My daughter has recently shown signs of puberty. Last Summer started the body odor, then increased arm pit hair and more down below. Mood swings have set in but no period at this time. I did talk to her about what she is going through. I think she grasps some of it but not at all. I am having a harder time with it then she is. I have been there, I also was early with my period. Recently she takes things I saw the wrong way. Our genes make us the type of girls that gain weight in the middle during puberty verses the stick girls that then get curves. This has lead to conversations on eating habits. She has been going for bad choices. I don't have many bad choices in the house, but if we are out and about or at school she is on to them. I know she knows better but craves the salt and sweet thanks to all those raging hormones. I am looking for suggestions or advice, from Mom's that have gone through similar situations. How do you handle the topic of speaking from your heart with out her interpreting things incorrectly? How do you stay age appropriate on a topic that to me seems so early for her to grasp?
Thank you for the good advice everyone! You all had really good advice to share. I spoke to her a bit more today and she listened, but was off to another topic in a few minutes. I let it happen and did not force the topic. I also like the idea about good fuel and bad fuel for our bodies to use that as an example. I will use this when the next opportunity comes. She is into American Girl Dolls and I will get her a book about her changing body. As I grew up, did thin out. She is in dance and Summer Soccer. I will continue to look for exercise out lets for her. I know this is a temporary place for her to be. She is like me but is also her own person. She already has more confidence then myself at her age. I will practice all the advice given. Thank you Awesome Mom's. Glad to know you are out there to help.
I always heard that early puberty is because of hormones in foods. I try to eat organic as much as possible. I have included a link that touches on it.
http://foodpolitics.vox.com/library/post/the-food-connect...
First, don't panic. Age 8 is the start of the normal age range for puberty, according to our pediatrician and other sources. So this is a normal part of development. My daughter, who is also 8, started with underarm odor and pubic hair within the past 6 months. At first I was really surprised, but then I talked to the pediatrician, read up on the subject, and learned that 8 is early, but normal. Precocious puberty occurs earlier than 8, say 4-7 yrs old. The pediatrician recomended the American Girl book, which we found that very afternoon at the drug store. My daughter devoured it, and it helped her a lot! By the way, it addresses the thickening around the middle that can be a normal part of puberty. We read parts of the book together, and it gave her confidence to ask some questions of me. Her biggest concerns are 1) what if she gets her period at school, in Math, where her teacher is a man. (I suggested how she might handle that.) and 2) Is she or is she not developing breasts? (I don't see it, but she believes she is, so we went to the store and got her 2 training bras. She wore them every day for about a month, but now she forgets or chooses not to as often as wearing it.) So my advice is: talk to her, listen to her concerns and don't dismiss anything she says, but help her figure out how to be comfortable with who she is, remembering that it's really what you do and say that make you who you are, not when you start using deodorant or bras. As for the eating issue, you're educating her to make healthy choices - that's good. I'm not sure about all the hormones and plastic hype/fear (I don't think it's scientifically proven) but it certainly can't hurt to choose the purest foods, such as without pesticides, hormones and other additives. Just keep loving your daughter, and your instincts will see you through. But do consult with your pediatrician about the situation; take your daughter to the doc to be checked out. It's bound to make you & your daughter feel more comfortable and knowledgable.
Hi Louann;
The person who emailed you about eating organically is right on the money. We have so many toxins around us that mimic estrogen - it's well documented. I am a nutritional cleanse coach and can help you find a way to very gently and naturally deal with some of the impurities and get her back on track. Please email me if you'd like to learn more.
You need to change her diet immediately. If she is showing puberty this early she is getting way too much estrogen in her diet. Immediately remove all soy products from her diet. Read the back labels on processed food a lot contain soy and that is very very bad for you in too large amounts. I would even decrease her milk and dairy intake and have her get calcium through a pill or do it through eatting 10 to 15 almonds a day. That will give her the calcium intake she needs. Remove the dairy til she gets her periods and hopefully that wont happen till she is 11 or 12 God willing. THe poor girl of yours has a hormonal imbalance if she is showing puberty this early and has come into contact with enough contaminents its pushing her into puberty too early.
Do not use plastic products for her to drink out of. Have her use glass so she doesnt get any of the leaching toxic chemicals in her foods or her drinks which can cause early puberty.. This can cause a lot of health issues for her in the long run such as diabetes, cancer and other issues. Have her eat more organic vegetables and fruits. Make sure if you are buying these products if they are not organic that you wash them well so they remove pesticides.
Definately remove all the bad foods and only promote the healthy foods - Remove the processed junk out of the house which has no nutritional value but will definately cause health issues like early puberty...Refined flour products may contain soy so double check them...As a mom who has a daugther you want to help them with having an easier time when they go through puberty. You can slow it down by changing everyone's eatting habits within the family. You start by making a difference with what goes into the body and it will also help with the acne and other issues that go with cravings. If you give her alternatives like vegetables or fruits to eat it will help her with having a healthier body all the way around.
I would talk to your pediatrician and inform them of what is going on they may be able to give you a plan to help your daughter so it slows down when she gets her period. Good luck...
Great advice from everyone so far. However, 8 is not normal age. It is becoming more common due to the reasons mentioned by everyone else. The Amer. Academy of Pediatric doctors has called it a new norm without even investigating - a fact I find very disturbing.
A couple more things to help you down the road. The more periods she has in her lifetime equals a higher risk of breast and uterine cancers. She will need to limit her exposure to carcinogens if possible, with the main carcinogen being birth control of any strength. There are alternatives to use instead of birth control for symptoms such as progesterone cream (the John Lee book is very easy to follow to use the cream in the right manner for a young person.) Also, there are alternative methods of birth control such as barriers (condoms) or natural family planning classes that teach you how to use your fertility signs of basal body temp and mucus signs to determine the times when you are fertile.
I had cancer at 24. This has become my life's passion. My ob/gyn and I are hosting a seminar soon in the Dallas area. Not sure where you are, but if you're close I'll send you any details you would like.
Blessings to you for taking this to heart. So many moms skip right past questioning anything their doctor calls 'normal'.
The thyroid panel would be great to check too. If you have a family history of weight around your middle, estrogen dominance would be my first guess which puts pressure on your thyroid gland production. Supplementing with progesterone and possibly thyroid hormone will stave off full menses for a little bit. The thyroid panel test can be done through the pediatrician, and a saliva test can be used to check her estrogen and progesterone levels (check the www.johnleemd.com website for recommended companies that do this through the mail).
Good luck on the talks with your daughter. Mine is only 4 - I do NOT look forward to those talks!
:0)
just saw that you are from Northfield. My whole family is in Hastings! I am up that way every year!
Hello Louann,
Okay I am editting my first entry... with this recorded call that explains everything that I am taking about, IT IS VERY VERY INTERESTING!!!
1-###-###-#### code ###-###-#####.....it is 48 minutes long but I PROMISE you, you will be glad you listened to it!!!
AND yes, it is safe to use progesterone cream on girls 7 and up!!!
www.freshliving.myarbonne.com
I agree with everyone that has mentioned estrogen dominance!! This is the main reason why our young girls are going through puberty at a younger age than in the past. Everything is estrogen dominant in our environment these days! From: housefold cleaners, pesticides on our food, growth hormones in meat and milk, bottled water, and all the plastics out there, also soy contains estrogen, and skin care products can also contain estrogen, stay away from products that have mineral oil in them.
Here is a website to help:
www.johnleemd.com
Dr John Lee is the pioneer when it comes to estrogen dominance and natural alternatives. He has many great informational books out there that EVERY woman should read!! (Hormone Balance Made simple, and other books too)
Luoann~feel free to email me and I can get you additional info on estrogen dominance.
Thank you for the opportunity to help, I hope you are getting some good resources!
L. Pasley
www.freshliving.myarbonne.com
My daughter also started puberty at eight. I noticed she was beginning to develop and didn't want her to be traumatized if she started her period without knowing what it was. I bought her The Care and Keeping of You from the American Girl library. She loves and it understands what's happening. It helps us talk about things. I believe it also addresses weight gain during puberty along with healthy eating habits.
I talked to our pediatrician and she said her period is probably a couple of years off (it usually starts about two years after you notice breast buds). She said she will be in a rapid growth spurt until then, growing almost to her adult height. The doctor and I both talked to my daughter about healthy eating to help her body grow (she is pretty much a bottomless pit, which I guess is normal). That seems to have been the best way to approach it... instead of even bringing up weight and junk food, she's responded pretty well to talking about fueling her body with good foods to help it grow.
I hope this helps a little. Good luck!
Be honest, informative, and available. If you have given her the
Information wait for her to bring it up when she's ready. Don't go
Overboard and Push her because ultimately you want her to talk
To you. A once a month girls aftetnoon helps too. Go to lunch and
Then get your nails done or something. This will lead to conversations especially about food and hygene but most importantly coversations. Let her set the pace and make it fun.
Looking through all the answers, no one has mentioned the word "Precious Puberty" which is what she may have. Although it seems on the internet everyone says 8 is OK for a child to go through puberty -- personally I think that is way too early and there may be an inderlying problem which you might want to have her get checked out -- as some mentioned -- going to an endocrinologist. I found this website which seems to have the best explanation of early puberty -- it is Bristol-Myers Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ http://www.bmsch.org/health_information/peds_diabetes_prc... (copy and paste this into your browser to find it). She may have a problem with the pituitary gland and gonadotropins . If it was my daughter, I would definitely have her checked out to at least rule out if there is any problem there.
Hope this helps.
L. K. in Temecula
Hi Louann,
I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Your daughter is very young to be faced with all the changes puberty brings. I am a pediatric nurse and my experience with this early onset puberty is something an endocrinologist can work with you/her on. I used to take care of a little girl not much older than yours that had precocious puberty. There are treatments that can help ward off any further changes. You may want to look into it. This little girl ended up not getting her period till she was 11.
Certainly helping your daughter to make better choices in food is awesome but I doubt that is the sole cause.
Hope this helps and doesn't overwhelm you. Take care.
Dear Louann,
Here is another resource for you: a book by Richard and Linda Eyre called "How to Talk to Your Child about Sex." They raised 9 children who are now all grown and are an amazing couple. They always started talking to their children when they turned 8 years old about many topics related to physical growth, development, and intimacy. It is conservative and helpful. You can find the book on Amazon or google the name of the authors for their website.
Best wishes!
L.
It sounds like your daughter has signs of estrogen dominance, a common issue these days with our plastics, hormones in beef and chicken and other environmental toxins. There are things you can do to avoid further estrogens.
Please see my article:"Tips to Avoid Estrogen Dominance" on my website www.chi-analysis.com. My granddaughter has the same symptoms and we have her on a natural remedy that is helping.
J.
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i totally know what you mean. i was an early bloomer too. needing to wear a bra by 8 and started my period at 9. i had a body not much different from the one i have now by the time i was in 8th grade. it makes for a lot of teasing and confusion. i would just talk openly and honestly about everything with her. yes, the eating habits can be a bad one. since weight can be such a sensitive issue, i would also just let her know that the things you eat can come out in your pores and can give you black heads and acne and just make you greasy and things like that. just talk in general, not too specifically.
Hi L.,
I'm going to address the issue/possible cause of her early puberty.
I've learned a lot recently that the TOXINS in our daily care products in the bathroom are often the culprit. They wreak havoc on the hormones...actually creating false hormones that fool the body into hormonal reactions.
I have some info I could send you online if you want to email me. Nowdays kids are born with over 200 chemicals already in their blood from moms, who unknowlingly are passing on toxic chemicals by using shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, hair colors,make-up, etc...
You can sign up for the EWG email newsletters that will continue to inform and keep you updated.
There is a website www.cosmeticdatabase.com that can tell you how harardous the products in your bathroom are. (EWG conducts that site).
It can also help you choose products that are less hazardous. I work with a company that has toxin-free personal care products, if you're interested.
It's good for the whole family to decrease the toxins we absorb through our skin. Making some changes in these products could make this time/symptoms easier for her.
K.
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I just have to add this tidbit to cool down all the alarmists who wrote in that you must remove toxins NOW! My 8 yr old daughter is adopted. I have had her since she was 2 weeks old. We eat range free and hormone free meats as much as possible (the cost can be prohibitive and our income fluctuates). We clean with toxin free products as much as possible and keep very little junk in the house. And we never eat soy based products. Any hormones and toxins that are causing my daughter to go through early onset of puberty (she has had pubic hair since she was 6) must have been passed on to her from her mother's toxic environment and habits. Nothing I do now will stop the train from heading to it's destination. All I can do is talk and coach.
My daughter is starting to exhibit changes in her body too. She is 7 years old. I did talk to the doctor and she said its nornal. I agree with you that it is harder on me than on her. She does not have a period yet either. I also talked to her about it. I usually talk to her around bedtime so we have some privacy and she can ask any questions she wants without judgement or embarrassment. It also insures I have her full attention and she has mine. You can always use "I" messages so she doesn't feel that she needs to be defensive. If you want to talk about it, I am available. Might be nice to have someone to talk to who is going through the same thing.
Well, when it comes to weight, if you obsess on it it, she will obsess on it. Rather than make the weight itself an issue, talk about healthy eating habits, and focus on good health instead. When it comes to what is going on with her body, explain that her body is getting ready to become a woman's body, and some of the changes that will happen and are happening. She doesn't need to know about sex, of course, but if she knows what her body is doing it will help. Keep it to the basics at first, as as different occasions arise for a particular change and you find it an opportune moment to go into a little more detail, do so. Again, when it comes to the weight and healthy eating, make it more a topic about making sure her body stays healthy, and then model it yourself. Chances are, since you went through this, if the weight-thing went away for you (either naturally or through personal choice), then it will go away for her too. Keep the healthy things in the house, and just train and lead by example on how to make good choices when not in the house. Reassure her that you love her, and that you went through the same thing and will try to remember how it felt, what she might be feeling and going through, and that you are there to help her understand and to reassure and encourage. She is not alone, and for some girls this is totally normal! :-)
I went through this myself (puberty and period at age eight), so I both sympathize and encourage! :-)
God bless!
M. D
I wouldn't really talk about the weight issue, but I would always model good behavior and the good eating habits. I would also get her involved with sports of some kind. Maybe you both can do some kind of activity together ... even Wii sports or dance that way she can burn off the calories if she chooses to eat higher calorie items at school.
Louann,
I am sorry she is going through this so early. I've heard that the hormones in our food (mostly meats and milk/ dairy) can cause this. Have you talked to your doctor about it yet? It might be worth switching to organic meats and dairy to see if it will help slow things down a bit- it's worth a try. Having a 2.5 year old boy, I don't have any sage words of advice. I hope you find some good advice on here from moms who have been through this too.
Good luck,
T.
I went to a school program last night put on by first graders. Its weird seeing this on the website tonight because last night I noticed some of the 1st grade girls were getting boobs! 7 is way to young to be developing into a woman. The girls were all a little chubby so it must have something to do with being overweight. I feel sorry for them as I know they will get teased. I was always skinny and the last one to start filling out. That was hard too, but when you see a seven year old with breasts---that's crazy! What are we doing to our kids?
Actual early periods is not a great thing if there is a high estrogen level. It can shorten the growth of the bone plates in a girl's body and also lead to early cancer risks in later life. You can do a saliva test for actual Estrogen saturation in the tissues and then minimize estrogens in her diet.
Pediatricians may want to put her on the pill which our pediatrician did for our eight year old. NO WAY!!! Putting more estrogen in an already dominant situation.
I opted for a natural progesterone cream which calmed down alot of the symptoms and promotes bone growth.
She is not sexualy active and risks are out of the possibilities right now.I also use aromatherapy massage, spray mists to help sleep if she is raging
after her school day.
Soy milk, soy flours, soy oils are high in estrogens. Tofu is not as it is fermented. Soy is present in a lot of prepackaged snacks.
I take my daughter to Sprouts and let her have her own cart and select her 5 products a week reading the labels for things not good for her after sensitivity testing with a naturopath. IT has changed her life and mine. No more headaches, sleepless nights, non-productive cramps and mid month
PMS. Hopefully we will gain a few years before actual menses.
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Hi,
I went through this with my daughter she was also 8. She was very hard to talk to because she was'nt ready and then when she got her period it got worse. I went out and bought Judy Blume's book " Are you there God it's me Margeret" it is a great book and she was able to open up more as we read it. I know it is tough right now but just let her know it is normal and that every young woman will go through this. I read that somebody suggested taken her to a doctor I don't think that is necessary right now but let her know that if she feels that something is wrong to let you know! I hope this helps you as far as the moodiness it gets worse sorry to let you know. My daughter is now 12 and sometimes impossible! But hey we all went through that moody stage! Good luck to you! T. C.
Alot of the problem is genes, the biggest problem is the food we eat..It is full of hormones, chicken, beef, milk, almost everything we eat is bad for us with all the preservatives and such...My advise is to buy organic milk it is a bit more expensive but so worth the money. I do not go through the junk food isles. I avoid them so that I don't get tempted. If I buy chips they are tortilla chips, or baked, or pretzals, plenty of salt...Buy lots of fruits, in cans and fresh, to curb the the sweet tooth. Buy Yogart ice cream, less calaries. The little packets of 100 calaries or less. I hope this helps.. As far as the attitude, my girl went through puberty at a very young age. When I would tell her anything or give her books she would just throw them right back at me. Each child is different so you have to work with what you know best to say. Good luck and I hope this helps...
I'm seeing your question late, but I wanted to say that a friend of mine is going through this with her daughter. The girl started having body hair around age 8. If you have insurance, speak to a specialist. They might want to keep an eye on the situation and even give medication to slow things down.
I'm glad you got good responses from others who have gone through this.
My daughter was 7 years old when I noticed some signs of puberty like her breast area is more pronounced in the last few months.. she has developed some lower body hair.. which shocked the heck out of me.. She has curves already.. she is a bit overweight unless that has something to do with it.. but she is getting curvy.. I am worried about it.. When she goes to the doctor next month I am going to ask... She just turned 8 years old last month... My son is 10 years old and I have started seeing signs with him but not as many as her...I don't remember being that young developing..
My daughter just turned 8 and she has had body odor for about 2 years and is just starting to get public hair - a very little amount. However, we are on a close watch situation with her doctor. The doctor feels that everything is OK because the onset has been slow (so far) but if it was to increase I guess we would intervene. The reason to intervene is that when the child gets her period she stops growing (in height) and her bones fuse together. So to ensure that she reaches her full stature you want to delay her period. I would recommend that you see her doctor.
my neice just got her period at age 8. She is just a little thing too..small and thin. It really scared the heck out of us. Please talk to her before it happens. Even if you think its too early.
My daughter is 10 1/2, has never eaten organic foods (unless it was the brand on sale!) and still has not had any signs of puberty. She is healthy but thin. The girls in her class (5th grade) who have started puberty are almost all overweight. I believe that weight is the major cause of early onset puberty, far outweighing hormones in our food. Dr. Oz from the Oprah show has talked about this as well, and also said that it is obesity in our children, not hormones in our food, that is the main cause of early puberty.
I know you have already gotten some good advice, but I would second the information on hormones in the food, especially beef and dairy. If you read the labels on the meat, it will say organic or hormone-free. Milk naturally has some female hormones, but the regular milk is super-charged with hormones. If she is a big milk drinker, buy the organic. Soy also has a lot of phyto-estrogens. So, tofu may be great for us as we get older, but I would keep it out of your daughter's diet. I don't let my husband and son have soy at all, and we buy the organic milk. Beef is harder, but getting hormone-free chicken is a lot easier to find and less expensive to buy.
My youngest sister started her period around 10 years old, and it was very confusing for her. So, I hope you are able to stave off this transition for a little while longer. Good luck!
Good Morning, my daugther is now 13 years and when she was 8 --she had started her puberty. When she turned 9 she got her period. I was shock at first, however I made it fun for her. I told her that she is bless and now she has to be a big responsible kid now. She love this because she felt like a person not a kid. Eventhourgh thru my eyes she will always be a little kid. Talk to daughter and tell her in her time--- kids are changing a lot faster now. Tell her --she will always be a kid, however your body is changing fast and this is normal. P.S. I spoke to my daughter's physican and he told me that this is normal for a 8 to 9 years old girls to go thru...I was shock, but I've learn to deal with it instead of fighting against it. Good luck it will all work itself out.
I too started puberty really young- at 10 I started my period, but before that, I was already a lot taller than my peers. It was such a painfully awkward time for me, confusing and embarrassing. I do believe that a lot of it has to do with WHAT we eat, and how much we do eat of those foods. I believe the hormones in our meats, etc., contribute to our country's girls hitting puberty so young. If you look at families of children that don't eat meat ( or meat with the hormones, etc., in them), they don't usually start their periods til their teens. Also, if you look at other countries that don't eat as much red meat, the same is true. Makes you think. I wasn't chubby at all, in fact was thin whenever I started my period. So, being overweight is not always the issue, in my opinion. I've known so many women who've said they started puberty before age 11 that were thin, average little girls at the time. But, our common themes have been eating red meat more than chicken, etc., as kids. It makes sense to me, that if you look at what is in our country's average family's meals it might be the hormones.
I think you're doing right by your daughter, talking to her in a gentle, slow way about her body. She is so very young to already be experiencing these changes! It's too early for her to really understand what it all means, anyway. Just be vigilant, as she gets older, about telling her that she's perfect the way she is, and that her body is sacred. I wish I'd felt confident that I could talk to my mom about my confusion and the painful awkwardness I felt being different than my age group. And, above all, I think it's important that your daughter knows that she can talk to you about anything and everything, not to be embarrassed. It makes such a difference in a child's life!
This happened to my niece. My sister started giving her organic milk and the development has stopped. She also bought more organic fruits & vegetables. The doctor doesn't agree - but it worked for her.
first off, you need to explain the biology of the situation quickly before
some boy comes along and takes advantage of all those raging hormones.
trust me, if she is the first girl in her class to develope boobs, some boy will come along and lift her skirts before you know it. because teenage boys are just dogs on two legs.that being said,the best thing you can for her, after giving her a can of mace, is to buy age approiate clothing for her, give her clothing a chance to reflect her youth, not her developing body and a few karate lessons probably wouldnt be a bad ideal either. my sister hit puberty early and she was constantly having to teach some grabby boy to keep his hands to himself, typically by breaking his nose
K. h.
Have you taken your daughter to an endocrinologist? Perhaps they can be helpful in explaining what is going on and how to handle it at her young age.
8 years old for girls and 9 years old for boys are now considered reasonable ages to begin puberty. Usually from the onset a girl will begin menstruating withing 1-2 years- so you can start preparing her for that day now.
I don't have a whole lot of wisdom with 8 year olds- but I do have a daughter who has issues with early puberty (she is 14 months old!). I am like you and having a hard time with these things.
I think you are doing a great job by trying to stay close and talking with her!
Please, please consult with a Pediatric Endocronoligist. My daughter was always very petite and toward the end of first grade starting gaining weight, developing and the pediatrician said he wasn't concerned. Within two months of that she started her period during the summer before Second grade. The first thing that the Endocronologist did is run tests to make sure there were not underlying conditions that were causing the early menses. Once they ruled those out they said it was ideopathic and more common in certain ethnicities (Mediterannean, African American are two). One of the biggest concerns is that they do grow really quickly and are much larger than their peers for a while but ultimately they stop growing more quickly and end up being much shorter than they would have if they get the proper care. My daughter had monthly shots that stopped her period for three years that allowed her chronological age and her bone age before starting her period because girls tend to stop growing about two years after they start their period. Had we not done this the doctors told us she would have stopped growing about the age of 9. I have not doubt that environmental factors are a contributor, my daughter had bottle after bottle that had BPA in it, before we even knew what BPA was but I had always given her Organic milk and of course proper diet and exercise are helpful but they still don't know for sure what the cause is so regardless the medical aspects should not be overlooked.. My daughter is a healthy sophomore in high school now but it was h*** o* her and she is still pretty self conscious regarding her body image. Just keep reinforcing to her that everyone goes through this at one time or another and she will get through it. Good luck.
I think that is called precocious puberty. I would talk to your pediatrician.
8 years old is too early.
If it was me i would cut back on any sugar, sweets and bread. I would give only whole foods (whole grains and flours), I would make sure she drinks a lot (distilled water to flush out toxins and bad minerals) and eat a lot of fruits in the morning and lots of raw veggies and salads. Make sure she is regular going number 2 (twice a day is best) I also would give my daughter a lot of red raspberry leaf tea with honey to drink as it is so safe and so good for all the reproductive organs and for balancing the hormones in our bodies. Hope it helps.
I just wanted to add that my daughter was 8 when she started showing signs of puberty, but she just turned 10 and still hasn't had her period yet. She and I have been talking about the changes that her body will be going through, and she has known for a while that I have periods and what I do when it happens, so I think she will be prepared when it happens to her. In fact, the family life module they did at school last fall (with just the girls) also talked about it and they gave all of the girls a sample pad and tampon to carry in their backpacks or purses so that if something happened while they were at school, they were covered.
I was so happy to see this yesterday. I am having the same problem with my daughter which is 9 yrs. old. She started wearing training bras last yr, but we have made that fun with letting her pick them out with fun patterns. She has had extensive weight gain in her stomach with pains also. Her doctor said that she had air built up in there, not gas. She has been on all kinds of meds to relieve that pain. So far, it has subsided, but she is still having back pains. I watch what she eats and how much. She has always been a good fruit eater. I guess I am like a lot of other moms, just dread the time when she actually starts her period. I have read a lot of good responses that will help me out also. Thanks everyone and good luck.
