Girls typically stop growing a few years after their first period. Some health factors, like growth hormone issues or nutritional deficiencies, may cause growth delays.
Girls usually grow at a quick pace throughout infancy and childhood. When they reach puberty, growth increases dramatically again, and it generally stops a few years after menstruation begins.
If you’re not sure whether your child’s growth is typical, talk with your child’s pediatrician.
The use of binary terms such as “female” or “girls” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Most girls reach their adult height around age 15 or 16, but this age can vary. It could be younger depending on when they first get their period.
Female children
After menstruation starts, growth generally slows, and most girls will grow just a few inches in the following year or two.
You may want to talk with your child’s doctor if your daughter is 15 and hasn’t yet begun her period.
Puberty hits boys slightly later than it does girls, so girls typically stop growing before boys do.
In general, male children begin puberty between the ages of
Most boys stop gaining height by age 17, but their muscles may continue to develop.
The following table lays out approximate mean (average) height ranges for girls in different age groups. These estimates come from a
| Age group | Average height |
| 2 to 5 | around 40 inches (3 feet 4 inches) |
| 6 to 11 | around 53 inches (4 feet 5 inches) |
| 12 to 15 | around 63 inches (5 feet 3 inches) |
| 16 to 19 | just under 64 inches (5 feet 4 inches) |
According to a
It’s important to remember that these are just averages. Height can vary greatly within age groups; for example, children ages 6 to 11 may be anywhere from 47 to 59 inches tall.
In general, a doctor may only need to investigate if a child’s height falls far outside the typical ranges for their age group or they have concerning symptoms, like low weight gain or fatigue.
Growth patterns tend to run in families, so your height often has a lot to do with how tall or short your parents are.
When looking at the growth of children, pediatricians often ask parents about their own height, family height history, and growth patterns.
There are a few different ways to try and predict how tall a child may grow. One of these methods is called the mid-parental method.
To use this method for girls, add the height in inches of the mother and father, then divide that by two. Then, subtract 2.5 inches from that number. To determine the predicted height for a boy, you’d add 2.5 inches to the number instead of subtracting.
For example, if a girl has a father who’s 72 inches tall and a mother who’s 66 inches tall, the predicted height for the girl would be found with the following calculations:
- 72 + 66 = 138
- 138 / 2 = 69
- 69 – 2.5 = 66.5
So the predicted height for the girl is 66.5 inches or 5 feet 6.5 inches.
This number is a rough estimate, however. You may see a margin of error of a few inches in either direction.
In general, the taller the parents are, the taller the child will be, and vice versa.
Many factors can affect growth. Some girls may see a delay in growth due to certain health conditions, such as growth hormone deficiency. Inadequate nutrient intake may also play a role.
Genetic conditions play a role as well. For example, girls with Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Turner syndrome may be shorter than their family members.
Conversely, girls with Marfan syndrome may grow taller than their family members.
If you have concerns about your child’s growth, contact their pediatrician. Once a female child reaches puberty, growth will typically stop a few years after their first period. A teen who has delayed growth will have less time to grow before the end of the growth spurt.
Girls may gain a foot or more in height from childhood through puberty, and they usually stop growing a year or two after their first period. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and getting regular physical activity are all habits that can help them grow.
If you have concerns about your child’s growth pattern, contact their doctor.