Just turned 8 year old dd showing signs of puberty

[Terminallysleepdeprived]

Sorry if this seems really obvious, but what age would expect your dd to enter puberty?

For about the last 12-18 months dd's emotions have been all over the place, really up and down. I initially put it down to lockdown, but then I started to notice she was growing thicker hair on her legs, she would suddenly start crying for absolutely no reason get angry for no reason etc.

It struck me over the summer that it happens about the time I am due on but put it down to coincidence. Then tonight as I helped her shower she has hair growing on her labia so I am wondering if she really is starting puberty.

I am aware 8 is on the very low side of normal, should I speak to my gp to make sure dd is OK? I have pcos so I have no idea what "normal" is. Nhs website suggests that puberty in very young girls is normally found in girls at the top end of the growth charts. But dd is only just over 24kg and 128cm tall so she is only just on the 20-25 percentile and is very slim.

We have had a chat about developing and it meaning that she needs to be much more careful about keeping herself clean and having regular showers etc (chronic eczema so we don't bathe her daily) but she is still very young and I am worried about how to help her navigate this.

Can anyone recommend any books we can read together that will help her understand what is happening to her?

I started periods when I was literally just turned 9. Sister didn't until she was 16. Think we're all just different and that's ok?

Oh, and didn't 'stop growing', am 5'6. 40 years old now and periods show no sign of stopping (unfortunately).

It's fine. My daughters were the same. Is your daughter black? We tend to start adrenarche (pre-puberty) slightly earlier, although 8 is still within the early range of normal for a white child. My girls had body odour from 6 and started periods at 10. If you're concerned, usually you'd be able to get a hormone screen at the GP but I'd imagine due to Brexshit that's not possible at the moment.

@lokdok that's interesting thanks you. Dd isn't black and to the best of my knowledge neither her dad nor I have any black heritage.

I really appreciate everyone's input so thank you all so much for taking the time.

Just to be certain ther eia nothing else going or with her meds I am going to speak to our gp tomorrow but I have ordered the book so at least I will have something that will help dd should be that puberty is starting.

Its a normal.age for signs of puberty to start.

Dd is 9 then after Xmas and the moods swings started at 8 and half. Only very recently notice breast buds

Also very slim

Spoke to gp surgery this morning, they agree the gp needs to be involved to make sure nothing untoward is going on given her meds etc so just waiting for a call back.

Thanks for everyone's input, very much appre

I'm glad they are taking it seriously op and getting her checked out. My daughter started her periods at 7. She was taking a low dose chemo to control her immune system. They think these or other meds (steroids mainly) may have triggered an early puberty. She's now 12 and hasn't grown in height the last 2 years. Shes dropped right down her percentiles. Best of luck

Steroid creams used for eczema increase hair growth. I know for sure on places the cream has often been applied as this happened on my ds legs and discussed with dermatology nurse but maybe has an all round affect too?

@blissfulllife

I'm glad they are taking it seriously op and getting her checked out. My daughter started her periods at 7. She was taking a low dose chemo to control her immune system. They think these or other meds (steroids mainly) may have triggered an early puberty. She's now 12 and hasn't grown in height the last 2 years. Shes dropped right down her percentiles. Best of luck

Is your dd on methotrexate?

It's the growth thing that really worries me.

@Terminallysleepdeprived yes 20mg once a week for severe eczema. She has brittle asthma too and us on meds for that too so that hasn't helped

I was 9 when I started my periods ...

My DD started getting under arm hair and a little pubic hair at 7.5. I was concerned at the time and took her to a paediatrician who ran a few tests. It turned out she had premature adrenarche which is the adrenal glands kicking off a bit early and can effect pubic hair and body odour.
I was told that true puberty is when there are breast buds because that then signals that periods will start on average 2 years later. Also their main concern is rapid breast development. DD is almost 9 now, she has a little more underarm hair but still no sign of breast development.
Not saying that this is your DD too but it does sound similar. You can take her to a GP to check it out though.

This was me over 20 years ago. It's normal. What wasn't great was my mum's reaction and being taken to the gp, which was awful.

[quote blissfulllife]@Terminallysleepdeprived yes 20mg once a week for severe eczema. She has brittle asthma too and us on meds for that too so that hasn't helped[/quote]
Could I pm you? Dd is on 7.5 at the moment but they will increase that on 3 weeks when we go back to the hospital.

I have spoken to the gp who honestly was pretty useless. She was having to look everything up as we were talking and was clearly not listening to me explain that the hormone surges have been around since she was 6.5-7 and just kept saying there was no link to her meds that she could see in her book.

Just kept repeating well she is 8 now so the book days that is very early but it's OK. She did eventually say she would contact a pediatric specialist more advice, but I don't hold much hope.

Not read the posts, just that 8-year-old girls where I work are having periods. It is a more common these days.

My DD is 9 and is definitely going through puberty. She has breast buds and lots of public hair. She has recently started to complain of 'snots' in her knickers - I've spoken with her about discharge and I expect her periods will start at one point soon. Her moods are very up and down and she's so very petite. It has been a shock. So, a bundle of fun for her dad and me to navigate.

I was worried about my daughter and our GP has an email advice line so I messaged them which was easier.

My daughter has breast buds (was 7 3 weeks ago) but no other symptoms, and they told me to wait and see if any hair develops

My daughter got body odour as early as 5 and was diagnosed with premature adrenarche like a PP’s daughter above. She started getting thicker leg hair, underarm and pubic hair when she was still 7, but no sign of breast buds till she was 9yrs 6m. She is 160cm and slim but has definitely filled out and become more ‘womanly’ in shape over the last year. I was also very worried about her starting periods very prematurely, but the consultant paediatrician we saw who diagnosed the adrenarche, said that it doesn’t necessarily mean that premature menarche will automatically follow. He thought DD would probably start her periods on the earlier side of the ‘normal range’ and he has been right as she is now 11y3m with no sign of periods yet, and just beginning to get the odd pimple.

It’s a bit unusual in a 7-8 year old, it’s very unusual in a girl that only weighs 24kg! Would normally be associated with girls that already have a much higher body fat percentage. Perhaps you can have a discrete telephone appointment with GP that doesn’t directly involve your daughter? Wouldn’t want her to feel ashamed of her body at all.

@SweetBabyCheeses99

It’s a bit unusual in a 7-8 year old, it’s very unusual in a girl that only weighs 24kg! Would normally be associated with girls that already have a much higher body fat percentage. Perhaps you can have a discrete telephone appointment with GP that doesn’t directly involve your daughter? Wouldn’t want her to feel ashamed of her body at all.

This is what really worries me, she is so petite and everything says it is highly uncommon given her weight and build.

I have had a conversation with the gp yesterday evening whilst dd was at her dad's. Last thing I want to do is worry her!

GP was utterly useless, she has said she would email a pediatric specialist but not holding my breath. I will speak to her her specialist nurse next month and see if they can refer her

My DD (described below) experienced premature adrenarche at less than 50th percentile for weight. She was/is tall but she wasn't overweight when she started experiencing adrenarche. But like I say, it isn't true puberty until the breast/buds and periods system kicks in.

I was very petite and skinny as a child and grew a full bush by the time I was 8! I have pcos now, but didn’t hit proper puberty until 11.

Not medical, but an anecdote: when I was 7 I was at a school swimming lesson and borrowed a girl’s hairband because I forgot mine. I thought everyone had pubes and thought it would be funny to tie mine in a ponytail and jump out of my changing room naked. All the other children were horrified, the teachers were bemused, and poor Catherine Linton was absolutely devastated about her hairband.

For those concerned about height and early puberty, DD started showing signs at about age 8 and started her periods at age 10, towards the end of year 5. She was always well developed physically for her age, and has always been tall. She didn't stop growing, is now 15 and 5' 9", so it didn't affect her height. Obviously everyone is different but periods certainly didn't stop my DD getting taller.

Dd is 34kg and 127cm
To the original person is your dd 24 or is that a typo and should be 34kg as your dd almost same height as mine

My dd has outbreaks of spots on her forehead also