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

why Would you comment this? Girls can start very young

The term is "precocious puberty". I am being pedantic to ensure that the OP knows what to ask about, not to rebuke you.

Hello,

My youngest was officially diagnosed with precocious puberty. It started age 7 during lockdown, so by the time we saw a dr age 8 they said there was little they would do (age 8 was the cut off - I'm not sure if that was regional or national parameters). It with breast buds but also underarm and pubic hair.

If it is any consolation, despite us anticipating her period v early, she was 10, nearly 11 when she started.

We didn't use any books but we did some talking around how everyone develops at different speeds and has different starting points. Despite being quite emotionally and socially immature, she fared just fine.

She started her period at school, so a head's up to your daughter's teachers might be useful.

Did you read any of the post?

We also did lots of practising of putting in pads onto pants so she felt confident knowing what to do if we weren't there. In the end her sister (2yrs older) was the first to hear and she dealt with it all for us! (Despite not having started her period herself, bless)

Not so. I started menstruating in Year Four.

Interesting- many women in the endometriosis community say the same thing. Long lasting impacts on mental health and physical health- including bone problems. It’s quite a ‘last resort’ drug in the UK for endometriosis from my experience and quite scary to think about the side effects on children.

I hope we can find other solutions to help young people going through puberty early.

My daughter is just 9 - she’s tall for her age and a few other signs had made me think in the past year that she might start puberty on the early side. I don’t know if ultimately that will be the case but I wanted to make sure she was prepared and shared the same anxieties you mention. The book we found really good was Growing up for Girls. We read it together, I liked it because it does the biology and science part so it’s all laid out in an understandable way but factual, but it’s also quite an empowering read about being a girl and growing up and forming your identity, so my daughter felt much more positive about what’s to come, whenever it does! I don’t think 9 is so young nowadays, although I do hope she has another year or two before periods start..

www.books4people.co.uk/products/growing-up-for-girls-everything-you-need-to-know-by-dr-emily-macdonagh?srsltid=AfmBOopt10tEZDbcXqfYcCiqlSM3ZZVJGIe3bcoGL0ZDNg9VkTklUeN0

Making sure that she has access to a Red Box scheme at school and knows how to access it will help. The worst aspect for me at school was surprise periods and having to improvise with loo roll. I'm autistic, so my ability to remember to chart my periods was impaired and they weren't regular anyway. A girl with ADHD is also likely to struggle with charting.

The second-worst aspect was the pain. Ask your GP or pharmacist about child-appropriate NSAIDs because paracetamol will not touch it.

Well everyone is different. I had breast buds at only 8 but my periods didn’t start until I was 14.

My DD started having pain in her nipples and small breast budding age 8. All the hormonal moods, greasy hair then body odour, very tall etc It was 3 years before she started her periods age 11. 3-4 years is a pretty normal length after the first signs of puberty so I would not worry too much yet but good to be prepared anyway.

Period pants all the way. I started periods at 10 and really, really wish they existed then! Even on my heaviest days I wear mine for 6 hours (I have v.heavy periods) so I imagine she could wear them all day at school which would be great and more practical than changing pads in primary. If your daughter is nearly 9 she could definitely have periods soon. Also practical things like dark pjs in case she leaks etc but I am sure you know all of this!

Might be worth keeping an eye on if she gets any discharge happening. I believe period usually starts around half a year to a year later. Was true for me anyway! Might help prepare the conversation.

I started age 6.. but had medication to delay it . Then l started again just before my 10th birthday and they ( parents /GP decided l was okay then . My breast started developing same time.
I ended up with loads of gynaecological problems ( PCOS/ Endometriosis) ectopic / miscarriage s.. my gynaecologicalist said it could all be related but this was years back ,( I'm 66 now) so obviously they know more now.. .
I always had large breasts too.. tall and very slim then.
Nope you get some answers and help.

I started my periods when I as 8 (I am now 50) and my dd also started when she was 8 - drs weren’t concerned. DD was very heavy and very regular right from the get go and my biggest regret is I didn’t push the drs sooner for help because she spent at least a day off school a month vomiting on the first day of her period

Sorry, to add, my dd developed breasts just a year before starting her periods

I recommend the book Whats Happening to Me - it’s for children as young as 8 years old and explains everything so well 👍

I bought this book for my DD too when she was 8, I highly recommend it.
She has just turned 9, developing rather quickly so to be prepared I also got her these.

Not a book but an app- we are luna has loads of content about puberty and female health in general. It's backed by experts but very pre-teen/teen friendly! So it's kind've like a science book but could be as fun as tiktok.

It's so nice to hear how everyone in your family is so supportive. Prepping with period products is a great way get started. It's so important that tweens/teens feel supported in this time. luna has been great at helping me when it comes to puberty-related things for my dd, especially if she ever becomes too shy to bring up certain topics with me. x

My DD is on this too and we love it!

@notnowmrshudson Are you getting paid to advertise the Luna app?

Also talks about 'people with periods' (just say women and girls!) and being AFAB (again, women and girls!)

One of my daughter's friends had just started her first period, it just seems so very young. It seems to be the biggest exciting topic between my DD and her group of friends now and asks when She might start. Hopefully we have a while but you never know.