soodle

Speaking as a health professional, following the 25th centile for both height and weight would indicate her being in perfect proportion not underweight in the slightest (so I'd say don't worry )

I'll see if I can pick the brains of a dietician (in the office next door) when I'm back in work to ask about weight/diet/exercise/onset of menstruation. I'll let you know

I don't know, it sounded about right so I've looked at my friend Google and found these links, which both seem to suggest that an upward groth spurt signals the start of puberty, periods start around 2 years later and there's not much growing afterwards. http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growth/growth_13_to_18.html# http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/lifecycle/teenagers/girl_s_growth.shtml

I'm not sure if you've replied to my post above or just generally but to clarify I didn't mean because she's tall will she be 'ready' early but because she's likely to reach her adult height young does that mean her bones will be more mature? I'm in no rush either, just curious.

Is it sensible to think that an early growing child will be 'ready' to go en pointe earlier than a little dancer of the same age? My dd is only 9 but is 4ft11 and size 5 shoes (and I don't think she's destined to be a giant as I've been the same height/shoe size since about 10 or 11, just have grown width-wise!). So I'm thinking she may be thought to be 'ready' younger? I'm hoping not, having seen the price of pointe shoes!!!!

That's reassuring, dd does seem to have slowed down now, she's been a 5 for a while now but between the ages of 8 and 9 went from a 1 to a 5! Maybe she won't end up sharing shoes with her dad after all!

That's great, thanks. We've looked at Startrite, dd's not keen on the style and I'm not keen on the prices (not when she'll hate them! But I've never heard of the Angry Angels range, I've noticed they stock them in the shop I pass most days at work. Will def give them a whirl.

My 6 year old son would be a lovely ballet dancer, except for his complete lack of interest! Weirdly I was asked if I'd had dance lessons due to my posture when doing a manual handling course at work (taught by a physio). Obviously those few years of dancing badly as a young child had an impact!

We just struggle with shoes full stop, even in the C|larks school shoe section. They all seem to be the same style, flat and low and rarely available in the right width fitting. If anyone has any suggestions of where to look for her next school shoes, they'd be gratefully received. She's nearly 10 but is a 5D shoe fitting (same size as me but my feet are fatter)!!

Out of interest, how tall/heavy do they want girls to be?

E is for expensive (enough said)