The Kids Height Check

FREE PARENT GUIDE · AGES 6–17

The Kids Height Check: 5 things to check this month.

Simple, science-based habits every parent can track at home. Takes 5 minutes.

1Measure it right

  • Same time of day (morning is best), no shoes, heels against the wall.
  • Use a flat book on the head, mark the wall, measure to the mark.
  • Check every 3 months — one number tells you little, the trend tells you a lot.
See your kid's growth percentile →

Free calculator based on CDC growth charts.

Get a free monthly check-in reminder →

2Protect the sleep

Age Recommended sleep (per 24h)
6–12 9–12 hours
13–18 8–10 hours
Game nights and screens push bedtime later. A fixed wake-up time is the easiest win.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus (2016), endorsed by the AAP.

3Move every day

  • 60 minutes of activity a day.
  • Include bone-strengthening play at least 3 days a week — running, jumping, basketball, gymnastics, jump rope.

Source: U.S. HHS Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd ed.

4Fuel the bones

Nutrient Ages 4–8 Ages 9–18
Calcium 1,000 mg/day 1,300 mg/day
Vitamin D 600 IU/day 600 IU/day
1,300 mg is about 4 servings of dairy or fortified foods a day — many teens fall short. Write down one day of meals and count.

Food first. To round out the day, Dr's Grow Up is daily AM/PM nutrition for active teens, with Albion® chelated calcium, vitamin D3 and 34 other nutrients.

See Dr's Grow Up →

Source: National Academies (IOM) Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D, 2011.

5Know when to ask

Talk to your pediatrician if your child's height:

  • drops across two percentile lines on the growth chart, or
  • stays below the 3rd percentile, or
  • hasn't changed at all for 6 months or more.

General information only. Your pediatrician can assess growth with full history.

For sports parents

Why "NSF Certified for Sport®" matters

  • Every lot is tested for substances banned in sport — important if your kid plays school, club or travel sports.
  • Verified that what's on the label is what's in the bottle.

Dr's Grow Up is NSF Certified for Sport®, made in a cGMP facility in the USA.

See Dr's Grow Up →

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This guide is general educational information, not medical advice. © BoneScience · Terabiotech, Inc., Los Angeles, CA