My friends two year old has excessive hair on her arms legs and back. I noticed this recently when I saw her in her bathing suit. I'm very close with the mother and find it strange that she never mentioned it. I think maybe she thinks its normal since this is her only child. I looked up hirsutism and it says that it usually starts at puberty I could not find anything in a child so young. Does anyone know what this may be?? I want to tell her to ask her pediatrician but i don't want to offend her since she has not brought it up on her own. Thanks Ok I want to make it clear to some of you who have responded that my concern for this child is NOT about physical apperance. I was concerned it may be a hormonal imbalence or something.
So please stop assuming!
I imagine that she has already spoken with her child's doctor! Most moms worry about everything (I know I do!), so it's unlikely she hasn't noticed. She probably hasn't mentioned it because she's not interested in talking about it. I wouldn't bring it up.
I have a cousin who had more hair than I ever saw before. It wasn't Sasquach levels, but I thought all that beautiful blonde hair was cool.
My youngest daughter had alot of hair on her when she was born. Her nickname is Monkey because she looked like Curious George at birth. Now that she's two, I think she grew into most of it and doesn't have that much anymore.
As far as you thinking it's not normal, who are you to judge? God made her that way for a reason.
Nanc
I am sure she has already noticed it and has said something to the ped. I would just keep it to myself though.
What are you doing? Please don't bring that subject up to your friend. Beauty is not just on the outside, and you are really overstepping your bounds. It's also possible that your friend knows and thinks about it a lot but doesn't wish to talk about it.
S.,
Like all the other moms I'm sure it is genetic. My son is a mix of Italian, Dominican and Black. Aside from a thick head of black gorgeous curls he has the softest fine dark hair all down his back to his rump and his legs and arms. I never questioned that it was normal or not. I love the silkiness of it. It's all personal taste and I'm assuming your child is hairless, back and legs I mean, and just as perfect as your girl friends two year old. So much going on in the world thank God the little girl is healthy and loved. A. B
It's possible she has already mentioned this to her child's doctor and doesn't feel the need to discuss it with anyone else. It could be nothing at all, or it could simply be in the child's genetic makeup. If she is Greek or really of any dark haired decent then she could have thick body hair. This really isn't anything you should be concerned about. Unless the mother is obviously neglecting her child and not taking her to the doctor then don't let it bother you.
hormonal balances would effect more along the lines of facial hair, or pubic hair. legs and arms is genetics. my daughter was so hairy as a baby, shoulders and back. she still is. the 2nd one is not hairy on the shoulder or back, but only on her very lower back. its genetics. think of it like this, the mom has seen her daughter naked her whole life, so either the pedi has seen it himself from all the well visits, or the mother would have noticed a sudden change and took her to the pedi, kwim.
i would be totally offended if someone else mentioned to me that i should have something like that checked out. first i would be upset that you were picking out a physical characteristic of my child that YOU are viewing as a flaw. secondly, i would be insulted that you would think me not competant enough to decide when to seek medical assistance. its one of those things that you dont want to risk, she may be ok with it, but what if shes not.
i dont know what normal is but i dont think what you describe is not normal.
When my daughter was almost 2 I notice that her boobies where really big, not big like she was a chubby baby that had boobies..but like they were too big for her body..she is very slim and she had boobs already! picture a ten yr old just starting to develope..that is what she looked like. so we went to the dr. come to find out he thinks it is just genetics, my family on both parents side are blessed(as well as myself) but then he started to look at her armpits and pubic area, and i asked what was he looking for, he was making sure that she didnt have hair growing in these areas. which she didnt. he told me that if she did that she would have to come back, becasue he would think that maybe she had a little bit or a imbalance of hormones. he told me that the hair would be darker than the little peach fuzz that is all over babies bodies. i would think if the hair is darker and thicker and in the arm pits and pubic area your friend might want to have the doc check it out. on the back and arms is totally normal. good luck
I think that would be really rude to comment to your friend about her child's physical appearance. If it isn't a health issue you are concerned about I would not mention it. Many Italians and Greeks have very dark, heavy hair on their arms, legs & back. I have even seen platinum blond kids with very hairy arms, legs & back. It is just a genetic thing, the way some people have a thick head of hair & some don't. Sounds like your friend thinks her daughter is perfect just the way she is.
Don't worry. It could just be genetics. My poor son has a furry dad and hairy mom. He is only 16 months, but you can see hair on his arms, legs and shoulders.
She might have not mentioned it to you because she didn't want to make it a big deal. Maybe she was worried about giving her daughter a complex.
Some of us are just hairy, that's all! It depends on your definition of excessive hair, but when I was born (long time ago) my father joked they had a monkey; I had hair from my eyebrows over my head and down my back just above my bottom. It did wear away, but my brothers and I are hairy Irish people with dark hair and fair skin. That fact makes my arm hair stand out more than the same amount of blonde hair would appear on my skin.
If the child's mother isn't concerned about it, don't let it bother you either!
R.
Sometimes well meaning friends overstep their bounds. If your friend hasn't mentioned anything about it, then take her lead and keep your opinion to yourself. Excessive body hair is not a reason for you to vocalize your concern. Whether it's her first of fifth, she will come to you if she has concerns and you don't need to point them out to her.
Every mom sees their child as the most beautiful, perfectly created child ever born. Manytimes they know their child is different, but choose to ignore the non-critical differences in their child to cherish the beauty that is 'their child'.
A lot of little kids are like this, especially if they are of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent. My niece has been like this since she was born. I would not worry about it. I'm sure your friend has noticed. You don't want to make the little girl self-conscious about it.
If she takes the child to the doctor for checkups or even sick they should notice if there is a problem. If you are really concerned simply ask her about it. Be kind and comment on a great aspect of the baby. Then ask her about it. She may say she never noticed or she may tell you to bud out or give you other info. Either way just be prepared for whatever comes your way. A.
