9yr old DD and a couple of questions

[Betti]

My DD has been very moody and snappy recently. Her breasts are growing and she has started getting pubic hair. Could she be about to start her periods or is that still a way off?

Also she is very conscious of the hair on her legs. It's very dark and some girls in her class have made comments about it. I have tried to tell her that it's hardly noticable but she's getting very upset about it. Is it too young for her to remove it? I feel like she's growing up too quickly but I don't want her to be miserable. If she does remove it, what do you think is the best method?

Thanks

At that age I had leg hair and arm hair that made me v self conscious. My DD age 9 has hairy lower legs, once they bother her, will use immac. Once she is older will pay for laser hair removal which really worked for me.

I'm glad you asked about this OP. My 9 year old DD has hairy lower legs and she is becoming self conscious about it, especially now she has started going swimming with school.

I wondered if I was being ridiculous considering using immac to get rid of it as she just seems too young!!

I'm also worried that she is too young. Afterall it's a slippery slope. Once they start removing hair, they're not going to stop, are they? Is it making them into women before their time? I really don't know the answer. If it's making her miserable I feel I should do something to help.

IMO, if it's making her miserable and it's something easily fixable, do it.
Girls of this age are nasty. My DD is 10.8 and having a hard time at school about other stuff. If it was as easy to sort out as a tube of immac I'd be thrilled.
Do it.

My dd is mixed race and has since the age of 10 for her upper lip hair to be removed (now 13) I personally can't see it (pic on profile) but then it's not me living with it...so we do use waxing strips. Her legs are not too bad but I am sure they will be the next gripe!

Poor kid, that's a lot to cope with (I'm assuming yr5 at school). If she has breasts rather than just raised nipples/ areolae (or puppy fat) then she may not be far off her periods. You need to have "the talk". I'm assuming she's also tall for her year group so has started to grow faster.

Re the legs, honestly this comes under the "don't sweat the small stuff". Simple cheap battery operated lady shave was what we chose for our girls- then they are able to de fuzz as they want. Immac is good but needs you to supervise.Shaving your legs isn't the "slippery slope" to anything.

I don't think it's ideal for children to be shaving their legs as it's time consuming and they'll have to do it forever once hey start.

But I think it's less ideal for them to be regularly miserable and self conscious about it. If it will make a real difference to her self esteem I'd let her do it.

I had a friend who was very hairy and wasn't allowed to shave her legs or armpits until she was 12. I remember it as being excruitiating for her. It's a tricky one really. My own dd is quite hairy although a lot younger so will probably have this issue in a few years time.

If it's noticable and she's getting stick at school I'd help her, no question. Probably not shaving at 9; I'd use cream. Make it into a girly pamper session once a week or so.

One less thing for her to cope with.

Thanks ladies. It's good to get other people's opinions. I will wait until she asks again and then go down the cream route.