13 Year Old Development

I don't think she needs to worry until she's older, maybe 14-15. I was fully developed for a year and a half before I got my period and I was a 34D! Everyone develops in their own time. ;-)

Hi M.,
Not to worry. Like you I was almost 16 and my older daughter was exactly the same age as I when she got it. However her sister whose 4 years younger than her got it at almost 13. The funny part...my 13 year old wanted it so badly and now 2 years later...can't stand it. I laugh and tell her...she's got a long way to go....be careful what you wish for.

Another observation...my 13 year old still hasn't "developed" and living in the same house...we all get it the same time! My husband and son seem to not be around "so" much during that time...lol:)

Good luck you have nothing to worry about.

-K.

it is like death and taxes.......it will come! Tell her to enjoy herself before it comes...she will have most of the rest of her life to enjoy the cramping, bloating, mood swings and on and on! There was a woman who posted on here yesterday that her daughter was 16 and no sign of her period. I think you are doing the right thing just reassuring her that it will come eventually. I didn't get mine until I was fifteen - my mother got hers when she was 12 - go figure!

I remember wanting the same things my friends had and aso wishing I could give periods back once they did start. Funny, I don't remember my friends moaning about them then. My 12yo saw her pediatrician today and he said daughters follow mothers most of the time. I started at 14. He also asked how tall her father and I are and said it's likely she'll start after she's grown a bit more (she's still 11 inches shorter than I am and my husband is taller than I). I seem to recall my period starting about the time I spurted past my mom's height so I guess that makes sense. Our friend's doctor said it usually occurs within 1 to 1 1/2 years after she begins to grow pubic and armpit hair. You can reassure her of course but that comment from her doctor isn't helping her not worry. Maybe a call to his office might get a reassuring response from him that would help?

Her nerves are normal. I brought my daughter to a health professional to explain the whole thing. Teenagers need to hear things from someone other than their parents sometimes. If you have already done this, stress relaxation techniques with her. Tell her that you will see the doctor again in six months and will have some tests then if she still hasn't gotten her period. Stress that she is a normal - lots of girls have the same thing happen! Take care.

i, myself, was almost 15. it arrived with absolutely no warning or symptoms. i wouldn't worry about your daughter at this point in time. i remember feeling out of the loop at that age, too, cause my cousins both had already gotten theirs. tell her to enjoy the time she has without it cause once it comes, it stays! :) coming back month after month after month after month....and doesn't care if you've planned to go swimming or wear a white dress. goo dluck

M., if your daughter has been checked out by doc and all seems well , then do not borrow trouble.
Bodies develop at their own timing points.
My mum did not have periods til nearly seventeen as did one of my sisters. I started at 11, my other sister was 13. One family of grandchildren has 3 girls, they started at 17, 14, and 12. And the oldest was the one who was 17 so her sisters were coming around and she did not. The one who started youngest was the least developed, one of those stick people.
Of course she wants to be like the other girls, and she will be, in time.
There is no reason to worry. Not for her, not for you.
It will come when it comes and it is futile to fret ( and a bit silly)
Tincture of time and this , too, shall pass.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

I got mine when I was 15 and by that time was not looking forward to it. Have some of her friends tell their "Aunt Flo" war stories and maybe she won't yearn for it as much and let her own calendar figure it out.

I wouldn't worry about it until much later. If she is healthy that is what counts. Tell her that once she gets it she will stop growing and she'll have to deal with cramps, pads, tampons every month. She should be counting her lucky stars that she hasn't started yet. Periods are annoying!! She shouldn't even be worrying about it yet. Some people make a big deal about your period and "growing up" because they don't want their kids to feel bad about getting their period. It's like when people tell you that rain on your wedding day is good luck! So silly. Some kids don't get their period until they are 16. If she is tired, gaining or losing weight and extremely moody, I would worry, but it sounds like she is a healthy girl. She needs to focus on something other than getting her period. Once she gets it, I'm not so sure she'll be that happy about it!! ;)

Is she very active in sports?-that can delay it. My whole family were early developers and I didn't get mine until 16. If you're concerned and your Dr. is concerned then see if s/he'll run some blood work to see if all her levels are normal. If everything is within normal limits it may ease your mind to just wait a bit longer before looking into more in depth testing.

It can depend on how athletic she is, how low her bodyfat is and whether she eats a lot of fast food or foods that have estrogen injected in the meat. Organic does not and if you are eating organic that is great!
If you were a late bloomer she will probably be too. There are so many variables and doctors usually are guessing when females go through the different developmental stages. I was menopausal at 37 which they say couldn't be (my mom went through it early also). Don't fret, your daughter is perfectly normal, let her know we are all different and maybe tell her how lucky she is that she doesn't have to worry about all those hormones kicking in once a month yet. She will get there when her body is ready to get there.