8 year old DD starting puberty?

[2008flowerpower]

The day after my daughter turned 7 her breast buds started, they went up and down but have stayed now both sides for around 9 months.

She is quite tall for her age although the youngest girl in her class, and she's slim and all legs.

Recently I've noticed, and so has she, hair on her legs really growing , and a few tiny spots on her nose.

She's complained more of a tummy ache low down, and we've had more tearful mood swings since the breast buds started.

It seems puberty is on it's way, we've had lots of chats and some tears. I said I'd like to try and prepare her incase she starts her period, and to get her a few bits for us to have a look at and try on and to keep a pad in her school bag.

Grandparents, and her Dad are all very supportive and involved in us creating a period kit up for her (suitable pads, new knickers, comfort items things like that)

Are there any books anyone can recommend? She is newly diagnosed adhd and has a rare autoimmune condition so she's feeling a bit scared about it all in top of being so young and her recent diagnosis.

Thank you

I think you have at least 2 years yet..

Based on...?

I’d get her checked out at the doctors for prepubescent puberty. There isn’t really anything in the book market that’s targeted for children going through puberty that early so you’re kinda on your own with that one.

Excuse me? I am asking for advise and book help?

Hi, I already did that GP wasnt concenred will mention it again at her hospital appointment with pediatrician next month

She will be 9 in a few months, so that is 2 years from when they started at 7. Hopefully it won't be soon for her sake but just wanted to prepare her

Go and see your GP - if it’s true precocious puberty (it may not be despite the physical signs) and your daughter is not emotionally ready, it can be delayed. There are also implications for adult height if girls enter puberty too young. I don’t know if 8 is considered acceptable now (my daughter was 6).

Rather than pads, I would recommend period pants. Much easier to manage (Next sells them in appropriate sizes)

Good luck

Is she your eldest OP?

Yes, myself, Mum, sisters, cousins ect were all much older when any of this started

Oh that’s a shame your GP was unconcerned, ours referred straight away and we’re now using the delaying medication for the next couple of years whilst until her peers catch up.

I don’t think she’s ready for the emotional/hormonal changes despite us chatting about the physical changes and when I looked on Amazon for books that might help I couldn’t find something that was readable at her level. A lot of the text is quite complicated compared to what she’s reading at school.

Prepubescent puberty is only a diagnosis if they start developing under the age if 7.

Dd started with very definite buds at about 7yr 3 months, we found this book an absolute godsend to explain things. My best friend had died at the same time and her dd and dsd were the same age as my dd so I used it with all 3 girls to help them understand about what was happening

What's Happening to Me? (Girls Edition) (Facts of Life) https://amzn.eu/d/cXtBhV6

IIRC, one of my friend’s daughters started her periods at 8 and was given medication by the GP to stop them on the basis of the implications for her adult height and bone development etc. (her mum was most concerned about her lack of emotional maturity to deal with them at 8). If you think periods may start soon I would advise you to take her to the GP who could determine if it’s precocious puberty and act accordingly.

Thank you will speak to pediatrician again and I'll look for those period pants good idea

The period pants were a little wide for my daughter, I thought they might rub in between her legs and not have proper protection.

My daughter’s best friend started her periods this year in year 4 at age 9. She is however a tall girl and well built - I don’t know if that might make any difference?

anecdata does suggest that girls are starting periods earlier now than previous generations did, I believe.

It's not the norm in my family, and yes seems girls are starting younger, possible link between adhd/asd and starting earlier also, my daughter is tall but not the tallest and there is nothing of her so seems like I need to push pediatrician to rule it out

My DD went through an unexpected growth spurt and started to develop while we were in Lockdown and she’d just turned nine. She started her periods half way through Year 5, aged just 10 and a half - so about a year after those first signs.

While not considered hugely early any more, she still seemed so young and yet she took it all in her stride.

The only thing that has happened as a result is that you stop growing in height two years after the start of periods, so my DD reached adult height at 12 years old and while her friends have dramatically overtaken her, she’s stayed quite short in comparison. She quite likes being the ‘Little Sister’ though.
We found a nice book by Osborne Books about Puberty and we read it together so I could answer any questions.
And period pants were (and still are) a Godsend.

I remember the first time she said she had period pains and she was still using Calpol as a painkiller, she seemed so young!
But she’s honestly been fine with it all.

9 is within the normal age for puberty.
The medication to delay puberty is not without risks either so would likely be a last resort.

I started my period age 11 and reached 5' 6"
Dd was also 11 and is 5' 4"

I was just 11 and DD was 10. So although unusual in your family overall it’s not that young.
We went into lockdown just after DD started so wasn’t so bad, but primary school were completely useless and she wasn’t the only one. Hope things have improved now.

Just to add I just had a look at the book recommended upthread and yes it’s the same one.

https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/02/lupron-puberty-children-health-problems/

Puberty blockers can cause more problems than they solve

Following on from what others said, specialists told me signs of puberty from 8 yo is not abnormal and not considered precocious puberty. Periods from 10 yo is not considered precocious puberty.

Breast development stages are the key indicators of when the period will come, more so than the body hair apparently (the lead paediatric endocrinologist told me when my daughter was investigated for precocious puberty).

The GP shouldn’t have brushed you off.

Some blood tests and a hand X-ray could be easily arranged. There is a more complicated serum test procedure that can be arranged if they think there is a need.

They can offer puberty blockers but, from what I have heard of these same drugs in endometriosis treatment, I would not be keen for my DD to have them unless it was really necessary rather than delaying the period a little.

I think period pants are supposed to be great for young ones, but it is hard to buy them preemptively when they are growing so much and you want a good fit for them to work well.

Puberty is getting earlier and I think many schools need to bring forward the teaching of periods in RSE curriculum.