Is it normal for girls to get a bit 'tubby' as they approach puberty...?!

[misspollysdolly]

My DD is 10 and over the last year (I suppose) I have noticed her getting fuller and fuller round the waist. To begin with it was just like she was becoming my shapely/womanly which was quite nice and exciting to see but more recently I feel she's actually put quite a bit of weight on. In early childhood she was a fussy eater and a 'normal' - or even slim - size. What changed?! Now we are struggling to get trousers to fit properly (to get the right waist size, I need to get ones that are too long - Grr!) and she is definitely lacking an off-switch when it comes to eating. I increasingly have to step in and say things to her like 'No, really, I think you have had enough tea now', which I don't like doing - it's such a fine line to tread between helping her make good choices and making too much of a thing about her weight and making her self-conscious.

I just wondered how common it is for girls to go through a more weighty stage before puberty really hits, or how much I should be positively encouraging her to lose weight/exercise more...? I am overweight so it pushes my buttons big time - don't want her to have to struggle with weight issues like I have had to since childhood

Any opinions welcome. TIA MPD

sorry that should read more* shapely, not 'my shapely'

I think DD did this too and then grew and grew.... I think its quite common

8 yearsa ago I could have written your post
dd definitely put weight on before she grew.
It was a gradual thing and I notice it moe now when I look back at photos of her.
It was a nightmare finding clothes as she too found trousers hard to fit .She wasn't obese, just plumpish.

I never mentioned it to her , she exercised loads . She eventually had a growth spurt she is was size 8 at age 14

totally normal for girls to go through a chubby stage before puberty. you need to focus on something else or you will pass on your issues with food /weight to your dd.
as long as she is running about and excercising and not being a couch potato then she`ll be fine. at that age its not really about how much they eat , more how much they move .
have a cup of tea and a
dont worry about the trousers - every one of my kids has done this ,its just how kids grow. they fill out and overnight you suddenly notice that theyve got taller.

My DD1 is exactly the same and is ten. She has always been very average/slim in build, but hasn't had a growth spurt in a while. She has now got the beginning of boobs and is well covered everywhere.

She does plenty of sports and walks to and from school etc and I know that I went through the same weight gain at this age. My mum called it puppy fat. I am just making sure that there are plenty of healthy snacks about and I've talked to her more about her body and how it is going to change.

It's an exciting age. Friends and family keep commenting on how she isn't my little girl anymore as she seems to have aged three years in three months. Lukcily, I have her little sister to stop me feeling too heartbroken!

Thanks for the reassurances everyone. Isn't it funny how you don't think you have any huge issues til your kids get a few and your buttons really take a bashing!! I am trying not to get too wound up about it, but have just noticed more and more recently that her clothes do fit and that she is pretty obsessed with cake and chocolate . I am trying very hard to just observe what she says and does but not draw too much attention to it. If she asks for more food, I offer healthy snacks, pudding is almost always 'fruit or yogurt', as it always has been, she has sweets once a week (like her brothers) and is an active girl, though not naturally sporty. The clothes not fitting thing is bothering her, but I try to reassure her that it's just part of growing. I just felt a bit worried so wanted to compare notes with you guys. Thanks everyone! MPD

MPD, Redoute do curvy versions of girls jeans if you want something to get her through this stage:

Curvy jeans

Wow, misspollysdolly, you could have been talking about my DD. Feel much better about it now having read all your posts. I was slightly worried as her twin sister is completely different and although I try not to, I can't help comparing them sometimes (in my head, never out loud). I clearly have one developing before the other.