Puberty in 8 year old, worth a chat to GP?

[ZeroDawn]

DD developed breast buds when she was 7 years 10 months, at first I thought it was just fatty tissue but as time has gone on its become clear that they are buds. She is now 8 years 2 months and has developed some pubic hair, has spots and greasy hair, body odour and definitely hormonal. She is has grown a lot in the last year and is now 142cm and 37kg.
Reading online the NHS say that puberty from 8 onwards is normal. I'm not sure though whether I should be talking to the GP to make sure there's nothing else going on or if she needs monitoring or anything as the first signs were before she was 8, albeit only 2 months.

Has anyone been through something like this and can advise? She just seems so little to be having to deal with these changes!

My DS started puberty at almost 9. I spoke with the dr and to be honest he was less than interested and told me it was normal. Your DD is a bit younger so I would definitely speak to the GP. Hope you're DD is ok, my DS has found it tough being the only one in his class with facial hair and I've found that primary school don't really deal with it very well.

It’s normal range for most black and caucasian ethnicities (Including Middle Eastern, Indian and SE Asian) but GPs do look at weight / diet / family history for PCOS etc. So if you don’t have them you may get a referral to see if everything’s ok.

My Mum started her periods at 8, I remember her being convinced I would too but I was almost 13. It’s within the normal limits although is obviously on the early side.

I took my DD to the GP when she was 7yrs 9 months as she had brownish discharge. I had a chat with DD before the appt about the pants rule and gently enquired if anyone had touched her private areas because that was my first thought.

Told GP of our conversation and GP sent off DD's urine sample, which came back clear. During the appt the GP said that DD was certainly within the age range of puberty starting and that unless DD had issues to get let her body do what is natural.

Thanks for the replies. I have PCOS but didn't start my periods until I was 13 so wasn't even aware that that could be a cause of early puberty. Interesting.

@boredinthouse

My DS started puberty at almost 9. I spoke with the dr and to be honest he was less than interested and told me it was normal. Your DD is a bit younger so I would definitely speak to the GP. Hope you're DD is ok, my DS has found it tough being the only one in his class with facial hair and I've found that primary school don't really deal with it very well.

She hasn't mentioned much about any of it and doesn't seem phased with the changes at the moment. She knows about puberty and periods etc so it won't be a complete shock to her when it does happen but I can imagine if she had obvious external changes like your DS's facial hair then she'd be a lot more self conscious. I hope your DS is OK now, growing up is tough!

He's ok mostly thank you, a bit self conscious about having to shave every day and suddenly being the tallest in his class. He goes to secondary school in September so I think will feel a bit less self conscious then.

Also be aware that early puberty is also a symptom of thryroid issues, low thyroid in particular. You could ask them to check that, as while it won’t stop puberty, low thyroid causes other issues

It's normal for girls as young as 8 to be going through puberty. My youngest started developing pubic hair at that age and she was very sweaty. She's nearly 10 now and uses deodorant. She recently asked for crop tops as I've noticed she's seems to be developing breast buds. Like you OP I was worried and took her to the GP and was told that it's quite normal. My older 2 DD's didn't start puberty till they were 11/12, it came as a bit of a shock.

I’m glad your DD is OK with everything.

I had breast buds and pubic hair at 8, too, and was so upset by it. I didn’t end up having periods till 12.5, though. Adrenarche sometimes precedes puberty proper by some time.

Just an update, spoke to the GP today and she said it's within the normal range albeit early but she wouldn't expect her periods to start for a good while yet. She's happy that she is developing normally in all other areas. She said she's definitely noticed a trend of it getting earlier and earlier and wonders if lock down had contributed to that. Weight gain and abnormal stress (for this age). She was lovely and encouraged me to contact her again if I was worried about anything.