to ask when you told your daughter about periods?

[alificent]

My daughter is 9 and so naive about everything. I love her innocence but wonder if I'm doing her a disservice by not having discussed periods yet. When did you discuss them with yours?

She'll still be innocent if you tell her how her body works. I assume she knows how the heart pumps blood around the body, the brain tells her muscles what to do and her bones hold her body up so she can move? It's exactly the same.

Tell her. Plenty of nine year olds are already menstruating!

I was 9. It followed a few days after I had asked what sanitary towels were for when I saw an advert on TV. I learnt about sex a few months after.

My daughters also 9. She's known about my periods for years, but as I noticed she's developing herself, I told her all about periods late last year. I explained and said I will give her a little bag of protection and pants in case it starts at school. I expect them to start by the time this year is out.
Would prefer it if she had more time to be a kid, but our family isn't made that way. 🙁

I remember discussing periods with my son when he was about three when he noticed the red poo.

presumably about the same age for dd. always been open with them how their bodies will change and how girls bodies and boys bodies are different.

Why on earth is "innocence" in any way connected to not knowing about periods? What's non-innocent about periods?

My child is small, but I don't hide my period stuff. It's in a cupboard, visible to all interested parties. We also discuss it quite openly with my husband. Why should I be hiding a totally natural function? It's like pretending I don't poo.

Think DD was about 4. Have been talking about growing up and what happens to bodies with her and DS for years (they are 12 and 10 now)

Please tell her. Some girls start their periods at 9. She will be just as innocent when she knows.

My dd has always known about periods, ever since she was a toddler. That was a personal choice, because I didn't want her to experience the shock that I felt when I first found out.

It's just a natural bodily function. No need to worry about telling her. It's better for her to hear it from you than from her friends in the playground.

My daughter is 4 and knows women bleed frok their vagina every few weeks. I don't generally get to go to the toilet alone and I use towels so an explanation was required. She seems unconcerned with this knowledge and as she grows older I'll prepare her for the idea of it happening to her. My ds is 6 and also knows the same information, hopefully he will grow into a man who isn't disgusted by women's bodily functions (I have met some men who really are)

I told my daughter when she was about five I think. When she saw the blood on the pad and asked why it was there.

Yep, four here too.

DD is 4 and knows most of the facts. Have to start early in Germany, age of consent is 14 here.

When she was 4 or 5.

I went through it properly with DD when she turned 9. I had a friend who started her periods early, knew nothing and thought she was dying.
Hence I told DD and said it was something she needed to know about as it will happen at some point and it's absolutely normal.

DD watched the Operation Ouch puberty special at age 4.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0759l4k/operation-ouch-series-4-10-dont-panic-about-puberty-special

Asked lots of questions about it (including if boys had anything similar which actually introduced the subject of sperm coming out in wet dreams...)

I can't imagine how you'd let a nine year old not know! Even a nine year old boy, let alone a girl who could have it happen.

Some girls start their periods at 9, even if your daughter doesn't her friends might be. You need to talk to her.

She was about 5. She asked questions and I answered. She's now 10 and we've talked about it lots. She is still innocent, still a child, just one who is informed about her body and won't be terrified when it happens. Lots of girls start their periods at 9. Both her brother's know all about periods too. She asked all about where babies come from around the same age (I was pg). Again, I answered her questions truthfully and explained it in child friendly language. I honestly believe that children absorb such information at their own level and not discussing such things with them is doing them a great disservice. Please take a few moments to talk this through with your daughter.

When she was about 2 but I think she has forgotten - I just answer questions as they arise

We had a school thing about 10 or 11, mums were there too.

Think I was about 5 as my mum explained about a bulb and a seed.

A couple of days later, my younger brother who was about 3 and who must have been earwigging, asked her very loudly if "that bulb had fallen out of [her] front bottom yet".

She will be concerned by it, I think. She freaks out if she has a teeny cut and hates blood or pain so I don't want to worry her but also don't want her to be unprepared. I was 13 and had never had the chat from my mum.

That was supposed to say, asked her very loudly at the cash till in sainsburys!

Innocence is not the same as ignorance.

I can't remember really. I've never had a big chat, and they've known bit by bit since probably about 3 or 4.

I started my period at 9 and didn't know what was happening. It was terrifying. I promised myself that would never happen to my dc.

Innocence is not the same as ignorance

Well said!