Early puberty in girls

[UpsetNowPleaseAdvise]

I'm currently feeling a bit desolate, which may be over-dramatic but I'm sleep deprived so please be kind....

My DD seems to be entering puberty at 8 and a half (spotted early signs yesterday). I've spent the night reading about all the dangers of this (mainly psychological), and all the ways I might have caused it. I'm devastated for her, as she's not someone who finds life very easy anyway (borderline ASD, potentially, though that's another thread).

She's slim, active and not very emotionally mature. I just did not expect this.

Can anyone just hold my hand and help me keep it together, please? Positive stories of early puberty very welcome!

TIA

I had breastbuds at 9 but no periods until 14.5! So it might not happen for a while.

Thanks keepingup. So useful to hear of others.
And that's very interesting Anony. So the process can be very long, it seems

Exactly a month a ago my 13 year old daughter had a stomachache and felt sick, then again today she felt exactly the same, she's not started her periods yet, but just wondered if this is something that can happen prior to starting, might be coincidence just seems weird same stomachache exactly 28 days apart

I started mine at 10. No psychological issues from it as far as I'm aware. My mum was very open about periods as she suspected I would start at primary school, I knew where they were kept and she spoke about the need for good personal hygiene, that hot water bottles and paracetamol could help with pain/discomfort. The bigger issue for me was that we used ro get changed for PE in our mixed classroom which I wasn't comfortable with when on my period. Also teachers would ask why ypu wanyed to ho to the toilet when you could have gone at lunchtime but i needed to change more often than twice during the school day or i would leak. My mum spoke to the teacher about it so I could go to the toilet and they installed bins for sanitary products which they previously hadn't had. I really hope primary schools are better equipped to deal with this now.

My 7 year old started getting bo at 6. She has no other symptoms yet but I am open about periods and have explained that all girls go through changes in their body and when it happens to her I will be there to help and can answer any questions she has.

There can be a delay between symptoms appearing and periods actually starting so try not to worry. Maybe start talking about them so it doesn't come as a shock when they do start.