One of dd's friends has had her first period - she is in Yr 5 and is 9 years old.

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Is this still unusual in this day and age? I am a little bit shocked, if I'm honest.

How do you support the six year old mrz? Cant imagine a child that young coping, poor thing

It's unusual, but it's getting less unusual.
I've been told that it can be linked to a high consumption of chicken and white meat, as these animals are often injected with all sorts of hormones to make them bigger

Dd started at just eleven. She still isn't seven stone at age 17 (just five foot) so please don't let that reassure you.

Actually her mum has kept her at home but I've asked the school nurse for some support (mainly for me)

Dd started at 10, but then I started at 11, I think we just start early in my family. Dd was skinny and I was certainly not fat.

My mum started at 9 (she is nearly 70) I didn't have a period until I was 14 so no idea when it will happen to my daughter. She is 9 next week. Maybe I should consider 'the talk'

No it is not at all unheard of.

None of DD's pals (she is also in yr 5) have started - I asked her the other day - but one of them has started growing pubic hair so it's probably not far away.

A friend of mine (ie someone who is 40+) started when she was 10, so that's a while ago. Her DD started in primary too.

Surprised btw that people speak of "the talk" - all of my DC have known about periods forever tbh.

I think its the lower end of the normal range. My cousin started at 8. I had just turned 11 and managed to start on my very first day of high school! I definitely had breasts and a bit of pubic hair when I was still in primary, I don't think its that unusual.

I was 14 and had been fully developed since I was 12. I dont think there is any hard and fast rule. I do think though that having a first period doesnt necessarily mean you will have one every month. My friends daughter had one at nine but it was a good year before she started "properly"

My nieces aged 8 and 9 have known about periods forever as well. I guess because their mum was pregnant for five years of their lifes!

I was put on drugs at 6yo in order to stop my periods from starting and Mum told me about periods at 8. I went on to be nearly 14 when I did start them. Mum was 17.

This is a great book for explaining periods to younger girls, in simple terms.

I was advised by our DR that nowadays 9 is within the normal age range to start your period. She said that its a combination of height/weight and genetics.

I have a very tall DD who is certainly developing but hasn't started her periods. But as I started my periods at 10 many many years ago I would be surprised if she didn't start them around that age if not before.

My DD1 is nearly 10, she now needs a support top for PE so is developing and is tall for her age. She knows what periods are and what they feel like - and fortunately her (middle) school has separate changing facilities for PE.
I started developing boobs at age 10 but didn't have a period till 15 - I hope my DDs follow this pattern, later is definitely better as far as I am concerned.
As for not growing anymore 2 years after your periods start - I grew another inch between my 18th and 19th year, putting me at 5'11''. Oh joy when all the clothes I'd got for going to uni were suddenly too short.

Thats's why it's so important that they know about periods from very very young. Thye should just grow up knowing. No need for a "talk" - just low key accurate information from the beginning,

I can't remember when I first talked to dd1 about this - we've just sort of gone on adding bits of info in as needed. She's off on a school trip in a few weeks so I'll need to send some stuff with her just in case. I don't think we're there yet but there's no way I can let her go without supplies - can you imagine the horror! Mine always arrives on the day that my usally bursting at the seems with snaitary towels handbag is empty! Why is that?

dd1's school do their first 'girl's only' sex ed lessons in yr 4, because they know from experience that some of the girls will start their periods in the next year.

i was a bit surprised - but i don't think 9 is hugely unusual, particularly from what the school were saying. they used to do it in yr 5, but had to move it forward as they were too late in a number of instances.

I was 10 my daughter is only 6 a the moment but she does know the basics ( although i will spare the gory details until she's a bit older!).

In our school yr 5 is fairly common, I'm used to sorting out yr 5's in shock with blood in their knickers (should I ever have a daughter I'll be a pro at 'the talk' by then). What shocks me is how many know NOTHING about what's happening to them! I mean most of them clearly have breast buds/ are starting to sweat/ getting a wispy underarm hair etc so why their parents don't forewarn them I don't know. I've found a number of girls crying in the toilets and I've had to sit them down and talk to them about changes.

I do notice though at school that girls of different races often (although obviously not always!) tend to start their periods earlier or later.

It's a trend that scientists have noticed too - linked variously to obesity genes and hormones in the food chain - see here for an article on it.

Jamie Oliver would be all over it like a shot if he knew.

I was 10. I was also the tallest in my Primary School and the only girl with boobs.
The laugh of it is I'm 5'2 with 34b boobs. I just grew before anyone else.
DD is 9 and going through puberty, but I'm hoping periods are a way off yet.

My DD is 9, hasn't started yet but we've had the talk and she does have an emergency sanitary towel in her bag.

Thanks for the book tip Mathanxiety - I've just ordered it! Exactly what I was looking for for my 9-year-old dd.

(I was so relieved to find that book, LillianGish. This review describes it well:
'Highly Recommended read for 10 year old Girls. It is still the only book we have found for this age group and explains all they need for now on growing up. The information level is just right and gets the facts straight. It has broken the ice for Mother / Daughter conversation.')

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