My daughter is already starting to get breasts...and i also noticed she has some pubic hair. Is anyone else experiencing this with their children at this age? I do admit that my family does have a history of starting their periods at age 9 and above, but I'm just not ready for it.(Even though I will deal with it)
I have talked to her about having a period, just in case.
I'm not really sure what to tell you. I didn't start util I was 12 or 13 so I don't know what an 8 or 9 year old would go through. I think that the only thing you can do is prepare her for the worst. Teach her about what she's going to experience when she does start so that she knows what is happening. Make sure the school nurse knows your situation so that she's prepared too. Some girls just start to blossom at an early age, so you may have an early bloomer without the whole period thing yet. I think that the only thing you can do right now is to prepare her for what might happen but, don't scare her.
Oh is it hard, I actually got my period when i was 9 but it so confusing because the doctors said it was all these other conditions. What i would say to you is to talk to your daughter about as much as she can understand. Make her get confortable with herself because i remember felling akward, i remember having breast and all at 9 and some of my cousins and aunts would traumatize me by asking me for some because the were smaller than me and i was just starting. Just be open about it and get her to trust you its very important. Hope the best for you and your daughter
Hi Elaina. My little siste started her period at nine years. she didn't get explained to though and she kind of got scared about it. just let your little girl know that she is growing up. explain to her what her period means. tell her the truth in everything! don't hide facts or act ashamed because becoming a lady is nothing to be ashamed about. just be truthful with her and let her see that becoming a "woman" is a good thing. Good luck with this...and I hope this helps a little. Best Wishes, Teila
Hello Elaina,
My 8yr old has begun as well. She never came to me when she got pubic hair she just seems to be rollin with the flow of things. If she asks just let her know that these things are what happens when you start to become a lady. If you have already talked with her about a period then you are already a step ahead. Just take her out buy her a couple of training bras and let her help pick them out. It really will be ok.
Hi there,
My daughter just turned 10 and it was just over a year ago whe I noticed the early breasts and we went and got her a training bra. I was, and still am in shock! :-) I just can not believe our little girls can grow up so fast. I also had the period talk with her, just in case. Good luck with everything.
It is'nt just limited to girls either. My son began with the hair growth at age 8 and is well into it at age 10. He also developed body odor at a very early age, and has light facial growth. He thinks this is all pretty cool though:)
His dad was an early start too, with voice changing at 12.
It is a bit scary to feel like you are losing your little baby at such an early age, but they will always be our babies no matter what.
I have heard from some folks that an earlier onset of puberty may be linked to the hormones and additives in the foods we eat in this country. I plan on looking into that more.
Best wishes with everything, your daughter is very fortunate to have her mama looking out for her in this sensitive matter.
I would take her to the Dr. If everything is OK, just let nature take it's course. I was 9 when I started developing, almost 12 when I started my period. I felt weird enough, and having everyone point it out made me feel worse. As the oldest, everything that happened to me was noticed, and I felt weird and ashamed about something I had no control over. Take her in for a physical, then leave her alone.
I praised all my girls. When they first started puberty I took them to get there first bras. I let them pick it out. Then that night we went out for a special dinnner of there choice.
The teasing part when she goes to school. I always in private told her not to tell anyone but they just jealous they dont have any yet =) My youngest is 8 also. Btw for the older girls lifetime movies are quite educational like Shes too young, odd girl out. etc.. Some teaches about std's in younger kids. Since ive allowed my 15 year old to see it she knows more about Std's. Just a suggestion since i know most kids dont listen to us preaching to them
My daughter is 8 and she is also starting puberty. I spoke with her doctor about it and he said that it is becomming increasingly normal. She believes it is due to the hormones we eat in our foods coupled with families that genearlly start early. My family started at 10 and up.
As a Nurse I know all about this, well kind of lol. It is becomming very normal these days for girls to be starting very early. It is because of the changes in hormones in foods and other things. All you can do is talk with her about all the changes she is going to be going through and just let the changes happen. Make sure she knows that shes not going through anything else that you havn't already gone through. My daughter is 9 and is also starting to go through the changes. I sat her down and explained it al lto her, of course her response was ewwwww gross mom!! lol. But now she knows she can come to me with anything and everything.
Hi Elaina,
This is becoming more common. There is speculation that it is being attributed to the hormone they give cows rBGH. Cows already produce Bovine somatotropin (bST), or bovine growth hormone (BGH), is a protein hormone that occurs naturally in the pituitary gland of cattle. However, rBGH, is a synthetic hormone in milk and dairy products. It's given to the cows to produce more. Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), is a synthetic version of BGH that is injected into a cow to artificially increase her milk production.
I switched to milk and dairy that is either organic or does not have the synthetic hormone such as Smith Brother Farms, Wilcox Farms or Dairygold. Here is some more info about it and an article in the Washington Post with a woman's daughter developing breasts at age 9.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53101-2003Oct6?language=printer
Hi there,
I as well am a 31 year mom with and 8 year old who is hitting puberty at 8. She just turned 9 a couple weeks ago but this has been going on awhile now. She has to wear a bra everyday now and she is only in 3rd grade. I wouldnt worry. Every child goes through this and every child does it at an early age. Its sad and hard but I would treat it as though it were normal because it is. You dont want her to be ashamed of growing up to be a woman. Embrace it, its all you can do.
:-)
Elaina, although my daughter didn't start at the same age as yours, she did start over the past year. I know it's scary, but she's probably just as weirded out as you! So, to calm her, you definitely need to keep the lines of communication. I'm a big proponent of researching information on the WWW. One of the sites I used to show my daughter about her period, was www.always.com. I'm not quite sure how age appropriate it might be for your daughter, so I would read it first. But that is just one idea. Also, it would be a good idea to have the both of you talk to your pediatrician so that you can both feel more at ease with the process. Hope that helps!
I would take her into the doctor and maybe ask if she might need to see an endocrinologist. Sometimes precocious puberty can be caused by an endicrine imbalance. Although from most of the responses here it must be on the rise to have early puberty. It might be worth asking her doctor if s/he feels that there may be a endicrine issue. Mosty likely it is just fine, but I wanted to throw it out there.
I got breasts in 3rd grade, and my period in 5th. By 5th I had a size A cup. It's not that uncommon. Oh and in response to the topic of dairy being the cause, it is possible, but persoanly I was alergic to milk and didn't have a drop of ANY dairy product not even yogurt until I was well into my teens. Alot of puberty is triggered by bodyfat. You have to have a certain amount of bodyfat before your body kicks in to make these things happen, that is why some athletic girls don't get their periods until they are well into their teens, or anorexics lose their periods. We are more well fed these days and bodyfat means healthy enough to have babies biologicly speaking.
My daughter also started getting pubic hair at that age. I didn't think too much of it because I started getting at age 10. However, I did not get my period until I was about 14. My daughter is 13 now and has not started yet either. I've been told that when a girl is overweight it can jump start puberty. My daughter is overweight now, but at 8 she was not. But after she started puberty, she started gaining weight. I was always overweight as a child and adult. So who knows. But it is a good idea to talk to her about these changes and whats to come. Let her know how important it is that she tells you when it does happen. Keep an eye on her eating habits. Make sure there's always something low calorie and healthy to snack on.
My daughter is now 10, and she started getting breasts at 8. She now has to wear a bra, and started getting pubic hair as well. My family history shows that we don't normally start til age 12/13, but when I brought this to the doctor's attention he said it is normal. Girls are beginning puberty earlier for many different reasons, and many believe it has to do with all the preservatives we ingest through our food. I wouldn't worry too much, just make sure she is prepared with all the right products and sit her down and explain everything to her as best as you can. Otherwise, they tend to go to their friends (who really know as little as they do), and that is how incorrect information gets around and girls think they can get pregnant just by kissing a boy!
I try to be as open and honest with my daughter as possible that way she feels she can come to me about anything, and she tends to make her decisions on fact instead of ignorance. I've also noticed her decisions have more thought and maturity to them!
Good luck!
My daughter is 10 and already has hair, wears real bras (rather than the "no cup", just to get used to kind!), etc. and has had to wear bras for at least 2 years. Girls are starting older and older and I know it sounds strange, but I have honestly heard that it has a little to do with the hormones that are in foods these days... a lot of things contain additives that we didn't have when we were younger. Not that it specifically makes them start their period, but it affects their hormone make up. My neice is also starting at 8. I think it's just something that happens... not something to worry about.
My oldest daughter started at that age getting hair. I was a little shocked at first. She is now almost 11 and still hasn't gotten her period. We have talked about it, and I've showed her how to shave her armpits and stuff. Just be as open as possible with her. She will appreciate it later. Good luck