To be freaking out that DD has gotten her period!!!

[hungryhippo90]

Just exactly that!!
She's a big girl, 4"11and size 5 shoe. She looks about 12 by most people's guesses. I'd expected it to come soon-ish because she's started to get hairy legs. But I thought it would be in a year or so, which would put her at the age when I got my period, but she's 8. And this seems far too young..

Am I bu to really be freaking out about this?

I would also be shocked as it's so early. DD was 13 and it'd been on the cards for a while. I'd only just told her about sex, etc then too. Hope she's ok.

The Queen has free reign over the English language, though

YANBU OP. Christ knows why you're getting a hard time on here.

It's not as if OP has freaked out on her DD, she's posting on here instead!

OP I can totally see why you're shocked, obviously this is expected but I don't think we expect it at 8! Though obviously it's very possible!

Ah what a your DD is, OP.
I was imagining cramps, a few worried tears (and her wanting to be with mum).
Of course for a lot of us our periods didn't/don't regulate for a while after the initial bleed anyway.
I'm pleased to hear she took it in her stride. Gives me hope for my DD..

Calm heads prevail

DD was 10 and yes, I was bit shocked. It seemed so so young - I was 13. Yes, Id seen the signs of her developing shape, etc. but she was still quite small - under the so called magical 7 stone, still a little girl, etc. I didn't freak out' but I was a bit taken aback when it did actually happen. Luckily I was prepared - ever since she's had the puberty talk at home we'd had a small bag ready with pads, spare pants, small sack, small pack of wipes etc.

However DD had no idea I had felt so shocked. It is perfectly possibly to feel shocked etc without letting your DD know you are.

With your DD talk positive and help her out. When little ones start periods early, you often - as a mum - need to be a fair bit more involved than when they are older and teens.

8 is very young. It is right at the earliest onset for periods. Im not surprised its taken you aback a bit.

Hope your DD is okay with it all and she doesn't get any/too much pain or discomfort. Bless - so little to be dealing with that.

... and I too am not sure why you are getting a tough time.
MN is weird at times, really weird. I am not really sure quite so many people, in real life, really restrict their thoughts, reactions and emotions as much as they claim to on MN tbh.

Its VERY normal to feel shocked and a bit panicked when your EIGHT year old little girl starts her periods.

My" little girl " is 8 nearly 9. She is 148cm tall and just started a bit of chest development. She still plays with teddies and likes clapping games. I just hope she has a year or so longer.

My dd has started today but is much older (13). We have been ready and talked about it for ages but I would have been shocked at 8.
I had an horrendous time with very heavy periods, bad pain, endometriosis etc so i have worried.

Well done to you and your girl.
My daughter started when she was 9.We had had chats bought a buddy bag and stocked with some towels and bags.She had 'dry runs' to see which towels felt best.T he we forgot about it and when her periods started she was matter of fact about it,l Ike you I was proud.
I sent a note to her form teacher and they sorted bins in some toilets(amazed they had to be asked).She had a couple of regular periods and gaps .We marked them with a red dot on the calender.
Someone else mentioned painful periods,I suffered from them from about12,dd is13 and has had nothing that ibuprofen hasn't dealt with,for Primary schooI I gave her calpol melts to take to school.If she developed painful periods as I did we will be going to the GP as thankfully things have moved on.
Op the one of the teen products is by killers,they do a starter pack with small towels,night ones,panty liner,tampons(nearly hid those but left them)wipes and a few bags.My dd said the info leaflet was good.T these are useful as their anatomy is so small for some if the adult range.
Oh and just for the record dd was 5'4" when she started and slender,also little meat or processed neat as that seems to be a factor too,just life.

Jeez, Artandco, talk about missing the point:

It's quiet early but she also sounds tall and almost adult size anyway ( my feet at size 4 at 30 years!)

Quite early? It's very early.

And having bigger feet does not = maturity

Height has bugger all to do with starting puberty early.

Ffs

Yip shocking lack of empathy - my son is 8 and I can't even imagine and it's done - and she will be fine - and you will be too

But it's shocking xxx

OP, it is very early. No wonder you're shocked. How was dd?

When my dd started her periods she had quite bad pain, so I'd advise giving nurofen when the pains start, to get on top of it. (If 8 is old enough!! Calpol instead, if not.)

I'd also advise a trip to the GP. 8 is early for periods.

for you both.

No, if she's the size of an adult, at 8, then it's not so surprising surely? If she was still tiny at 8 then it would be more.

Most teenagers who are very slim don't start periods until later, so there is a correlation between size and periods

I completely understand.
DD (also 8) has developed breasts in the last couple of months. I was a good year older so went to the GP - she's not big, in the lower 25 centiles for height and weight so it was a real shock.

GP isn't concerned but has stated she'd expect her to be well on the way to periods within 18 months or so now given other signs of puberty evident.

YANBU op, I would be very shocked if my dd started at 8. Mine is 11.5 and I think she will probably start soon, most of her friends have been around 11/12. I hope you and your dd are ok.

Well if we've learnt one thing from this thread it's that if anything out of the ordinary happens in life and you need some support, don't bother posting on MN. Unless you have perfect English and are only mildly bemused.

'MN is weird at times, really weird. I am not really sure quite so many people, in real life, really restrict their thoughts, reactions and emotions as much as they claim to on MN tbh.

Its VERY normal to feel shocked and a bit panicked when your EIGHT year old little girl starts her periods.'

I agree. Some people are just desperate to give the impression that they'd be cool, calm and utterly unperturbed about any situation that could possibly arise.

1. That's awfully young, my mum was 9. I was 11 as was DD. My sister quite old in comparison was 13.

I'm not surprised you're shocked, but please please try to let her see your anxiety about this. She's going to have a lot of questions. The last thing you want to do is make this a taboo subject. It's not the 50s after all. Wouldn't you think evolution would have caught up by now. It would make more sense to start your period aged 20 and finish at say 50

Being American does not give free reign to mangle the English language

If you're going to be an arsehole about someone else's use of the language, I would have thought you should be extra careful about getting it right yourself. Don't be a twat.

OP - sounds like you've done a cracking job with your DD. FWIW I would have done just the same as you. Freaked out in private and then got on my game face.

"Most teenagers who are very slim don't start periods until later, so there is a correlation between size and periods"
Art that isn't necessarily so, dd1 started hers just days after her 11th birthday, she wasn't five foot tall and weighed just over five stone even 12 years later she is yet to hit the mythical seven stone. Dd2 started hers at 12, she was four foot eight and weighed just over five stone so neither of them were even average size and far from being big or heavy

Sorry you are getting such a hard time from some on here. You are a lovely mum and your daughter is a lucky girl. You and your daughter have handled this brilliantly. You are right to be shocked and it is great than you prepared her so well.

Eight? Wow that seems so early and so young to be dealing with stuff like periods.

Try not to let her see you're freaking out - be there for her and maybe take her out somewhere just the two of you for a nice dinner or something special.

I swear only one girl in my primary class started before secondary.

Is the age of girls starting periods getting younger? I was 14 which is late but i'd rather that than age 8 for sure.

In the States, the authorities claim one has to weigh a hundred pounds and be five feet tall to start. This didn't apply to my mother, sister, or me. I recently read a book on early puberty which discussed how certain plastics used in food containers contain pseudo estrogens that may cause early development, and more artificial light also encouraged development. More screen time may also lead to earlier menarche.
It's fine to panic about early puberty or anything else, but not to show the panic when talking to your child.
My mother wasn't comfortable telling me about growing up; I learned from books, my friends, and my much older sister. Please talk to your daughters and sons about this early. American Girl puts out lovely age appropriate books on this.

Gotten is bad grammar in American English as well.

I wish people would shut up about 'gotten'.