Does anyone else have a daughter who's starting puberty early?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is only eight and a half, but is developing breasts and has some pubic hair. She is very tall for her age and to make things more awkward, she has severe learning difficulties.
While she is quite proud of her developing chest, she is horrified that she is getting pubic hair and has tried to pull it out. I have kept things very matter of fact for her and explained that she'll end up looking like me.
She is getting quite stroppy at the moment and has started worrying about every thing. I'm not sure weather or not it's linked?
Is it worth seeing the GP about the early puberty? Also is it worth mentioning to her one to one worker at school? If you have been through this and have any advice or tips I'd be grateful as I don't know of anyone else who has. Thanks.

As soon as dd started to develop, i gradually explained why it was happening, ie you are a female, and these are things that happen eventually to everyone.

She knew you bleed, but it was a surprise when she had her first one, for her and me. She did have about two months where she almost had a 'show'. Oh and during the time leading up to that she got alot of discharge.

Oh and spots, did i mention spots.

Helly will gladly pkg you.Can I ask has your dd also got some breast development or is it just hair ?

My DD has just turned 8 and also has SLD. I asked paed. about puberty at recent appt. He confirmed that anything 8 and over was not deemed precocious. But also said, when I asked, that puberty could be delayed with monthly hormone shots.

He agreed it was something to consider for my DD but also said only up to the age of 10/11 did he think it appropriate, ie he wouldn't agree to delay puberty when she was 10 or 11. I just hope to god she is a late developer.

Wish- I am not sure about breasts. She certainly doesn't have anything that looks or feels like actual breast tissue, but her nipples are possibly a little bit larger than before. That might be just general growth though? I look at her running around after the bath each night and sometimes I think there might be a suggestion of something different about her nipples, sometimes not. No armpit hair, and no body odour, but I had very little armpit hair or odour until early 20s.

This is very interesting, the link between early puberty and adult height. I started to grow breasts around 9 and started my periods at 10. I haven't grown in height since I was 11, neither have my feet grown. I was very tall as a child but now I am 5'3, so not a tall woman. My dd is only 3 so I don't know what's in store for her but I do worry about this.

On a similar theme, dd1 is nearly 10 and showing no signs of breast tissue or pubic hair, but is and always has been very tall. The problem she has at the moment is very dark hairs on her arms, legs and back. I had noticed it, but she hadn't until a delightful bunch of boys at school pointed it out to her yesterday in a not very nice manner. She is now mortified and doesn't want to go in today. Is it worth a GP trip or is it just one of those things? I worry about making it a bigger deal than it needs to be in dd's head iykwim?

Helly melly how long has she had the hair ? if it's just started without much breast development then periods are probably 18m or 2 years away. You say she is 8 so year 4 presumably. So may menstruate in year 5 or 6 (unlikely to be the only 1) have pmed you anyway.

Cowmop I realy wouldn't go to your GP for this. 10 is a completely normal age for hormonal changes. I doubt any medic will do anything. Maybe think about hair removal or bleaching if a huge problem.

Hellymelly -sorry haven't read whole thread but that wasn't the case with me. Started periods at 11 when I was 5ft 6 ( measured in first year secondary school), adult height 5ft11.

Thanks Wish, I thought it must be hormonal as it coincides with a weak neck which shows itself in the form of a head wobble when she's on her high horse (which is nearly constantly at the moment!) and accompanying hand on hip.