount of inches you will add to your child's height in feet. In this example, a girl would be 5-foot-5'. A boy would be 5-foot-10.

5. Calculate a quicker answer by using a simpler formula. Take your child's height at the age of 2 and multiply that by 2.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that both of these methods are merely estimated guesses. In fact, your child could be 4 inches shorter or 4 inches taller than the estimated number.

• Physicians can get a more accurate measure of future height by X-raying the hand and wrist. This gives them a good idea of how tall a child will become, although it is fairly drastic.

• Diet and overall health contribute heavily to height. Make sure your child is provided with plenty of nutritious foods while he grows.

Resources

• iVillage Pregnancy & Parenting: Predicting How Tall Your Child Will Be