Do i do the period talk with my 9 year old daughter

[SarDan123]

I have noticed that my daughter is starting to develop hair under her arms, and below and is very stroppy etc. Is it too early to have the period talk with her? Am I just panicking? I started my periods when I was 9 and hate the thought of this happening and her not knowing anything specially with not having any period talk at school yet, as only in year 5. Do I tackle it now myself, or wait for school?

No, of course it's not too early!

I would do it now.
Has she asked any questions?
My Tampax are always on the ledge behind the toilet so I just answered questions when they asked and made it age appropriate.
When they were little it was just that the uterus inside gets ready for a baby every month by providing a nice soft cushion - if a baby isn't made then the cushioning isn't needed and cones out. We built on it from there.
Hope the chat goes well.

I got my period at 8 - 9 is late for having the talk so if get on with it

Of course you Need to tell her, my DD is 9 and she started acne at seven so I felt i had no Choice but tell her in cas she got her period luckily she still hasnt but she has recently started to develop breasts, you dont want her to wake up one morning with her period and have no idea what is hsppening to herself. I bought her a book aimed at children her age as well so she could understand what is happening to her body.

Do the talk. My youngest daughter was 10 when she started x

I told DD very vaguely at 6 I think, since then I explained a bit more, she is now 9 and knows, not fully, but knows, has always known. I showed her a tampon etc.

I think she's a way off though Like me at that age, desperate to get her periods. I was 15 so don't think it is likely yet.

I've always been open about periods with DD, similar to a PP I said inside a ladies body is a place for baby to grow and if the food isn t needed it comes out every month. She's now 9 and has small breasts and pubic hair so I've recently expanded on it and explained exactly what comes out and why. Haven't talked about sex just yet, I'm leaving that for when she asks how baby gets in there!

She should know bits and bobs about it already tbh. Think my ds knew about them at that age. Dd started hers at 11

Yes, definitely.
Not having a go at you though but I'd always been very open with my girls and just mentioned it as we went along so there was never a big reveal - just one of those things. I can't quite see the point of keeping silent about it and then suddenly telling girls just before they're going to find out anyway. It's no big deal if you drip feed it - like any other bit of parenting and growing up.

9 is too late imho. (sorry)

DS knows about periods already and he's 5.

Def have the talk with her, a friend of mine at school was not told a thing about puberty or periods, and totally freaked out when she started with the hair and breasts at 9.
She literally thought there was something really wrong with her, and was too frightened to say anything to anyone for ages.

She was really upset by the whole thing.

If she'd known from an early age that it was all natural and normal I'm sure she would have been very different.

If it helps start the discussion, there is a recent operation ouch episode on cbbc (now on iPlayer) that talks about puberty, including hair and periods..

I recently watched it with my nearly 8 year old and talked about periods after it.
I wanted her to be prepared - I was 10 / 11 when mine started, as was my mum.

Def. dd knows about them and ds, both since 4/5 -they were in toilet while I had period and changed pad. Told them it was a baby bed that wasn't needed.

Definitely have the talk. I was never told and freaked when it happened. There are some really good books that worded age appropriately and will help answer questions too. My 8 year old daughter asked about periods last night, so her bedtime book was all about periods. Lol. At least she and her older sister know and understand. X

Would you prefer school to be dealing with it? Why?!?

It's never too early to talk to your own children and help them as they grow up.

Swallow any embarrassment you might feel and tell your DD the facts. Or let her find out in her own time via playground chit chat / her teacher / her period arriving unexpectedly. Take your pick.

I would if I were you before she starts and freaks out if she doesn't know what's happening

Both of my DD's started at 10 so nine isn't too young

DS was 6 when his class teacher came in and announced he was going to be a daddy. One of the children asked how the baby got there, and he told them. We'd already got DS an age appropriate book on sex, where I came from type thing, so he knew some of it, but I was amazed that no other parents complained.

I think 9 is too late to be starting conversations about these topics. Like other posters, DS has known generally about periods for some years (he's now 8) as something that shows mum can have a baby and it forms a lining where the baby would grow but it's not needed. He just came to the loo with me and asked questions.

For me, parents have much more to cover with their kids when they're older, social media, sexting, respect and boundaries etc. that our parents didn't consider when we were your DD's age, so I wanted to cover the basics early on to give time for these bigger conversations.

Yes, it;s definitely time OP!

Yes of course! Overdue really!

Thank you ill try this :)

Yes.
And give her an 'emergency bag' with clean knickers and pads to keep at the bottom of her school bag / PE kit. Just in case. DD2 was carrying hers for 3 years until it was needed, but we weren't to know.

Sar the book I bought is called Girls Only, my DD has found it very helpful and she often asks me questions.