How to Promote Height Growth

A child's ultimate height is primarily determined by his genetics and the height of his mother and father; however, there are other factors that can affect a child's height. According to the Mayo Clinic, doubling your child's height at the age of two will give you an approximation of how tall he is going to be as an adult, as long as nothing interferes with the normal growth pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Calcium
• Protein
• Magnesium
• Iron

Show More

Instructions

What Can Interfere With Growth; What Promotes Growth

• 1

  Conditions such as growth hormone deficiency, Down syndrome or thyroid disease, can affect height, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cortisone and corticosteroid use can also reduce the final height of a child. A person who does not have any of these conditions or who hasn't taken any of these medications as a child has a better chance of growing to at least an average height.

• 2

  Getting enough calcium and protein in the diet is necessary for a child to grow normally. Give your child milk, which contains both calcium and magnesium. Children in the 1- to 3-year-old age range need 500 mg of calcium a day. Children in the 4- to 8-year-old age range need 800 mg a day and children between the ages of 9 and 18 need 1,300 mg a day, according to Sheknowshealth.com. Healthy children need 0.55 grams of protein per day per pound of body weight. For example, a 29-pound child needs 16 grams of protein daily, according to Baylor College of Medicine.

• 3

  Young people should avoid smoking and drinking and steer clear of foods containing high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates.

• 4

  Understand that a child that is underweight may not grow to be as tall as he would have been if he were a normal weight as a youngster. The eating disorder anorexia nervosa can stunt height gains during puberty, according to the Mayo Clinic. Once puberty is over, there is no way to recapture that opportunity for growth. On the other hand, a child that is obese may be taller than his peers, as obesity alters bone maturation. The child may grow rapidly at a young age, but will stop growing before his non-overweight peers.

• 5

  Consumption of iron is important for a child's growth, according to Health.msn.com. Toddlers require 7 mg of iron daily to prevent iron deficiency, which can affect learning, growth and behavior. Breast-fed infants get readily absorbed iron from breast milk. Infant formula and food is generally iron-fortified. Once your baby switches to adult foods, he needs to continue eating iron-fortified foods. Iron fortified foods include beans, tuna, salmon, red meats, collard greens, spinach, tofu, rice, breads and cereals.