DD first period at 10 I'm freaking out!

[Summersoul]

Hey Mners
I am totally freaking out my DD woke me up at 5am having started her first period!!!! She started puberty about 9 months ago in terms of breast development but doesn't have pubic hair or any other physical signs. She has been horrendously moody for about 3 months tho and just not herself. I didn't start mine until I was about 12 to 13 so I am really surprised this has happened. My mum died when I was young so not able to ask her our family traits etc. Luckily I have been very open about all of this with DD so she is ok and just getting on with it so far. Anyone else have experience of early periods. Do I need to get her to see a dr with her being so young
Thanks guys x

Great idea thank you I was just saying to dh about how her pants are too small for the towels x

Why are so baby girls starting their periods so young now? Is it to do with body fat percentage? I was 14 when I started, most of my friends were 12/13. I only remember one girl who started in primary school in the 80s.

*many

I think undercover's post was spot on too. It's a period. It's perfectly normal why would you 'freak out'? Why on earth would you consider GP visit rather than popping out to buy pads if you haven't already got them? Seems an odd reaction from an adult women who assumably didn't get dragged to the doctor to let them know you had started.
I'd worry you were giving subliminal 'worry/something's wrong' messages.

I was 11 when I started mine in the 80s. Dd was also 11 and wasn't the first to start in get year group. She finds the teen towels to be too small and leaky and likes the big thick kotex ones you get in the cheapy shops e.g. pound world, home bargains, etc

Crumbs like I said before these aggressive kinds of posts serve no purpose!!!! I would never post on another op with anything other than supportive advice which I thought was the point of MN. On the whole you guys have been amazing thank you it's quite hard sometimes raising children without my parents to turn to so I do very much appreciate those helpful comments x

joannegrady90 the average age these days is actually about 12, but 10 is within the normal parameters. The usual ages are between 10 and 16.

I think it feels like it is 10 because it seems that many MN daughters start at about 9 or 10. I guess that most MN daughters start later than that but they don't post about it because it feels like a more "normal" age IYSWIM.

I was 13 and so was DD.

OP with the greatest respect i really don't see any aggressive posts.
You said yourself you are freaking out.....over something that is perfectly natural and you yourself have been through. They were more of a reality check posts not aggressive.

10 is young but not a cause for concern. Just be supportive and answer any questions she has honestly and matter of factly iyswim.

Completely agree with cosmic

My youngest just had her second period and she is 10. Her sisters started at 13 and 11. I was a little freaked out I admit as youngest is tiny and still such a little girl mentally. It's a lot for her to be coping with I think.
However I was perfectly calm and matter of fact with her.
We got the teen size pads. No way would adult knickers fit her! I will ask if she's having problems with leaking.
Don't know about your DD OP but mine is half excited and telling everyone and half fearful.

Cosmic I disagree tbh I don't need a reality check thanks just a bit of support at a completely unexpected event. I find some posts really rude actually and unless they are giving advice rather than making comments that don't help the situation they are useless!!!

Fly me thanks so much it's a relief to know it's more common than expected x my DD is unsure how she feels about it all ATM haha x

Of course you don't agree OP!

As for it being an unexpected event....really? You never expected your daughters to have periods

You posted on the internet you will get a wide range of responses delivered in different ways. Posts can be supportive without being flowery.

I really cannot understand people that demand a certain delivery of advice when they ask strangers a question. Maybe you are too delicate for the internet?

No doubt you will call my posts aggressive too

Absolutely aggressive and unnecessary

Of course.

You are a role model to a young woman who needs to be encouraged to be brave, strong, confident and proud.

You are a mum to a girl, who probably still does little girl things and neither of you was expecting this yet, and of course it's come as a bit of a shock, especially as she hadn't shown other signs of being particularly developed.

Berating the OP isn't going to help her feel strong and proud and in turn parent as such. Sheesh.

Hugs OP, I would have been taken by surprise too, but as already said 10 isn't out of the ordinary these days.

Major plus that it's happened in school holidays though, first one can be all at home rather than school.

Thank you so much I really appreciate it x x

Aggressive? Not at all. Freaking about periods is just plain silly from an adult women. A bit surprised it's so early (despite warning signs) maybe but freaking?

Early but normal. My DD was 10. I told her teacher and she said there was always a couple of girls every year who started at this age.

Crumbs firstly please don't be so disrespectful and dismissive. Secondly I was surprised by the timing and was in need of reassurance from others that had been in a similar position and frankly don't need stupid comments thanks all the same

Age 10 is perfectly normal. I was 9 when mine started in 1981. I expect DD to be the same. She is 8, has pubic hair and uses deodorant. She also had her first vaginal discharge recently. NHS tells me to expect her periods about 12m hence. She also started breast budding about age 7.

Early but not abnormal and we've talked all about it. Unlike my mum who was utterly shite with me.

Chocolate and a cuddle I reckon op.

TBH I would have been surprised if DD had started at 10 because back in 1972 when I was 13 it was pretty unusual to start so young.

It seems so unfair for such a young girl to have to deal with something like this when they are emotionally unready to deal with it. I was still playing with dolls at 10.

Whatever you do don't do what my dm did. She threw a celebration for both me and my sister. There were balloons and cake. #cringe

Super awkward.

Find a cute pouch/purse with a zip/ pencil case for her to keep her pads/tampons in to take to school. If her uniform has a pocket then all the better. Mine had a zip up pocket so I always kept a spare pad in there.

Also spare pants in the pouch too and maybe some wet wipes (small travel pack) just in case of leaks and my e some paracetamol (but not sure if this is appropriate for school) I still carry this about with me (even though I'm 7m pregnant - old habits...).

"Whatever you do don't do what my dm did. She threw a celebration for both me and my sister."

This topic often crops up on here. I think it is a seriously weird thing to do, and embarrassing for the girl(s) concerned.