Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

10 year old period with no early signs

28 replies

Cleaningismycardio · 04/08/2023 23:00

I think my recently 10 year old has started her period. Getting ready for bed tonight she felt dampness in her pjs and has very light blood staining. She is mature for her age and to be honest I was expecting her to start while still in primary school - I think she looks a little older, is quite grown up etc, but she has had no other early signs. Slight breast buds on par with most of her friends but certainly not developed, no hair under her arms or in her pubic area, no body odour yet. She had her 10th birthday just a couple of week ago. Is this unusual to start without any signs? Should I get her checked out at the docs as I think this is quite early, although I know technically 10 is within the normal bracket. I really hoped this wouldn't happen for another year at least! She is tucked up in bed now, handled this all really well but says she feels far too young for this. Has a first period happened this way for any other youngsters?

OP posts:
DeerWatch · 04/08/2023 23:06

My daughter was 2 years old but I was totally shocked as she has always been tiny for her age and had only just started growing breast buds when she had her first period.

DeerWatch · 04/08/2023 23:07

Two years older than your dd is what I meant to say. She was 12.

KnickerlessParsons · 04/08/2023 23:07

Do you mean 12 years old? 😮

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

10 year olds Women's health
TappingTed · 04/08/2023 23:07

How heavy is she @Cleaningismycardio ? Often periods start after around 7.5 stones…

MerylSqueak · 04/08/2023 23:19

My dd started at 10, poor little thing. She's coped with it really well. 15 now.

Id have a go with period pants, depending on her size. My ddwas too small at the start but your might not be for a size 6.

Original poster
Cleaningismycardio · 04/08/2023 23:27

TappingTed · 04/08/2023 23:07

How heavy is she @Cleaningismycardio ? Often periods start after around 7.5 stones…

That's interesting. It has been a while since I weighed her (when I was getting rid of her booster seat so maybe last Autumn?) and she was just under 6 stone then. She is very active and looks a healthy weight - not a 'slight' figure but slim. She looks like a child who exercises regularly and is in 10-11 year old clothes. I think I will weigh her tomorrow to check.

When I think about it she has been bothered with spots for about 2 years - mainly blackheads but pimples as well and we had to establish a cleansing routine for her during lockdown, so I suppose that would be a sign. She just seems so young. She has gone to bed cuddling her bear that has been her comforter since babyhood. For the last couple of years bear just stays in the corner of her bed but tonight she is properly hugging him. She just looks...like a child!😢

OP posts:
Original poster
Cleaningismycardio · 04/08/2023 23:30

Thanks Meryl - I will look into those. Handy for school as coping with pads during school was one of her questions tonight.

OP posts:
Potterypot · 04/08/2023 23:36

Some of the children in my dds class got theirs at age 10. They coped well as the school nurse was lovely but now our head has fired the nurse.
It's better that she has got it during the school holidays so she can rest it out and process it properly. Bless her Xx

noclouds · 04/08/2023 23:44

My dd started just before her 8 birthday with no real 'big' signs. Ie no hair and minimal breast buds. Was a big shock to us both as he had not had the talk yet.

I had been worried about her being too developed as she had developed a proper waist and had become more curvy and had a growth spurt but even the doctor did not expect her to start so soon

Whoknowswhatanymore · 04/08/2023 23:44

From experience, weight has nothing to do with it. Known girls start as young as 8 with very little weight on them and girls as old as 14 over ten stone still waiting for theirs to arrive. It will happen when the body is ready. Hope your daughter is okay. X

ChronicallyUnhappy · 04/08/2023 23:47

I had my first period aged 9. Puberty basically happened overnight and I had my first bra before my 10th birthday (only a little cropped vest type thing but I felt very grown up). No warning signs, no other symptoms. Literally just went to the bathroom, saw blood and said “oh ok”. Borrowed a pad off my older sister until I could get my own, and went right back to playing with the neighbor kids.

26 now, healthy as can be. I was a lot younger than my friends, but felt like a right expert when they all started getting their own periods.

I know it might feel too soon, but don’t worry, she’s still your baby! Just because her body has decided now is the time, doesn’t mean much else other than it’s time to teach her the joys of hot water bottles and chocolate!!

noclouds · 04/08/2023 23:47

Also definitely speak to the school. Ours was brilliant and really thoughtful

Mindovermatter247 · 04/08/2023 23:49

dd is 10, has the pubic hair and hair under the arms, she’s 11 in September, no period yet….I never started mine until I was 14, my mum aged 10 and sister was 11. We talk about it so she’s very aware of them, she knows what to expect..

Original poster
Cleaningismycardio · 05/08/2023 17:08

Thank you all for your lovely comments and advice. She is being really sensible about it all and has cracked on with our day out with friends today as planned, so this bodes well I think. She has requested her favourite tea though so she knows there could be the potential to milk this when it suits I think😂Thanks all!x

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 05/08/2023 18:07

DD started last summer, at 10y 10m.
She's used period pants the whole time and has coped marvellously. She had breast buds, and is tall, but slim or her age.

Ohmych · 05/08/2023 18:17

My daughter started a few months ago she's only 7. Poor girl is really heavy too so needs pads as well as period pants. The school were amazing and let her use the teachers toilet with a sanitary bin when she has her period.

PilchardsonToast · 05/08/2023 18:26

My DD had her first period at 10 in the final term of Yr6. I felt quite sad for her having to deal with it all while still at primary but with hindsight it was better than had it been six months later at
Secondary school, no classroom movement, a supportive caring environment she felt comfortable in and no other changes to deal with at the same time. So by the time Yr7 started with everything that comes with that she was fairly comfortable managing her period

Original poster
Cleaningismycardio · 06/08/2023 10:46

Ohmych · 05/08/2023 18:17

My daughter started a few months ago she's only 7. Poor girl is really heavy too so needs pads as well as period pants. The school were amazing and let her use the teachers toilet with a sanitary bin when she has her period.

Oh your poor girl! 7 is so young particularly when they are so heavy.

Pilchardson - yes I can see where a primary environment could be an advantage. I know the staff at dd's school will be very supportive as well. Thanks.x

OP posts:
Ohmych · 06/08/2023 11:37

It's horrible when she's sat there with cramps. I was hoping she would have had a lot longer to wait before she had to deal with periods.

allofthelove · 06/08/2023 12:11

My daughter started aged ten . She's on the spectrum Although she very much has all the signs in terms breasts and hair etc .

We immediately starting Modi bodi period pants and she's been absolutely fine with them. We have different styles for day and night . She also has a swimming costume .

My daughter has been regular since day one . So we use a period tracker , and when we know she is due on a few days before she starts wearing them so there's no mess in the morning .

I also left a pair of the pants at the school with the support lady so if she did come on at school she knew she could go and change easily .

She also suffered from period pains , so I had to get a prescription of paracetamol for the school and I'd email them and ask them to give her 2 tablets at a certain time . After of course filling in paperwork .

dementedpixie · 06/08/2023 12:17

Ohmych · 05/08/2023 18:17

My daughter started a few months ago she's only 7. Poor girl is really heavy too so needs pads as well as period pants. The school were amazing and let her use the teachers toilet with a sanitary bin when she has her period.

Did you see the GP about this as this is very early for a period to start and could be precocious puberty

Ohmych · 06/08/2023 12:40

Yes we did see the GP. He said that If the periods continued for 3 months to go back and they will do a blood test. They have for 2 months so far.

Belemon · 14/05/2026 13:33

@ChronicallyUnhappy@noclouds @Ohmych How did you manage period?does it affect on height? My dd is nearly 9 at she had spotting.

zingally · 14/05/2026 16:38

I think starting at 10 is quite common, and as teacher, I've been made aware of plenty of girls in Yr5 and 6 who have started their periods. And it's rarely the girls you would think, based on size and body shape.

I was 11 when I started, and like your DD, it came quite a while before any other outward sign of puberty appeared. It says in all the books, that a period is often the last thing to happen in a girls puberty journey, but I think for many girls, it's actually the first.

noclouds · 14/05/2026 17:07

Belemon · 14/05/2026 13:33

@ChronicallyUnhappy@noclouds @Ohmych How did you manage period?does it affect on height? My dd is nearly 9 at she had spotting.

Edited

my daughter started to have puberty blockers and so only had the first period and nothing yet. She’s going to come off them in September at the same time as secondary school. I am so grateful she has not had to juggle periods and primary school and that we can prepare properly

with regards to height she had a very fast growth spurt, but the puberty blockers were able to slow this down to a reasonable rate. She is still tall for her age and starting to develop public hair etc but it is a lot more in line with expectations for her age