How to help your child grow taller naturally?

For every parent, it is a wonderful and heart-warming experience to watch their child grow to be the best version of themselves, both intellectually and physically. Naturally, you want to do everything you can do to aid them in this process. For children, physical growth is a very important part of their lives—it helps shape their own perceptions of themselves and how they relate to the people around them. Parents take a lot of effort to ensure their children stay healthy, and height is considered to be one of the indicators of this. 

Try out our Child Growth Calculator to find out how your child’s height compares among other children their age.

Height is governed to a large extent by one’s genes and, of course, this is not something that is in one’s hands.  However, numerous external factors such as nutrient intake, posture, living conditions, etc. play an important role in the physical growth of an individual. Here is a list of ways in which you can help your child grow taller naturally.

1. A nutritional, balanced diet

Proper nutrition is always the first step when dealing with anything physical. The food your child consumes needs to be well-rounded and have sufficient nutrients in order to be able to trigger the right hormones and chemicals in the body for appropriate growth. The best way to do this is to ensure they have a balanced diet, including the right quantities of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. These need to be served in the right proportions as your child needs each of these food groups to stay healthy. Aside from this, foods rich in calcium, zinc and potassium can encourage healthy growth. Lean proteins, leafy vegetables, peanuts and sprouts are specifically good for growth in children. Further, it is advised to keep children away from simple carbs and fats that come with most junk foods. Irrespective of whether your child needs growth-inducing foods, a balanced diet with foods rich in the above nutrients, and a well-hydrated body are always beneficial as they make one stronger and healthier. 

2. Eight hours of sleep

Growing children have big appetites as their body gets depleted of energy that is spent in growth and development. They also require sufficient sleep, as the process of growth significantly tires the body, requiring their body to rejuvenate and recover. Sleeping for 8-9 hours each day is especially important for them to become taller as the growth hormone HGH is secreted specifically during sleep hours. If your child doesn’t get enough sleep, their body might not be able to produce enough of this hormone, which can stunt their growth. This is especially important during your child’s developing years, starting from the age of two. 

Also read our blog on A Parent’s Essential Guide to Surviving the Terrible Twos

3. Sufficient exercise

Not only does exercise trigger the release of hormones but it also makes your child’s body more alert and able as it induces the release of growth hormone HGH. Playing and exercise even help digest food and nutrients better, which helps distribute your child’s weight equally throughout their body. It is also a great social activity for children and is strongly recommended for your child’s overall well-being. 

Also try out our Child BMI Calculator and find out if your child’s BMI is healthy for their age in three easy steps!

4. Swimming

Aside from regular exercise and play, swimming is a great way to keep your child fit and active. It is a full-body exercise, and works on all parts of the body to a great extent. Additionally, it is one of the most effective ways for your child to improve their posture. Since swimming requires a straight posture, it can straighten and strengthen the spine. Owing to the fact that most kids are bent over their phones or video games through a large part of the day, a stretching and spine-relieving sport like swimming is highly-recommended. 

5. Posture building and hanging

Good posture is extremely important for proper growth and development of the body. Make sure you correct your child’s posture whenever you see them hunching or sitting with their back curved; bad posture hinders growth as it lays stress on the spine. Exercises and activities that are good for the posture are also recommended: for instance, swimming, yoga, meditation, martial art forms, dance or even simple stretches carried out every day. Another great way to ensure good posture and a well-stretched out body is to take your child to the park and ask them to simply have fun on the monkey bars—hanging has proven to be an effective method to stretch out and thus relax the spine. You can also encourage your child to do activities like skipping, cycling, etc. that may help them develop good posture. Posture while sleeping is another important factor—children often have the habit of curling into a ball or crouching while sleeping. While it might seem insignificant right now, this may have a negative impact on your child’s spine. 

These tips can help your child reach their full growth potential! For further assistance, you can always consult doctors and endocrinologists who can give you tips. Through the mfine app, you can consult with your city’s top pediatricians online. This is especially helpful for parents who are busy with work and would love to save time!