Dd (9) has started spotting...is this the start of periods?

[dameofdilemma]

Dd (9) has been spotting, a bit like the very beginning of a period.

She is using panty liners and has bigger sanitary towels to take to school with her but not sure if this means her periods are really starting or if this is just an early warning? 9 seems very early. I don't know whether its just normal or if I should speak to the GP.

No period pain so far. She's average height, quite slim/small but has definite breast buds (has to wear a crop top bralet).

Has anyone else had this at 9?

I started my periods a week after my 9th birthday. The only advice I can offer is to educate and support your DD.

When mine started, no one really expects a 9 year old to have them, I started bleeding and found it really confusing and ignored it. It's great you're on it and thinking about it for her.

I'm 29 now which seems young to have had periods for 20 years! Other than that I think I was just an early developer but I've never had any problems with them and I have DS.

My DD is 10 and in the last 6 months she has (what seems like suddenly) developed breast buds, has some wispy pubic hair and wears panty liners as she has discharge often. She also says she has a low down tummy ache sometimes but is unable to properly describe it, which leads me to think it may be period cramping. I have been getting her prepared for periods for the last year. She is also slim and tallish and is mentally really quite mature.
I started my periods just after my 11th birthday but had been having signs (like DD) for a couple of years before that.

I hear that 9 and even 8 is considered normal these days. Possibly because of pollutants in recycled drinking water, such as oestrogen.
Lil-lets have very small "teens tampons" now for very young girls with smaller bodies, regular and super, applicator & non-applicator varieties, which can be used when a girl feels she is ready. What do Mums think? Of course a girl needs to understand the importance of hygiene, changing at the right intervals, etc. I suppose it is a sign of the times!

It sounds like it. My DD started at 9 too. Her first period was very light, almost as though her body was 'trying'. They've got heavier but mercifully they seem to still be light.

She's using the Modibodi pants now and getting on very well with them.

My 9 year old has breast buds - had to wear bralets as they are so visible through clothes.

She’s also got discharge, we’ve had a chat about periods so she’s aware about her body changing.

It’s so very young isn’t it?

My oldest had full periods shortly after turning 9.

My dd started the day after her 10th birthday so it’s not the unheard of

9?! No!!!

My dd is 9 in March and it feels too young to start.

Not necessarily, my dd started her periods this time last year aged 10, had 3 full normal periods about 4 or 5 weeks apart and hasn’t had one since. She’d been having discharge for a few months beforehand so I had prepared her for periods but it still felt too young. She handled it brilliantly though so just make sure your dd knows what to expect and have plenty of pads in various sizes ready. I bought expensive period pants for my dd but as she only had the 3 periods she didn’t end up using them and she’s grown so much in the last year they don’t fit her now. Anyone want them?

@Soubriquet

9?! No!!!

My dd is 9 in March and it feels too young to start.

I started mine at 9 and that was 28 years ago

I started at 10, so now my DD is 8 I'm starting to discuss them in more detail with her as I know in the next couple of years she could well start hers.

Lil lets made mini tampons over 30 years ago, they’ve just rebranded them as teens, it’s nothing new!

I agree with a PP that 9 really isn’t that young to start periods anymore (although to us mums it can seems horribly young). My DD told me that now she is in year 5 the toilets at school are fully equipped with towels and tampons and they have a regular talk from their teachers about periods and their changing bodies, during PSHE. On the contrary I don’t remember anything like this at primary school. There was one girl who had started her periods in year 6 but no one was to talk about it and she had to change for PE in the toilets. I’m really glad things have moved on so much in those 30 years!

The GP surgery helpfully put me in touch with a paediatrician who confirmed yes its normal, in fact from age 8 is now considered normal.

Could be a long time until they settle down and become regular. Very light for now.

Dd has closed really well. The hardest bit has been assuring her this doesn’t mean she cant do the things any other 9 yr old might like to do, eg play with Lego. Her body might be changing but she’s still a child.

*coped not closed

My dd needed a crop top at 8 but periods didn't start until 10y8m. She's now 11y8m and they're still very irregular