To be worried DD 8 is growing breasts?

[Scandimama]

They say anything after 8 is now considered within normal range for puberty to start.
but when DD, who just turned 8, showed me last night that she’s growing breast buds (just started within last weeks apparently) I felt very freaked out. Just think it’s too early? She also has had colorless discharge for a while and her upper lip had got more hairy. I’m really worried she’ll start periods soon and worried she’ll feel uncomfortable developing so soon. She’s still quite childish and into My little pony and dolls. I just think she should be allowed to be a child for longer without having to worry about becoming a little woman. I didn’t have my period until 15 and breast by 13, so think I’m also just really surprised she’s developing my so much sooner.

15 is late to start a period so that’s abnormal.

My niece started getting breast at 6 and also the discharge and the doctor put it down to her being mixed race.. she's 7 now and not much has changed for her so your DD might not get her period as soon as you think.

My great aunt started her period at 9. It's not as uncommon as you think it is but is a lot for a younger child to deal with.

Totally normal for 8/9 year olds to have breast buds; doesn’t mean they will imminently start periods. Breast buds can start to appear a few years before menstruation.

8 isn't too unusual for breast buds, don't worry OP. As others have said, it doesn't mean periods are around the corner. I had small breasts and wore a crop top type thing from about 9 but was almost 12 before periods began.

@Chickenly I’m trying to help her and understand how this may affect her. As I’ve explained I was the total opposite, very late developed (even was taken to GP for assessment due to not having period yet by 15, had it just before turning 16) so my own experience was having the body of a child until pretty much 14. So to me breast and periods are associated w being a teenager which is why I’m looking for advice from people who may themselves have developed early or have kids who have, and how best to support your child when the child themselves feel uncomfortable as my DD has expressed she’s shy because “no one else in my clas has boobies”

I'd buy her some crop tops, you can get some really cute ones for a few quid from Asda.

Since when do 8 year old shower after PE??

@Runningfire yes, trust me, I know! I was praying for my period to come for years, all my friends had it and I was desperate to be “normal”. I even lied and pretended I had periods some times as I was so embarrassed not to have it. So basically I’m v ill equipped to understand and handle the opposite situation - being one of the first to develop.

Places sell racer back white crop top things which are comfy and don't look "bra ish". Nothing cute about them just plain and practical.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz we live in Denmark, they do that here, 🤷‍♀️ also think it’s unnecessary

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz still, better than when I as a kid in Denmark back then girls and boys showered together until year 2! True Scandinavian style
and it was awful for early developers

It can be the adrenarche, it doesn’t necessarily mean her periods are imminent.

patient.info/childrens-health/adrenarche

From as early as 6 some girls can develop breast buds, body odour, downy fuzz on the armpits and pubis and oily skin and hair.

Just to add to this, my DD had early adrenarche but breast buds are not a sign of this - hair/BO/greasy hair - these are signs of early adrenarche but not signs of early puberty. Breast buds are the very first sign of puberty proper, but it can still be several years before periods. Girls who are on the early side for breast buds often have longer between the first appearance of their buds and their period - usually closer to 3 years.

My DD started her periods 1 month before her 8 birthday and I was also a late developer about 12/13. Even though a doctor said there was nothing to worry about and she probably wouldn't get a period for ages.

So I would prepare her as much as possible, and buy pads eg for just incase as I was totally unprepared and actually I was really upset and freaked out. I can't imagine how my DD felt about it. (Obviously I did not show her how I felt but dealt with it as if it was perfectly normal)

Coincidentally my DD has been watching Sydney and max on the Disney channel and S2 E6 there was one when the girl gets her period which we happened to watch together so I had chatted to get about this. ( she was 7 and the time and I thought I had ages)

If she does start periods and she struggles to cope please go back to GP for help.

We are being treated by the hospital and having treatment to stall periods and puberty.

Also if she does start let the school know so they can support

Gently, your attitude towards this is going to do a lot more harm that good. Treat it how you would if it were something that you didn’t (incorrectly) equate to being an adult. If she, for example, were conscious about freckles that had come up then you wouldn’t be questioning whether she’s still going to want to play with toys - treat these things how you’d treat that. If she had nose bleeds every month then you wouldn’t think she’s an adult now - you’d just put tissues in her school bag. She’ll pick up on your attitude that it’s something to be ashamed of (it sounds like she already has) and it’ll destroy her confidence and her self-esteem. She’s nothing to be ashamed of and it’s not even that unusual either. Just breathe and relax - she’s exactly the same child she was before and she has just as much childhood whether her periods start at 8 or 15 (unless adults around her insist on expecting her to be an adult sooner just because her uterus is shedding it’s lining).

www.speg.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/6.-2019-Precocious-puberty-in-girls-Final.pdf

Good info if it helps

8 years old is very young, especially one who has only just turned 8. I’m guessing she’s in Year 3? I developed breast buds in Y5 and started my period in Y6 (period started a couple of months after the discharge began). Proper breasts in Y7. I was at the lower end of healthy weight (still am). Most of my friends started in Y8 and Y9.

@rainydaysandcake thank you! Will carefully prepare her, she already knows all about periods as I’ve always been open to her about my periods and explained what they are, so I guess if she were to start soon she’d know what it is but she may be surprised she’d be getting it already as I guess I’ve kind of painted a picture she’d be getting it far in the future as that’s what (silly me I know realise) was assuming, as early development just wasn’t on my radar at all. So maybe I do need to monitor closely at least but don’t want to spook her either by suggesting she may get periods soon if they could be years off..but maybe get her a book on how the body develops?

But all of this confuses me - some of you say 8 is perfectly normal for breast buds and others say it’s too early? Confused
considering taking her for a check up w Gp but also don’t want to make her feel something wrong w her or anything to worry about if there isn’t

It can still be a couple or more years from breast buds until periods so that would still put her in the early side of normal (starting around 10 years old). DD developed breast buds at 9 but didn't start her period until 11 and a half.

Have you talked to her much about puberty yet? If not then start talking, no need for a big talk just little chats now and then. I always ended up talking to DD about puberty when we were in the sauna at that age as the conversation always seemed to naturally spring up then. Get her a book that explains what to expect too, I gave DD the usborne book about girls and growing up (can't remember the title now but I read it through first and it was pretty alright)

@gently I’m not expecting her to be am
adult, when did I say that? If it isn’t clear, I’m looking for advice and experience sharing on how to handle someone developing on the early side because I don’t have that experience myself. Im
not saying it’s something to be ashamed of and I certainly don’t send those signals to her either. I treat it as if it’s normal, but in this forum im
openly Sharing my feelings in order to get advice and process. It’s not helpful to be shamed for my feelings.

She’ll still be a child ffs

Shower in PE? What? I have a DD who is 8 in 2 weeks and they most certainly do not shower nor do they have any showers in the building! Except for in the disabled changing

@Regularsizedrudy I’m confused while several posters in here seem to have understood my posts as me saying I’m expecting my DD to stop being a child? When and where did I say that? I’m worried about how SHE will handle being (so far) the only girl on her class growing breast buds and herself having noticed this and commented on it. So far I’ve hugged her and kissed her and told her she’s fine and normal but she still feels self conscious. So I’m looking for advice how to best support her AS WELL as trying to clearly understand IF there anything to worry about from a development perspective if if this is just “normal but in early side”.

@SchnauzerEyebrows we live in Denmark, they do that here