Early puberty?

[ElderMillenials]

My DD7 is showing signs of puberty, according to the nhs website it's normal between 8-13 for girls and DD turns 8 in a few weeks but it still feels very early.

Would it be an overreaction to go to the gp given she is pretty much in the 'normal' range for start of puberty?

I'd maybe book a phone appointment and discuss it first without mentioning it to dd. You dont want to worry her unnecessarily.

I don't think it's necessary. I had 2 friends start their periods at 9.

Maybe start having chats about how bodies change if you haven't already?

7/8 is young, but not unheard of.

Well if she’s in the normal age range then that’s all they’re going to tell you. What do you want the GP to do?

If docs thinks its on early side they can do complete hormone panel,US etc. Thyroid disease can trigger early
puberty etc

The OP says the nhs website it's normal between 8-13 for girls and DD turns 8 in a few weeks so why would a Dr think it was early?

Check for underlying conditions. It's less common in girls but not unheard of. I only know of one other dc the same age who has similar and had blood tests and scans but that was closer to 7 than 8 and the dc has previously had chemotherapy- which is why I didn't know if I was overreacting as the benchmark isn't typical.

What I don't want is for a child who is emotionally immature to have to deal with periods and intense hormone changes. I also want to do anything possible to prevent issues later in her life.

Most girls start their periods between 8 and 13. The fact you don’t want her to deal with it is rather like saying you don’t want your child to lose her milk teeth. You can’t really opt out of development and you certainly shouldn’t be trying to medically manage a perfectly normal part of growing up.

Speak to the GP, you're concerned and that enough of a reason for a chat.

My DC started puberty at this age and due to concerns about her height and emotional maturity the GP referred her to paediatrics who recommended delaying puberty for a few years to allow for further growth and development.

That's really reassuring, thank you for sharing.
The emotional maturity is definitely a concern, i honestly don't think she'd cope so young.

Her daughter is 7 and it does not harm do check things out.Not common in NHS to do hormone panel when kids enter puberty hur where i come from girls go not just to go when puberty starta but for gyne exam too.

Damn right at 7 I’d be contacting a doctor!

even if the doctor says it’s completely normal at least you know you’ve done what you can. And I’m absolutely not one to be contacting the doctor all the time

It depends really on how tall etc your daughter is as once certain stages of puberty happen height mostly stops. My daughter has early puberty and she is on blockers until she is 10 where she will be at a better height. She was diagnosed at 6.

By the time you get a referral your daughter will be within the normal range. I would make a doctors appointment though just to check all ok.

there is a facebook group precocious puberty uk which you might find useful.

My daughter was 7 when she her first period 😭. I obviously called the GP who referred to paediatrics.
The first time she was examined (nothing invasive) but breasts/ armpits so some clothing involved. They was a lady from SS there too and it was explained this had to be the case (?) Nothing to hide.
She was diagnosed at stage 2 puberty.
They then had her in for blood tests, stimulating the pituatry (? Can't spell it!) gland, which involved a catheter where they put some hormones and then tested her blood over a few hours.

Nothing seriously wrong and thankfully after a couple of incidents of very light spotting over the years, she properly started age 11.

If you want medical advice I'd suggest seeking it now as I was told they wouldn't have seen her if she was 8 as she would have been within 'normal' parameters.

On another note, her behaviour really changed at that point too. She's a better teenager now than she was at 7 bless her.

My DD has premature adrenarche, they did a really thorough round of testing as there can be some pathology behind the adrenal gland kicking in early (in very rare cases) I felt reassured and it helped to have a conversation about the changes that were happening. I'd see a GP just to be on the safe side.

what "signs of puberty" are you talking about?having pubic hair and breast buds at 8 doesnt mean you will start your periods super early.

Hi op

I wouldn't worry at all my lovely.. my daughter is 8 and she has started puberty. I'm fact she started growing all her hairs age 7.

Don't worry about it all.

@mogtheexcellent I hadn't even thought about height stopping! She's pretty tall already- well over the 99th centile for her age but if that stopped soon shed be a tiny adult.

@WhereTheSuburbsMeetUttoxeter behaviour is another worry. She's had some challenges, I'm doing CBT with her and fighting for an adhd assessment, I can't even imagine the turmoil puberty would add when she's still emotionally immature. Good to hear your daughter is doing well now.

Hi @ElderMillenials the behaviour changes seemed to be overnight - the moodiness, the hatred... I ended up in tears thinking what IS wrong with her! My Mum was living in another country at the time but I sent her pic of the bleeding - both agreed yep - definitely not anything poo related.
Maybe as poster above said it might her adrenal tested, it's been 8 years now!
I never put her on any hormone blockers. I think it was probably 6 months between the initial paediatric assessment and the blood tests and nothing much has happened in between.

We were waiting to buzzed into the children's ward and my DD asked another little girl what she was in for...
"I've broken my wrist'
"Oh. I've got the early puberty" 🤣 bless her.
I said to other girls Mum, you weren't expecting that were you!

I do think breast budding etc is normal that age sadly. But it was the period that sent her off scale moody. She very much calmed down, but I did have to have the biological talk with her far sooner than I thought it was going to be.
She also had shingles when she was 8, yes shingles, not chicken pox as I've had to repeat incessantly to health care professionals over the years.
She's a beautiful girl now. Stresses include it being too hot and her is going to greasy even though just showered. The usual.
Good luck and thinking of you both.

• her hair!

I keep missing words out 🤔

My daughter was the same age, we got sent to the Endrochronolgist (awful spelling I know), and also DD has a brain scan to make sure there was nothing untoward. She was very tall, about 5’ 5” in Y6, she stuck at 5’ 8”

This would be about 9 years ago

I mean, I suppose it depends what you mean by 'puberty starting'? the odd spot, greasy hair, starting to get a bit whiffy then I wouldn't be too concerned at this age. Actual budding, spotting, hairs etc then yes, it probably is a bit early...

@ElderMillenials i came to write a similar and saw yours. My dd is 7 (not 8 until March) a couple months ago she started getting proper body odour so we’ve had to start using deodorant and tonight I’ve noticed a bit of pubic hair! I feel like she is starting to develop breast buds as well or whatever people are calling it. Her behaviour and attitude had also been awful lately but she also still so immature at the same time. I know it has to happen at some point but 7 seems young to me, after reading through your post and the comments I may take her to the gp or see if I can phone for a chat maybe.

My understanding is that smells, greasy skin, hair and awful attitude can be early puberty but can also be premature adrenache [sp?] Which is a kind of hormone surge. But the consultant told me breast buds are usually eatly puberty.

I would definitely see the gp and get a referral to specialist.

Fwiw my DD only had breast buds and no other symptoms when diagnosed.

I started developing at around 7/8 but I didn't actually get my period until I was 14! I remember being really confused by my little buds 😅. We all develop at different rates. I knew girls that started their periods at 9 too. It seems unfair to start so young!