'I was worried she could get hurt, but she's not as fragile as you'd think': World's smallest girl who measures just 68cm starts first day at primary school

Charlotte Garside no bigger than newborn and smaller than favourite teddy

Five-year-old was born was an extremely rare form of primordial dwarfism

Parents hope time at primary school will give her as normal a life as possible

Mother: 'She is not the sort of person who will fade into the background'

The world's smallest girl Charlotte Garside took a massive step this month after starting her first day at primary school.

The five-year-old, who is just 68cm tall and weighs less than 9lbs, is no bigger than a newborn and smaller than her favourite teddy.

Last week, she joined kids her own age in the classroom for the first time.

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'Massive personality': World's smallest girl Charlotte Garside (centre) joins other pupils on her first day at primary school

Smaller than her favourite teddy: Charlotte is just 68cm tall and weighs less than 9lbs The day marked a milestone for proud parents Scott Garside and Emma Newman who have battled to give their daughter as normal a life as possible. Charlotte was born with a form of Primordial Dwarfism so rare doctors don't even have a name for it. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Clio's magic moments: From newborn to sparkly 7-year-old, a... Share this article Share But despite being warned she could die before the age of one, Charlotte has developed into a boisterous and inquisitive girl Emma, 30, of Withernsea, East Yorks, said: 'Although Charlotte is a one-in-a-million baby with some health problems, she is not the sort of person who will fade into the background.

Unique: Charlotte was born with a form of Primordial Dwarfism so rare doctors don't even have a name for it Defying the doctors: Despite being warned she could die before the age of one, Charlotte has developed into a boisterous and inquisitive girl 'She may be small but she has a massive personality and wants to do everything a normal five-year-old does. 'She is very inquisitive and the school have already told us she has a learning age of a three-year-old, which is higher than we thought. 'Of course, I was worried she could get hurt by the other children, but she has her own tutor look after her and she's not as fragile as you'd think.' When she was born, Charlotte weighed less than 2lbs, measured 25cm and had to be dressed in dolls' clothes. 'Giving her a normal life': Scott and Emma feel the best way to see what Charlotte is capable of is by testing her in mainstream education Pocket-sze: Charlotte is barely bigger than a newborn and smaller than some of her teddies 'She might look like a doll but she's made of strong stuff': Charlotte with sisters Sabrina, 12 and Sophie, eight As well as a weakened immune system and cysts on her liver, Charlotte's mental and physical development has been delayed Emma carried the tiny baby around in the front pocket of her hoodie and put her in nappies the size of a credit card. Now measuring less than 70cm, she still wears clothes for newborns and is even dwarfed by the family's pet cat. But ask sisters Chloe, 15, Sabrina, 12, or Sophie, eight, and they will tell you she makes her presence felt. Chloe said: 'She might look like a doll but she's made of strong stuff. She loves tearing around the house and being thrown in the air.

'When people first meet her they are afraid she might break if they touch her - but she's quite scrappy and doesn't sit still for a second.'

'One-in-a-million baby': The five-year-old's aprents Scott Garside and Emma Newman want Charlotte to lead as normal life as possible Tiny: Charlotte weighed less than 2lbs at birth, measured 25cm and had to be dressed in dolls' clothes Small, but made of strong stuff: Now measuring less than 70cm, she still wears clothes for newborns and is even dwarfed by the family's pet cat 'Keeps on thriving': Because of her condition, Emma said she didn't know if Charlotte would live this long Small, but mighty: Now measuring less than 70cm, she still wears clothes for newborns and is even dwarfed by the family's pet cat As well as a weakened immune system and cysts on her liver, Charlotte's mental and physical development has been delayed. But Scott, 26, and Emma, feel the best way to see what Charlotte is capable of is by testing her in mainstream education. Emma said: 'There are a lot of unknowns but Charlotte has a way of surprising you when you least expect it. We didn't know if she would live this long. 'We didn't know if she would be able to interact with people and there have been times when we thought we might lose her. 'But she keeps on thriving and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.' 'Not the sort of person who will fade into the background': Charlotte at home in Withernsea, East Yorkshire Precious: Her mother Emma carried Charlotte around in the front pocket of her hoodie and put her in nappies the size of a credit card There are a lot of unknowns with Charlotte, but she has a way of surprising people when they least expect it