Early puberty in 8yo - help anyone

[barnstaple]

I don't know if dd is actually going through this and have appointment with doc on Monday after school. She has some wispy pubic hairs - the only symptom. If any of you have any knowledge or experience, advice etc I'd be really grateful for it. I don't even know what to say to doc other than the above. She is worried about it herself, and asked me last night if this was what was happening. I'm so ignorant I don't even know what to worry about, let alone to prepare myself (and dh) if it is happening. Please help me!!!

It's not actually counted as 'early' if she is 8 (sadly)

DD had her first period at 8yr 6m - she had 3 (each about 4/5 weeks apart but has had 14 weeks since with no period (just PMT)

Sorry taht isn't much help is it?

i think the best thing to do would be to present it to your daughter as a natural thing - something not to be worried or ashamed about. i think the doctors could be really embarassing for her - and puberty can start at this age - periods can start as young as 8 or 9. i think as you have access tot he internet you could do some research - perhaps have a look on the NHS direct website.

what you mustn't do is prsent this as something to be ashamed about. your daughter will take her cues from you - i personally dont think there is anything to worry about - and think you should do some internet research before taking daughter to doctors.

Whoops I must be crap - DD was 9 not 8

Sorry

Mind you I understand a bit of how you are feeling - I was upset about the whole thing

i was 9 when i started wearing a bra 34 b

i hated getting changed at school in mixed groups and as im dark skinned and dark haired . i have had hairy legs and wispy pubic hair from about 8 i didnt get my period til i was 14 though.

i got reallly bad skin from about 11 and cant rember needing deodarant before then either

i hope this helps i've always been loads taller and stuff than everyone its quite weird to bump into people now from school mostly boys that are now loads taller then me and weren't when i left

Thank you - I did do some research which said it was early before 10yo. It also said stuff about growth - she's one of the smallest in her class at the moment, though. No breasts. The stuff I read on the internet made veiled refs to psychological probs associated with it but nothing specific, but she really doesn't seem to be suffering in that way; just slightly worried - oh mum I don't want to start growing up yet. I wasn't particularly worried myself until I read the about psychological effects, but it didn't say what they were or anything helpful (sometimes I hate the internet!). I'll look at NHS Direct - forgot about them .

She wanted to go to the doctor, which was why I made the appointment.

Have looked on NHS Direct: this is the bit that bothers me:

^Young people going through the changes of puberty may feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster. They may feel depressed, have mood swings and low self-confidence. This is all part of growing up and adjusting to becoming an adult.

Young people find they need a greater degree of freedom, independence and privacy. They are learning about the person they will become, looking for a sense of belonging and establishing self-esteem.

Puberty is a time when bullying can occur. It is also the time when first 'crushes' can be experienced. At this time, a young person can be attracted to someone of the opposite sex, or of the same sex. Sleeping patterns may also be affected, hence the reason that young people go to bed later and get up later.^

The trouble is that she is only just 8 (August). She has been bullied, though that has stopped. Her teacher says there is not a child in the school "quite like her" (which was a compliment, actually!). In other words, she doesn't really fit in, though most of her classmates like her (she was voted School Councillor this term). We, her parents, are percieved as different from the other parents too. So you see, she's different enough already and really doesn't need this on top.

I posted recently because DD (age 8) has a breast bud. I got it checked by the GP and she said confirmed what it was and that all is well.

I think a few hairs are ok as well. 8 is the early part of the normal range. They are just babies really though aren't they!

Katymac, does your dd get depressed etc? And what about crushes?

My dd has always had 'boyfriends' - some are relatives or friends who are ancient (!over 40) and some are her age. At the moment i know it's all just totally innocent stuff and I'm happy that she has these friends she can turn to.

I think I am more worried about burgeoning sexuality than I am about the physical changes. For one thing I hadn't expected to have to think about it for some years yet and haven't 'prepared' myself, but what if she looks 16 when she's only 9?!! She's just started walking to school on her own.... She, on the other hand is worried about the physical changes (well, it's all she knows about really). We haven't talked about it since yesterday when she asked me to make the appointment, but I will present it as normal - we've talked about menstruation etc since she was about 2 and she found me changing a tampon - we're quite open about it. But we haven't dealt with the emotional/sexual side of puberty other than periods meaning you can have babies.

Her self-esteem is good, but it hasn't always been. Oh bother, I'm in a stew now. AND MY ITALICS DIDN'T WORK IN THE LAST POST, ffs!!!!! I'm going to bed.

Depressed yes Crushes - maybe - but I'm a childminder and we have 3/4 little boys of 3-6 who are her boyfriends plus she has almost crushes on my staf (all women) so I don't really worry

tbh I hate it & I hate thinking about - Nice adult response then

My DD was tested for this last year,I had taken her to our Gp as we had found a lump in her breast which she was saying was painful. Our Gp said he thought it was early puberty(she is 8 in March) and we had monthly appointments for a couple of months before he referred us to an endincrinologist at the local hospital.

At the hospital the consultant gave Dd a full examination and also x-rayed her left hand,they can tell the bone age of a child(this can differ from their 'actual age and is an indicator of early puberty) but although my Dd is tall for her age and growing breasts and having PMT symptoms ,the consultant is pretty sure that shes progressing normally.

The consultant said many girls this age will show signs of puberty ie breasts growing,pubic hair etc but its just fits and starts at the moment,if you get what I mean.It doesnt actually progress until a little later.

Having said that,when I was researching about puberty on the net,it says that puberty actually takes about 4-5 years in total with stronger sweat and breast budding being the first signs ,to getting your period being the final one.

I hope I've put your mind at rest abit,try not to worry about the sexual side too much at the mo,we just explained to my DD that her body was changing a little quicker than her friends,she seemed to accept it quite well.But I wouldn't burden her with the sexual side ,I think it would be too confusing for them the age they are,and put extra worries in they're heads,when they're already worrying about the changes being different etc.

Unfortunately puberty is happening earlier and many year 3/year 4 girls are having periods.

Just thought that I would add to this thread as my dd age 7 (8 in May), came into the bathroom the other day when I was in the bath, pointing to her girls parts and declaring that she was growing hair there. Whilst I initially thought it would probably be fluff from her clothes, I was amazed to find it was actually the start of pubic hair.

Having read this thread I have now got "bad mother induced guilt" as my reaction was to chuckle at her potestations of not wanting hair there and told her she needed to get used to it - as there was going to be alot more where that came from. Which I was obvioulsy role modelling from my position in the bath!!

Must admit, the thought of periods at this age is daunting - although with our open bathroom policy demonstrated above - she is quite aware of them already.

Is it just me or this happening much earlier than when we were all kids? I remember going through all this with my friends when we were about 12/13. It seems now days that things happen earlier and earlier in life. Poor kids, as if they haven't got enough to go through. I totally sypmathise with you all. My dd is only 2 but my time will come before i know it!

It does seem to be happening earlier nowadays. I remember when I was 12 there was a lot of hushed bustle in our class about a girl who was 10 and was reputedly having periods - hardly any of us were even then. Mine didn't start until I was 14 and I was earlier than quite a few. I think it's something in the water...!

I certainly agree not to burden dd with the sexual/emotional side of things it's just that I'M burdened with it - can't help worrying about it. I'll just wait and see what happens. I'm still not sure whether I should take her to the doc, and the only reason I am is that she asked me to. I'm sure he won't examine her - which she would find embarrassing. I'm not sure what he might say though, or what questions he might ask. We've lived inthis area for less than 2 years and I haven't seen him often - he's always been v nice, funny and sensitive, so I assume he'll handle it well.

Indi28 - my reaction on the first occasion the hairs were pointed out to me was similar to yours. But as she's still worrying about them, and has obviously thought about it (she introduced the idea of early puberty, I didn't!) I started feeling awful, and then got fairly hysterical on this thread last night! It has made me feel much better knowing it's not that unusual; there are probably other girls in her class in the same state, for all I know.

I was 8 when I started my period and Im sure I was a little earlier when I started getting breasts.
It made things harder at school because then both sexes had to get changed for PE together so I had to go in the toilet to get ready.
My parents got me a book called Girls Talk that helped alot in explaining things and was written for a child.Maybe you should see if something similar is available?

These very early signs (eg a breast bud.. or two.. and a few hairs) can happens a LONG time before anything else happens. The GP told me this.

However I did read something which disturbed me about the additives (hormones) in chicken products forcing girls into earlier and earlier puberty! I am trying not to think about that.. I can only afford organic chicken once in a blue moon.. and DD loves chicken!

ds2 had a few wispy pubes and armpit hair from before his 9th b-d. He's 12.5 now and it hasn't really progressed beyond that, though he has caught his older brother up in height.

So it's not just girls. I was shocked and a bit sad at armpit hair on my baby boy!

I don't think you have anything to worry about. If dd only has some pubic hairs - no breast buds etc, it'll be a few years before full puberty hits her. My dd has very slowly grown breast buds over a 6 month period (aged 10 now) but researching the internet, as another poster stated, it says it takes 3-4 yrs before a period comes. DS is aged 8 and there are a couple of girls in his class with breast buds. DS also proudly showed me some downy hairs on his 'bits' the other day!!!

Re the psychological inferences you stated, I think you were probably reading too much into this. It sounds like they were just referring to the normal 'moods' which pubescent children can go through - both my dc's are prone to these - hormones or not!!

I thnk the bullying issue is also something which happens during those early teenage years - and not necessarliy directly associated with puberty - but more to do teenagers being teenagers!

This has all made me feel a lot better about it - thank you all so much. I over-reacted last night; it was the first opportunity I had to state the things that were worrying me and I went a bit over the top.

Chicken eh? And we've just been told to lay off red meat. I sense a plot afoot.