How thick are the soles on crocs? How to make a kid grow and inch in 8 weeks?!

[Andrea73]

I am going to lose it. I just measured my 4.5 year old and she is 39 inches!! That was with no shoes on.

I assume that the height thing of 40 inches presumes that the rider is wearing shoes. I don't plan on going out and buying a pair of Pretty Talls or anything but I am hoping that with crocs, she makes it.

I have been planning on getting all of us crocs for this trip for comfort. How thick are the soles on crocs?

She is very small for her age and sensitive about it. She is going to be somewhere between devastated and pissed if she cannot ride because she is not 40 inches. There are kids that are barely three that are tall enough to ride!!

Why can't she just GROW?!!! I am 5'9' and DH is 5'11", she has been poked and prodded and is totally normal just petite.

 

[la_la]

It looks like you have a little over 2 months before your trip, so she may just make it! Crocs aren't very thick on the bottom, so I don't really think those will help her. She may hit a growth spurt though and grow 2 inches before you go, don't lose hope!

 

[newdeal]

some people are shorter than others, some take longer to grow. Judging by the tone of your post if she is sensative about her height its because you have planted that in her mind. 4 year olds are not sensitive about height unless someone has indicated to them through words or actions that they should be and that person is you. If she isn't tall enough, make other plans and go on other rides, she will be tall enough next time

 

[Andrea73]

some people are shorter than others, some take longer to grow. Judging by the tone of your post if she is sensative about her height its because you have planted that in her mind. 4 year olds are not sensitive about height unless someone has indicated to them through words or actions that they should be and that person is you. If she isn't tall enough, make other plans and go on other rides, she will be tall enough next time

Ummmm...NO. I tell her she is perfect.

Maybe it's because she has been sent to an Endocrinologist because of her growth issues and poked and prodded over the last 2 years with everything from blood tests to bone age scans?

Maybe it's because she is the oldest in her preschool class, but the smallest?

Maybe it's because a neighbors kid who will be 3 next month is the same height as her?

Maybe it's because she cannot reach the pedals on some riding toys her friends can ride.

When you are FOUR and and around normal height FOUR year olds you can see the difference. My child is short...not BLIND!

 

[Suellen]

I just wanted to add that we have been asked to remove DD shoes for measuring before.

FWIW. It didn't effect use ~ but I am assuming trying again later with a different CM may have eliminated the shoe removal.

ETA: if you do find out a way to make them grow... LET ME KNOW! Would like DD2 to be able to enjoy Soarin with us. I really, really don't get the height restriction on this ride. I am sure there is a reason... but it seems so safe to me.

 

[Tara922c]

some people are shorter than others, some take longer to grow. Judging by the tone of your post if she is sensative about her height its because you have planted that in her mind. 4 year olds are not sensitive about height unless someone has indicated to them through words or actions that they should be and that person is you. If she isn't tall enough, make other plans and go on other rides, she will be tall enough next time

This is coming from a grown woman who is only 4'11. I have been short all my life, and felt horrible about my height and beleive me it was not because my mom planted ideas in my head. It was the kids who made fun of me because I was a head shorter than them in pre-school, it was going to the amusement park and being told I can't ride, but my cousin who was 2 years younger could, it was my day care teacher who didn't beleive I was 5, and made me go in to the 4 year old classroom, and the day in kindergarden when the sub didn't beleive I was in kindergarden, and made me sit in the pre-k bus line, the doctor who told my mom that I have something wrong with me, and would never be able to have children when I was only 11. I am 27, and I remember all these events vividly. I had a almost 3 year old who is only 34 inches. She is going to have to deal with being short just like I did. Even watching the disney planning dvd, she is already telling me she is going to ride the roller coasters. I just sit her down, and tell her, "baby, your too short, but there is lots of fun things we can do". I know dd will be 5 or 6 before she can ride the "big" disney rides. I feel bad, but I will still make each trip as special as I can.

To the OP.. I hope your dd makes 40 inches, and if she doesn't just explain to her that their is nothing wrong with her. She is short, and that is okay. She will for sure get to ride them next time. Make sure she gets to pick plenty of rides she is able to ride, and you will be fine. I know, it is heartbreaking!

 

[JennyMP03]

You grab her arms, let Dad grab her ankles, and puuuullllll....

Sorry, I know you both must be frustrated. However, she may come to appreciate being cute and little when she is older. I'm fairly petite (5'3") and am glad to be, yet I always think girls even shorter than me are super cute.

Unfortunately, at four, being short is something to be insecure about. When girls get about 12, being too tall can be a cause for sensitivity! At least you'll get a pass on that one. I'll cross my fingers for you that she grows a little before your trip!

(Edited to add: Not trying to sound insensitive toward anyone who has height issues, either for being taller or shorter than average.)

 

[momto3plus1angel]

I have no advice for you but wanted to say I can understand your frustration. I have a short 7 yo, who is very touchy about his height, probably because his 5 yo sister is almost 2 inches taller than him. We are hoping for a 1/2 inch growth before we go in 6 weeks cause right now dd will be over 44 inches and ds won't be and he will not be a happy camper if his little sister can go on rides he can't.

 

[graceesmom]

DD made the 40" mark on Soarin, BTMRR, Splash and Test Track in October. She was 39" in bear feet. She wore her regular sneakers and made the cut each time, but just barely.

 

[Andrea73]

This is coming from a grown woman who is only 4'11. I have been short all my life, and felt horrible about my height and beleive me it was not because my mom planted ideas in my head. It was the kids who made fun of me because I was a head shorter than them in pre-school, it was going to the amusement park and being told I can't ride, but my cousin who was 2 years younger could, it was my day care teacher who didn't beleive I was 5, and made me go in to the 4 year old classroom, and the day in kindergarden when the sub didn't beleive I was in kindergarden, and made me sit in the pre-k bus line, the doctor who told my mom that I have something wrong with me, and would never be able to have children when I was only 11. I am 27, and I remember all these events vividly. I had a almost 3 year old who is only 34 inches. She is going to have to deal with being short just like I did. Even watching the disney planning dvd, she is already telling me she is going to ride the roller coasters. I just sit her down, and tell her, "baby, your too short, but there is lots of fun things we can do". I know dd will be 5 or 6 before she can ride the "big" disney rides. I feel bad, but I will still make each trip as special as I can.

To the OP.. I hope your dd makes 40 inches, and if she doesn't just explain to her that their is nothing wrong with her. She is short, and that is okay. She will for sure get to ride them next time. Make sure she gets to pick plenty of rides she is able to ride, and you will be fine. I know, it is heartbreaking!

Thanks Tara. She has already gotten the "You can't play this game with us because you are too small" at school. She was really upset.

I am going to hope she grows a bit. It's funny, she is dying to get a pair of Pretty Talls and I plan on getting her some, but I have a feeling they would not be comfortable walking around Disney in so I am getting her crocs too.

 

[Andrea73]

Thanks everyone. I will stuff her with veggies and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[savannahcat]

Thanks Tara. She has already gotten the "You can't play this game with us because you are too small" at school. She was really upset.

I am going to hope she grows a bit. It's funny, she is dying to get a pair of Pretty Talls and I plan on getting her some, but I have a feeling they would not be comfortable walking around Disney in so I am getting her crocs too.

Thanks for posting about the Skechers Pretty Talls. My youngest DD is tiny too - her best friend is almost 4" taller. She will love these shoes! I had no idea they existed.

 

[DaniB]

When girls get about 12, being too tall can be a cause for sensitivity!

(Edited to add: Not trying to sound insensitive toward anyone who has height issues, either for being taller or shorter than average.)

Oh you aren't kidding there! Every single photo taking (before high-school) I was head & shoulders above other kids my age. I hated it with a passion! It wasn't until high-school and mini skirts that I started seeing benefits to being tall I'm 5'11 as an adult.

Unfortunately my daughter gets her height from me. She was also held back a year. So she's taller AND a year older then the other kids. Worse yet, she's LD, or possibly DD, has speech issues, reading disability. Because of her height, adults tend to think she is older and should be better "behaved", "more mature"... So far, she's been lucky and her teachers have not yet forgotten like it happened to me.

Every child that is taller or shorter than the "average" has issues to deal with...

 

[Suellen]

Because of her height, adults tend to think she is older and should be better "behaved", "more mature"...

We have this problem with DD often too. Lucky for us her actions and behavior are usually above and beyond her age... but there are times when she acts her age and people look at us like she should be better than that.

Sad how people judge by looks.

We went to WDW when she was three and she was over the 40 inches. She is a thrill seeker and loved ToT but is anxiously awaiting the next group of rides.

My OTHER DD on the other hand is almost three and I doubt she will get to 40 inches by next trip. It makes it worse because DD1 talks constantly about how "wicked awesome" ToT and Soarin' are.

 

[Suellen]

Just to be clear.... when we were asked to take shoes off we were NOT trying to scam the system and didn't have any different shoes than what she wears everyday.

 

[TLinden16]

Just a friendly reminder that the DIS does not allow discussion of trying to get around Disney safety requirements.

Several posts have been pulled from this thread that included discussion of things people have done to get around this. Additional posts that include this information will be deleted and could result in the thread getting closed.

 

[maxiesmom]

From what I have seen recently, the CMs are pretty strict about checking heights. They don't measure hair, and I have seen them pushing down on children's hair to make sure they were measuring the head, and not the hair.

If the shoes the child has on are obviously on to "grow" the child, then a CM can ask the shoes be removed before measuring.

OP--The best advice I can offer is to not make a big deal out of the rides your daughter can't do. Maybe approach it as "let's see if we are all tall enough for this ride today". If not, be very casual about it, and find something fun you can all do. Most things at WDW do not require you be a certain height, so make a big deal out of those things, and play down the things that do have a height requirement.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Two things.

1. Go first thing in the morning. All people tend to shrink as the day goes on.

2. Check here for a method, not recommended, for increasing size.

 

[DaniB]

Just to be clear.... when we were asked to take shoes off we were NOT trying to scam the system and didn't have any different shoes than what she wears everyday.

Whoops - sorry, I didn't mean to imply that! I just meant maybe CMs have seen people do it and that's why they asked the shoes be removed.

 

[DaniB]

Just a friendly reminder that the DIS does not allow discussion of trying to get around Disney safety requirements.

Several posts have been pulled from this thread that included discussion of things people have done to get around this. Additional posts that include this information will be deleted and could result in the thread getting closed.

Oh, that explains what happened to my post. I was sure I replied to someone but couldn't find it.

BTW, I was not trying to "get around disney safety requirements". I was merely wondering "why" CMs made the child remove his/her shoes.