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?

My 7.5 DD has started with hairy legs and pubic hair. Nil else other then moods which I can see more clearly looking back. She's also on the 50th centipede for height and weight. I started periods at 10 but was nine for breast buds so contacted GP. they've sent an advisory into a paediatrician but not said what happens now so I'm just monitoring and having discussions with her re puberty. I'll be looking up those books mentioned so thank you for the recommendations.

I've also found it quite upsetting as it feels like her childhood is ending too soon. This might also be because I was bullied as an early developer so I've also mentioned to her friends mums so they are aware that this might be talked about amongst them.

Here's hoping that's it's not premature menarche and that they have as smooth a puberty as possible.

@WLAH

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

No, not a typo. She is just over 24kg.

@squeakyheart

My 7.5 DD has started with hairy legs and pubic hair. Nil else other then moods which I can see more clearly looking back. She's also on the 50th centipede for height and weight. I started periods at 10 but was nine for breast buds so contacted GP. they've sent an advisory into a paediatrician but not said what happens now so I'm just monitoring and having discussions with her re puberty. I'll be looking up those books mentioned so thank you for the recommendations.

I've also found it quite upsetting as it feels like her childhood is ending too soon. This might also be because I was bullied as an early developer so I've also mentioned to her friends mums so they are aware that this might be talked about amongst them.

Here's hoping that's it's not premature menarche and that they have as smooth a puberty as possible.

Sending hugs @squeakyheart I hate the idea that because if her skin condition and hyperactive immunity she is already singled out as different, has to miss school a lot due to other people being ill etc. We are lucky that she has not been bullied so far but I am waiting for it if I am honest.

Dd and I have always been quite open about things so we have had lots of discussions in preparation. Am waiting for the arrival of the usbourne book so that we can have an evening looking at in and she can ask questions etc.

@Terminallysleepdeprived thank you. It's such a worry isn't it? Sounds like you have a great open relationship like we do so that should help! Fortunately my mum suspected I'd start early so started conversations early as she wasn't prepared at all.

There is a book called 'the care and keeping of me' i think there are book 1 and 2.. it has lots of easily accessible stuff for younger ones but doesn't have the sex/boy bits in if you feel she is a bit young for the detail in 'whats happening to me.'

@squeakyheart we are very close which is lovely, I have a dp but he doesn't live with us so it is just her and I. She sees her dad but he's a bit of a bellend and for a variety of reasons I won't allow her to stay the night at his so she is always with me.

@didiplanthis thanks will look at those too

Dd1 was about 8.5 when I first noticed public hair, then breast buds, now spots and underarm hair but no periods yet and she is 10.5 now. She is very tall and I've definitely noticed her shape changing.
I was 14 so definitely didn't inherit from me.
Anecdotally her step sister is same age, tiny, super light and has already started periods. Everyone's different i guess.

@Didiplanthis

There is a book called 'the care and keeping of me' i think there are book 1 and 2.. it has lots of easily accessible stuff for younger ones but doesn't have the sex/boy bits in if you feel she is a bit young for the detail in 'whats happening to me.'

Was looking the pdf of care and keeping.. lots good for young girls

Petite so

My DD had had a bit of pubic hair and Bo fir a couple of years. She’s 10.4. No periods. She’s still quite short and skinny.
I started at 10, but had boobs and was over 5’.

This happened to my DD. She started her periods at 9 (I think - could have been 8). With hindsight I wish I had gone to the GP but I had also started early so I assumed it was within the realms of normal. And yes, she stopped growing at that point.

My dd started showing signs at 8y4m so we went to see a paediatric endocrinologist. They did elimination tests like bone age X-ray, bloods, pelvic ultrasound but concluded just early normal. She started her period at 10y8m.

My girls have just turned 9 and both are tall for their agez One has a size 4 shoe and has just started developing breast buds, she has had whiffy underarms for about a year now so things are definitely starting. They are both 143cm but skinny.

I got pubic hair at 8. My dad was still bathing me, my sister and brother together when he noticed and he's a bit awkward with things like that so got my mum to have a chat and decided I was old enough to bath alone. I didn't start my periods until 11 though.

@NotMyCat

I was similar, and started my periods at 9 so I don't think it's out the realms of normal

Further to this I should add I didn't stop growing and I am 5ft 10!