To ask if my 8 year old DD is going through puberty?

[Legallyblondeee]

I’ve recently started seeing small changes in my DD (8) her underarms are starting to smell, I’ve noticed black heads appear on her nose and then a few white heads on her forehead and nose today.
She’s gone from being a very happy little girl to being VERY emotional almost overnight. Although she has had something happen recently that has caused her some upheaval so maybe it’s stress?
I was very early into puberty and started my period at 10 years old but I thought 8 might be a bit early.
Has anyone else’s DD gone through this at that age and what do I do to approach it? First time ever doing this.

Yes she could be early stage. Exact same description as what mine went through age 9. Periods started at 9.5 poor kid.

@KLF6
Is there anything else you think I should be looking
Out for?
I think I need to sit down with her and give her “the lady talk” when she comes home. I thought I’d have a few more years of her being a child ☹️☹️

There are books about body changing and it’s a good starting point to read with her and explain what could happen in the next year and that’s it all normal. Mine dealt with it really well but grew up almost overnight. We did go to the doctors though and were referred to check hormones etc. Still in the process.

She went from no pubic hair to fully developed in 6 months so can change quickly and her moods and anger were terrible. It sounds similar.

Dd2 has similar signs about the same age. She's almost 11 now and things definitely on the way with breast development, lots of hair and spots plus very rollercoaster emotions. No periods yet but I suspect they are close and she is as prepared as she can be.

I've just made sure I've been open with her about what's happening and let her ask whatever she wants. Tried not to pressure her.

Deodorant (although she is a soap dodger so we don't fight shy of literally point her at the shower). Face wash. Stuff to make the physical side as easy as we can.

It has been a gentle route to get here though. I was surprised at how early things started as she's very skinny with little body fat - whilst I started my periods at 10, I was chubby. But my niece is just 9 and she's the same.

Sounds like it. Only just 8 would be very young for such things but nearly 9, not really, especially these days.

My 8 year old DS had a follicle infection on his legs and when asked the Dr said it was hormonal, something called adrenarche which is common in children of that age. More so boys but does affect girls too. Worth a consideration

Oh, I would say I was a bit too gentle sometimes though. Underarm hair. I shave mine and she's seen me do so often. I didn't want her to feel she had to so I didn't offer it as an option.

Turns out she'd been paranoid about putting her hand up in class (she is pretty hairy although blonde so it was noticeable up her T-shirt sleeve). So we got her a ladyshave and she's much happier.

Puberty at 8 for a period at 10 sounds right.
Please don't pass on to her all the 'really young' comments, it's the way her body is as per genetics and there is enough shame and confusion around puberty that adding the stigma of being 'really young' just doesn't help and makes it sound like there is something wrong with her.

@rattusrattus20 she will be 9 in February so closer to 9 than 8.
@funtimefrank I hope that’s the case with my DD that I still have a bit more time to enjoy her being a child before she turns into Satan and hates me!
@KLF6 she doesn’t seem to be angry just very very teary one second but then fine the next and she’s laughing!

My sole advice would be not to hold her back because you're not ready. Different children hit puberty at different ages and that's normal and ok and it doesn't make them an adult. I've seen a lot of parents refuse to allow their children to shave or wear deodorant etc because the parent is ready for their baby to grow up. It's really difficult for those children to be the smelly one or the hairy one or the spotty one and they're often bullied.
The worst is the boys who start to get facial hair around 12 and their mothers insist on using hair removal cream instead of letting them shave - they ALWAYS get bullied for it. It's a really nasty thing to do to your child.

@Legallyblondeee

I’ve recently started seeing small changes in my DD (8) her underarms are starting to smell, I’ve noticed black heads appear on her nose and then a few white heads on her forehead and nose today. She’s gone from being a very happy little girl to being VERY emotional almost overnight. Although she has had something happen recently that has caused her some upheaval so maybe it’s stress? I was very early into puberty and started my period at 10 years old but I thought 8 might be a bit early. Has anyone else’s DD gone through this at that age and what do I do to approach it? First time ever doing this.

Sounds like it. This happened to me at 8 and I had my periods at 9.

@MosesRoses I appreciate that. As I went through it at the same age. It’s worth noting DD is 5ft tall already and towers over all her friends in class. She knows there is nothing wrong with the way she is. She always seems to turn it into a positive.

She won't necessarily become angry and hate you just because of physical puberty. My 15 year old DD started her periods at 12.5 and needed bras etc. but we didn't really have any stroppy teen behaviour until at least two years after that, and she's still mostly pleasant and spends most of her time downstairs with the family through choice.
Just a bit of reassurance on that side - not all teens/ pubescent humans are demonic

Mine started with sweaty armpits, greasy and spotty nose and breast buds at nine, but now at 12 she hasn’t started her periods. She’s quite short still though so maybe still needs to have her growth spurt.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme
That is actually reassuring! I just know what I was like and honestly if karma exists I deserve everything that’s coming my way 😂

The worst is the boys who start to get facial hair around 12 and their mothers insist on using hair removal cream instead of letting them shave - they ALWAYS get bullied for it. It's a really nasty thing to do to your child

Nastier being one of the bullies though.

I went through puberty early. My first period was two months after I turned 8. I had some investigations as I suppose it was quite early for those days but nothing was found. My younger sisters were fairly early too, so I guess just our genetics. I hope your daughter has a better time of it than I did. The periods were absolutely fine. It was the whispers and nudging by (mostly) other girls and no privacy changing for P.E. and swimming that I found very difficult to cope with.

Mine will be 9 in the new year and she's been wearing deodorant for about 6 months because she suddenly got really smelly.

We've had a few difficult conversations with her worrying about putting on weight because most of her friends haven't started developing yet and one commented that DD had a big bum. She's starting to understand it's not weight, just she's getting hips and a bum and her boobs are just starting to grow.

I'd definitely buy her a book. We have The Care and Keeping of You and DD reads it a lot, she's found it very helpful.

@funtimefrank your post trigger a memory. I didn't like to soap when I was young because it made my skin feel weird. It feels like when the glasses you take out of the dishwasher are squeaky, know what I mean?

I never mentioned to my parents because I had this big idea that skin sensitivity was redness and bumps.

The best thing out there is Eucerin Atopi control Bath Oil. But you can try very moisturizing soaps first. And skin oil before towelling. Nowadays I use sweet almond oil but before I used Johnsons baby oil.

Worth a try?

Got carried away  @Legallyblondeee I had my period at 9... you definitely need to have a talk with her. Good luck! :)

I've been recommended this book:

www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-Happening-Girls-Facts-Life/dp/0746069952?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

DD (8.5) has been getting spots since summer so we use a gentle face wash but she keeps picking them despite me telling her not to. I've noticed a couple of her friends have started to smell a bit sweaty so your DD is definitely not alone or too young.

Me niece recently got her period at 12.5 but her hormonal changes definitely started around 8. She had skin changes, pubic hair, spots and up and down emotions. But it was still 12 when her period actually arrived. it really just meant she was well prepared when it happened.

My 9 year old can be a bit smelly.

And very emotional all the time. And oh so clingy!

Shes not had spots yet but her body is beginning to change.

So it does sound common.

It’s good to know the general consensus is that she is starting to change and that I’m not going crazy!
In regards to her face do I now invest in a face wash for her? What’s the gentlest I can get she’s got very sensitive skin. She once stole my Estée Lauder face wash and it sent her skin bright red for days!