11 year old boy: How can he be going through puberty? Help! Maybe TMI for some people

[lucie19]

I always worry about being the nuerotic mother but my eldest ds (11) seems to be going through puberty very young.
I have noticed for about 6 months now that his testicles seem to be hanging considerably lower down although his penis seems about the same size. He has started to get body odour and I have had to buy him deoderant. He also seems to be getting black heads on his face.
However in the last month he has been complaining it hurts when he sings and his voice keeps going very husky and he says at chior the teacher has asked another boy to do his solo with him because his voice is unreliable at the moment (whatever that means?) He has always been very hairy on his arms and legs, to the point where it matted on his arms and the doctor told me he probably had high testosterone levels.
I am a single parent with no dad to ask about this stuff so I am on my own here. Is he going through puberty and isn't he a little young to be going through quite so many changes? Thanks for your help.

I don't think it's a big issue, Goblinchild, I just don't remember ever being naked at that age long enough in front of my Mum for her to measure the descent of my testicles.

Like BDCCCM says above, that age is old enough to embarrassed about nudity in front of people.

Depends on the child and the attitude towards nudity that they've been raised with.

"Depends on the child and the attitude towards nudity that they've been raised with."

No it doesn't. We always had a relaxed approach to nudity but both my DS and DD started wanting privacy a year or so before they started puberty, it's perfectly normal part of development.

I know DS's voice started to breaking and wobbling when he was in year 6 and broke completly when he was 12. He could have started shaving when he was 12 as he had quite a moustache, but didn't bother until he was 14.

My DS is 11 and not in the least bit concerned about privacy

I was in the bath earlier, he walked in and started chatting to me as he needed the loo

I dont find anything about that at all

It is interesting that boys seem to go through this hobbit stage with their feet. You see these fairly ickle boys with massive feet - and then just a little while later they are much bigger and hairy and have deep voices.

DS1 is almost 13 and is more than happy to wander around in his boxers/chat to me whilst drying himself after a shower/stand in the living room in a towel (have a flat so the bathroom is next to the living room) At least once or twice a week he'll accidentally flash (cue cries of 'put it away, my eyes are burning' ) He gets embarrassed when it happens, but he's not self-conscious about it or his body.

Definitely nothing about it in the slightest.

'his testicles seem to be hanging considerably lower down although his penis seems about the same size' thank you for that, I was wondering mightily about DS1 but it's not something that you can generally ask people about and DH can't remember much about himself. DS1 (nearly 11) goes through 5 minute phases of modesty but then gets bored of it and dives in the shower with the rest of us (can fit me and DS x 3 in, HUGE shower!)

Also his feet STINK, but I haven't noticed any BO yet. Thank you for the comments about feet too, he was complaining about his football boots at the weekend but he's only had them 5 mins and I thought it must just be his socks. How can he possibly have grown to a size 6 already, my baby!

He has started to have eczma again, where he used to have it when he was young (we used to have to wet wrap him at night) do you think this could be related, it must be at least four years since his last flare up?

Oh I love this thread, all my friends have younger children so there's no one to ask/compare notes with.

This thread is making me

I have 2 almost 14 year olds in the house, 1 mine, the other DH's.

They have been poles apart in terms of physical development- DSS voice broke about a year ago and he has the body of a grown man DH tells me. He's 5'8" and seems to be slowing down a bit now but is cultivating a small beard/moustache .
DS only really started puberty about 6 months ago, has grown several inches and is now in size 10 shoes despite being only 5' 7". Am hoping his height will catch up before the circus asks to recruit him

The common theme is the 'eau de boy', despite daily showers and ozone killing quantities of deoderant. Why do they bloody stink?

Is it the wanking do you think married

Bleuurgh, thanks for that thought- not.

Nah, they save that for the bathroom I reckon (judging by the time they're in there!) as they share a room- bunk beds does not equal privacy.

Yes the powerful whiff of teenage boy. Even ones who shower twice daily and douse themselves in Lynx.
DS1's bedroom just reeks of testosterone. When he has four 15 year old friends sleeping over, well......