to be concerned about 8 year old having underarm hair

[user1474926891]

DD started smelling of BO a couple of months ago, so I bought her a gentle deoderant.

I've know noticed a tiny amount of underarm hair, when she was in the shower.

She was 8 at the end of July, so this seems very young to me.

I've made a doctor appointment, but I'm worried about what could be the cause of starting puberty years early.

[Bountybarsyuk]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/04/why-is-puberty-starting-younger-precocious

Amazingly, I learned from this article above that the average onset of puberty about 150 years ago was 16.6 years!

I think the current age of menstruation is about 12 and has been for several decades. Apparently, it is the pre-menstruation time (so when you get hair/breast development/need to start using deodorant) which has got longer, so instead of 2 years it can be 4 or more years.

Your dd sounds normal, but really your GP won't mind speaking with you if you are concerned. As others have said, just reassure her as well as it can be a bit difficult being the one out of step.

[FairyDogMother11]

I was around eight when that kind of thing started happening. I remember vividly aged 9 being teased when getting changed for swimming in communal changing rooms because I "had hair down there". I was tall and started getting stretch marks from growth. I didn't start my periods till I was twelve but I'd highly recommend talking to her and making sure she knows it's all normal and answering any questions she might have