How far into puberty did periods start?

[Granohlaa]

My DD was 8 in Feb and has started puberty with a vengeance. Since March she’s started getting a bit of downy hair down there, breast buds and has started getting smelly during her sports. She is a good head taller than the rest of her class but she always has been tall and slim. She’s also very stroppy and emotional!

I wasn’t expecting this. From what I read this is the very early end of normal so no need to worry but none of her friends (or in some cases her friends older sisters) are anywhere near where she is.

I’ve started talking to her about puberty and brought some books that we have looked at together but she mainly finds it all amusing!

What else can I do? And if your DD did start puberty early then how long before her periods started? I’m wondering if I need to get prepared?

My dd - 8y4m breast buds, 10y8m periods (during lockdown thankfully) with everything else in between. Period pants have been a game changer. I was 11.5 and my mum was 11. I expect dd2 to follow a similar pattern.

Can I ask what the best pads are for younger girls? I have used tampons for years and remember pads being very long! My dd is 10, going to y6 in Sept. I think she'll be fairly soon to start her period, so want to get her a bag ready for just in case.

@Italianmeringuebuttercream my dd has recently had her first (light) period and used the lillets teen range and some carefree panty liners. The teen range look really soft and quite small, but they wouldn’t cope with a heavier flow - I’ve also got her some bodyform at the ready.

@passthecake30 Thank you, I'll get a selection.