When to get DD (10) a bra? Are periods imminent now?

[mommyrose]

DD has turned 10 yesterday. She has fine pubic and armpit hair. Her breast buds are now noticeable from outside IYKWIM.

Does this all mean she will start periods very soon? When should I get her a bra? What type of bras are most comfortable for this stage?

[cantkeepawayforever]

With DD it was a good 4 years from the stage you are at to first period BUT she dances, and even now the amount of exercise she does seems to suppress periods for several months at a time.

She wore crop tops like this: www.marksandspencer.com/2-pack-santoni-seamfree-crop-tops-9-16-years-/p/p22439814?image=SD_04_T71_3374_Z0_X_EC_0&color=WHITE&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect for a long time, then John Lewis did nice all cotton bras.

[mommyrose]

I really really hope she is 4 yrs away.

[mommyrose]

Do I have to get her measured for crop tops? Do they support ? Poor DD has been saying they hurt 😔

[ScattyCharly]

Maybe, maybe not. If she is big for her age then it’s more likely. My dd’s friend is tall and well built and has periods at 10.

[cantkeepawayforever]

I would say it is unlikely that she's 4 years away. She may well be up to 2 years away, though the rate of the different parts of puberty are somewhat unpredictable.

Crop tops are sold by age - I'd get a couple around the right 'chest' measurement and see which she finds comfortable. The type I linked to are rather like sports bras, and are much more supportive than the 'top part of vest' type.

If they do hurt, then lightly padded bras may end up being more comfortable. John Lewis is good for small band sizes.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

If they hurt; I'd go get a bra fitted. Or just get her to try on some small cup sizes - she'd be pretty easy to fit at the moment.

I'd also get her ready for periods - have some things in - and it'll make it smoother when it does happen!

[cantkeepawayforever]

YY to being ready. DD and I were fully prepared for periods for all of those 4 years ... but she ended up being her full adult size and development before they started.

[mommyrose]

How lucky cantkeepawayforever

[cantkeepawayforever]

Between 12 and 15 hours a week of intense physical exercise, probably, rather than luck! She still only has a few periods a year, around the longer holidays.

[mommyrose]

Is she training to be a professional athlete or similar? My DD is quite thin, that’s to do with her natural structure than physical activity.

[cantkeepawayforever]

No, a perfectly normal, though serious, dancer doing tap, modern and ballet and group dances at advanced vocational grades but at a local evening dance school. She's danced that many hours per week since she was around 9 - it's just part of her life. She's a very average build - about 5'6", size 8-10 - but very fit!

[Ohyesiam]

It’s meant to be 2 years after pubic hair develops. That was accurate for my dd.

[cantkeepawayforever]

I was coming back to say it's meant to be about 2 years after breast development starts, so about 18 months - 2 years might be a pretty good guess for your DD, depending on when this development started, as opposed to its stage at the moment.

I teach Y5 (9-10 year olds). We always have a few girls who have started or start during the year, but many, many more who are clearly developing physically but haven't got to the stage of periods yet.

[gindrinkingmarypoppins]

My DD developed breastfeeding buds and pubic hair about 18 months before her period started at 10. She had a monumental growth spurt height wise about three months before too.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

breastfeeding buds

[gindrinkingmarypoppins]

Haha typo!

[reluctantbrit]

DD started wearing crop tops when she was 8.5 but more because she hated vests and didn't want to be seen topless when changing for PE.

She got more stretchy/sports bra type ones when she was 10 plus simple bras in typical sizes, she is a 30AA. She actually said her old style (more like a wrap around, not cross back ones) didn't support anything anymore.

She is now 11, has def proper breast and starts pubic hair. She complains about stomach ache every now and then but nothing so far. Some of her friends, taller and heavier, already have their periods since mid-Year 6 so it is not unusual for some girls.

We play it by the ear, we bought teen sanitary towels and I ask her to report if her knickers look "dirty" as it can be smearing first for months before actual blood comes along.

[Milan05]

If periods start some 2 yrs after breast budding then you should expect her to get her first period at 12, which is pretty much normal, or even later if she is sporty. Plenty of time to prepare for both you and DD!

[poobumwee]

DD just got her period 2 weeks ago-11 years old, probably about 12 months after her body started to change. she started off in nice crop tops from M and S and Primark which gave her the right support at that age. Now unavoidably in M and S Bras. I made sure I had some pads at home, so that we could ensure she was covered when the time came. Zero drama in our house about it. As reluctantbrit said we had the dirty looking pants for a bit, so that'll be a good sign aunt flow is on her way