Your child may not be shorter than their peers during infancy, but their height difference will become more noticeable over time. Your child’s growth will be tracked during their routine check-ups using achondroplasia-specific growth charts for height, weight, and head size. The charts can be found here.

Delayed motor development is common in children with achondroplasia. They may develop certain motor skills (such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking) later than their peers and in a unique way. Before they start walking, many children with achondroplasia get around by supporting their body with their feet and forehead, supporting their body with their heels and bottom, army crawling, logrolling, seat scooting, and more. Although these movements may seem concerning, they are natural and common in children with achondroplasia.

In rare cases, muscle weakness may be caused by neurological problems. If your child has severe muscle weakness, medical guidelines recommend an evaluation by a pediatric neurosurgeon. Remember to talk to your child’s care team if you have any concerns about their development.