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8 year old breast buds

14 replies

WildWensleydale · 04/09/2025 21:28

My 8 year old daughter is developing the first signs of breast buds.
Dr Google tells me this is a normal first step of beginning puberty and breast buds form anywhere between 8-13 (8 feels so young! But not like I can stop it)
My question to any mums of slightly older girls, is how long after developing breast buds did periods start?
Again, Dr Google tells me usually 2 years after developing breast buds, but also that girls tend to develop at a similar age to their own mums (I cannot remember what age I had breast buds but I started my period at 12).
We’ve had a couple of casual chats about what periods are and what to expect, and I am planning on getting a girls guide to puberty type book for us to read/for her to refer to. What else can I do to prepare her (& me) for puberty? I remember feeling so grossed out and embarrassed by my period when I was younger, to the point I was so desperate to avoid talking about it I would make pads out of toilet roll rather than ask for sanitary towels 🫣 I don’t want her to feel the same, or alone with it.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!

OP posts:
SarahLHs · 04/09/2025 21:39

Not my children but my personal experience. I developed breast buds at around 9 but didn’t actually start my period until I was 14. I was one of the first of my friends to develop breasts and pretty much the last to start my period.

raffegiraffe · 04/09/2025 21:44

My daughter had breast buds shortly before she eight and periods at ten so she was spot on with the two years after breast buds. She had a little toiletry bag with pads and wetwipes in it in her school bag from 9 to be prepared. Came in handy for her and lots of her friends at school.
I would start discussing it now if you can. My daughter was well used to period talk and we are medical family maybe made it easier to discuss. No shame is the key I think

rainbowsparkle28 · 04/09/2025 21:45

Make sure you have got period products in at home and a little period kit in school bag just in case incl. spare underwear and some wipes. Make sure she knows how to use products - show her how to put pad on etc - and general good hygiene around period i.e. changing regularly etc and how to dispose properly. Consider getting period pants. Also pantyliners can be handy as may have discharge for a little while before starting period. Let her know who she could speak to if she starts at school or out and about and needs any help / finds herself without anything. And reassure that she can speak to you about anything (or if she wants to write it down or something) or any other trusted person like other parent, Aunt, grandma/ friend’s mum etc.

bimbodoc · 04/09/2025 21:45

Generally periods are weight related so around 7 stone.

Costacoffeeplease · 04/09/2025 21:48

I also had breast buds at 8 and started my periods at 10.

MrsToothyBitch · 04/09/2025 21:51

I got breast buds at some point 8, enough boob for a bra at about 9.5 and got my period at 10 3/4.

Crategate · 04/09/2025 21:53

I would prepare regardless of when you think it's all going to happen. I would let her see your sanpro (before use!) and openly talk about it "I just need to change my tampon and then we will go out"

I would also if you haven't already talk about how babies are made. There are good books for 8 year old level. It's so much better if there is no embarrassment and these things come from you. Apparently a large % of children have seen porn on phones of friends by age 9 so it's best to educate early as possible imo.

NameChange23456790 · 04/09/2025 21:54

My 13 year old got breast buds around age ten pubic hair earlier she started her period at 13 years 3 months

JDM625 · 04/09/2025 22:01

I too developed breast buds at 8/9 but didn't start my periods till a week before my 12th birthday.

ProudScoutMum · 04/09/2025 22:04

I started my periods at 9. My daughter was 10.

Period pants are a good intro because they look like underwear although you might have to try a few brands to find the ones that fit best for her. My daughter has Primark ones she quite likes but we had to go up a size in them. I have some from Flowette for under my swimming costume the fit is weird and the material varies between the three styles.

Reusable pads are a good thing to have a few of, because they are softer against the skin and no perfume. The patterns can be quite appealing because some of the people selling them have gone out of their way to choose unusual fun fabrics. Most sellers do a mixed starter pack and junior options.

Honestly my daughter prefers incontinence pads to deal with hers because they are easier for her to get into her pants, she has additional needs and her flow is heavy she hates those super thin ones.

They sell little square bags on temu and probably amazon that can hold two pads (probably more if you are using the thin ones and a pair of underwear). These have been in my daughters bag for years now. But that bag is inside a make up bag for her because she also needs nappy bags to dispose of the used ones, wipes to clean up the inside of her thighs and roll on deodorant because she soaks her clothes in sweat during that week, she only remembers to reapply the deodorant if she sees it when she changes the pad.

Worst case scenario she can tip the wipes and pads into her bag and put the dirty knickers into a nappy bag before zipping them in there. She would hate the idea of them touching her bag.

She has gone through her clothes enough times that she has leggings and spare socks in her bag as well.

We keep supplies of chocolate because she cant control her blood sugar very well during that week and she is pretty volatile the rest of the time.

Keep her supplies in something she has picked, you know your child she might appreciate something pretty in the bathroom that is hers, she equally might be mortified at drawing attention to it and prefer some that completely blends in with the decor. Also let her help build the contents she might decide to add things you wouldnt have thought of. If she is very young you might find liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen useful. Mine just swallows tablets now.

If you have boys in the house, including dads normalise talking about periods with them too to reduce the feelings of shame around it. My middle one was so used to periods because of his sister he kept them in his bag in case she needed them and turned into some weird unofficial pad dispenser for his friends because they all knew he would be able to produce one when required.

They sell cute hot water bottles with animals on them with a waist strap that might be good to have in the house if required. My daughter keeps those cooling gel straps for migraines in her bag to use on her lower back, although not sure if she likes it for pain relief or for temperature though.

Usborne books had a good guide for periods but I cant remember the name right now.

You also might want to reach out to her school and find out what their procedures are, like do they have a red box. You may find they can then mention them to the group as a whole then rather than relying on kids being brave enough to ask for what they need.

Poisonwood · 04/09/2025 22:09

@ProudScoutMum that is such a thoughtful and informative post.

user2848502016 · 04/09/2025 22:16

Both my DDs started developing them around 8.5/9 and started their periods at 10 & 11
I was the same, it does happen quite young for some girls.

LittlleMy · 04/09/2025 22:21

Another early developer here, developed breasts at 8 and periods at 10. As an aside, I’m 52 now and periods still going strong urgh! - I had thought a ‘perk’ of starting earlier is they’d end earlier!

Juliajojo · 19/10/2025 22:56

For me I was 9 when I started getting boobs and first period at 11 roughly two years. Oldest DD is 9.6, breast development started 8.5, pubic hair at 9, no period yet but begining to get some discharge so I'm sure it will not be too long.

Now's the time to stock up on pads and tampons ready.

A good book is "What's Happening to me" girls edition by Usbourne
Google is the worst place to look for any advice.

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