First period

[WeAreSix]

DD is 9y 6mo. She's got her first period... That's early, right?!

I'm shocked and proud all at the same time!

[bishboschone]

Omg , I hope my dd ( the same age ) doesn't get hers yet. She wouldn't cope .

[BehindLockNumberNine]

I think it is on the early side of normal? (ie still considered normal)

[WeAreSix]

I've known for a while that it might be on the way so have spent lots of time preparing her and answering questions.

I started with Hair In Funny Places by Babette Cole - it was a good read but I did leave out a couple of pages!

[bishboschone]

Did she get hair before they came?

[WeAreSix]

No not really. No big physical changes, all very subtle.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Anywhere between 8 & 16 is normal. Prepped my dd10yo for hers as she has become very moody & has started getting breast buds but so far she doesn't have hers yet & hoping she doesn't get them until atleast 12. I started mine at 12, as did mum, sis & nan so hopefully do will she x

[Bunbaker]

Why proud? DD is nearly 13 and hasn't started yet. I am in no hurry for her to start as they are a right faff and I don't think she is emotionally ready for them.

Age 9 seems very young to me.

[Hulababy]

It's a year earlier than DD, but still int he normal range - just the early side of it. DD was developing though so no surprise for us really, and she was ready for it in terms of information, etc.

4 other girls in DD's class of 12 have started this year - Y6 - and there is a girl in Y5 who has started too. So definitely not totally out of the norm.

[Portofino]

Bunbaker, biology wont hang on til you are ready, Why not be proud? it is a right of passage thing surely. I have a 9 year old and we have only talked about this at a high level. I didn't start mine til I was 12 but dd seems very hormonal already so I plan a chat.

[Ledkr]

I was early 10 but dd is very different to how I was. She's tiny but has also just got buds and a bit of hair so I'm kind if half expecting it. She dances a lot so I'm anticipating she will want to try tampons ASAP like I did.
Hard to wear towels with a leotard.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

It's good to be proud, it is a right of passage. Also, you are sending your DD a positive message. We took DD out for a meal to celebrate (although kept the reason to ourselves lol).

OP, she may not have another for a while, I hadn't realised that would happen, but DD had one and is still waiting for her second one 6 weeks later.

[Bunbaker]

"We took DD out for a meal to celebrate"

Really! You have got to be joking! I don't intend making a meal out of it (no pun intended) when DD starts. It will be just another stage in her life - a normal biological event, and not something to make a fuss about. Is this a modern thing?

[Ledkr]

A meal! God I'd have been mortified if my parents did that.

[Bunbaker]

DD is a bit of a drama queen anyway and the last thing I want to do is to make a big deal of it. I didn't make a big deal of buying her first pair of knickers when potty training her or when she got her first bra. It's life, it happens.

[WeAreSix]

I'm proud of the way she has dealt with it all. I also feel a bit proud of myself for preparing her well so she wasn't taken aback or horrified like I was.

Thanks for all the lovely replies :)

[bishboschone]

My dd looks like she has bigger pecs now . Is that the start ?

[DeWe]

Anyone remember sweet valley high twins starting. Parents made a big thing of NOW they knew they were old and trustworthy... only thing was that bad twin hadn't started and was lying about it...Stupid book.

I hope mine will be on the late side as it's much easier to deal with when older.

I looked at the statistics for starting last year when dd was in year 6 and she was saying some of her year had started. On the statistics, if I remember rightly, about 1 child in 75 will start in year 4 (interestingly more likely in certain ethnicities) so she is very early to my mind, and 3-6 in year 6. Unfortunately I can't remember where I got that info from, so I can't link to it.

[WeAreSix]

She's very mature for her age (mostly) so I'm not surprised she's dealt with it so well. It is a bit weird to me that my baby is old enough for periods!

It has happened quickly - breast buds have only appeared within last 3 months, and I had read that it's usually 12-18 months after this that menstruation begins.

[Elibean]

I'm so glad MN exists for us mums of pre-teens. Shame it didn't exist when I was a young teen, wondering what on earth was normal or not normal (till I managed to get hold of a smuggled copy of the Little Red Schoolbook, which you are all probably too young to remember ).

My dd is 9.5, and has just started having 'ouchy boobies' as she calls them. Breast buds starting to swell, and she's had underarm hair for months now, and the beginnings of pubic hair too.

She will definitely not want to be taken out for a meal to celebrate her first period (but fine for those who do), but otoh she will also want to be fussed over, and made to feel important. She's already excited about it all and sees it as making her Very Mature

[Elibean]

WeAreSix, I totally get the shock and pride. I think it will be bittersweet, somehow

[tametortie]

I think a meal is a lovely idea

[sunnyshine]

I had the chat about periods with my 8 year old dd. all very relaxed and have bought pads and put them where she knows they are. Hoping its not for ages yet but prepared for whenever!!

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I can honestly say she was really pleased. It wasn't a big fuss or anything, just an excuse to try out a new noodle bar that had opened locally. No banners or anything, I promise.
:)

[mrsoggie2008]

i have recently been told my 7 year old can start at any time and am petrified. havent even spoke to her about anything