Eight Yo Daughter Developping Breast Buds!

I know this is frightening, but I started developing early also...I believe I actually started my cycles when I was 10 1/2. It's becoming more and more the norm for children to begin developing early. Another case in point, my son's half-sister is 9 years old and she's also developing breast buds already.

My daughter is 6 and has breast buds. I took her to the doctor and he told me that it's normal. The girls are getting younger and younger. He also said usually after the breast buds start they will begin pubic hair in 2 years and start their period in 4. Hope that helps. I did not make me feel to much better because it just means my little girl is growing up.

My niece is 9 and had started to develop breast buds early at 7 1/2-8yrs old. Hers were caused by too much hormones due to an overdose of the "growth hormones" in milk and dairy products. She LOVES dairy products. But, her pediatrician cut her back to one glass of milk a day--or the 1/2 pint at school. If she eats cereal for breakfast, she can't drink the milk off of it now. It's helped slow things down for now.

If you read anything by Dr. John Lee - you will find that this is all too common in the USA. My Hispanic friend was appalled that young ladies were starting their mentrual cycles at around 8 or 9 in this country.

Dr. Lee says it is too many hormones in their bodies - specifically too much estrogen - also considered by one school of thought to be the culprit of breast cancer in our later years.

The research has been solid enough that I don't use bleach (causes estrogenic activity in the body), try to buy hormone free meat, do buy hormone free eggs, do not microwave in plastic, have gone to safer home care and personal care products (that work better and are less expensive by the way) to name the main things. Canada even tried to ban the sale of bleach because the research of estrogen and breast cancer connections were so strong.

My daughter was raised in a healthy home - not purist by any means, but healthy. She started her cycle at almost 15...and from what Dr. Lee teaches...that is healthier all the way around. That is a common age of the past...thus the huge Hispanic celetration at this age for young ladies...she is becoming a woman.

Dr. Lee has died :( but he spent the last years of his life trying to educate doctors that too much estrogen in the body is the culprit for many whoas women have - PMS, menopausal, etc. It's out of balance with progesterone and that's the root of the problems.

I'm assuming the book you referred to was "The Care & Keeping of You" from the American Girl library? That entire series is wonderful. My almost-10-year-old received that book from a dear friend when she turned 8 & she carried it around for months.
My daughter prefers the "sports bra" types for everyday wear - playground @ school & gym days ... saves the "pretty" ones for church, special occasions. Seems to help keep her comfortable.
Another book that has helped us w/"Body Discussions" is "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley. That one is much more in-depth, w/lots of illustrations. You may not want to just hand it to your daughter, but I go over different areas of it WITH mine - answering her [many!] questions along the way. Hope this helps!

Hi - sounds like we are in the same boat...and worrying about the rest of the ship coming in. My daughter just turned 9. Last year when she turned 8, she was already developing breast buds and then she started getting VERY crabby about once a month, too. I was a basket case thinking she would start having a period ANY DAY, and I was NOT mentally prepared to explain "life" THAT in depth to my 8 year old.

Anyway, her pediatrician said (not to be too graphic, sorry ladies) that she will start developing "coarse" hair on her private regions and that's one good sign that she is going to start having a period soon.

I also have had a couple of moms tell me that underarm hair is the BEST indicator. (So now I check my daughters arm pits frequently :) They have said when underarm hair starts growing, you have 12-18 months until IT comes too.

My thoughts are with you. Living it myself!!!

C. B

Yes, my daughter actually started developing hers when she was 6! I was just thinking last night, how soon before all the rest starts. I don't know if I am ready.....

I was in a b cup by 3rd grade and a c cup by 5th. I did not start my period until high school though. Some girls just start developing a littler earlier than others. Don't fret about it. She may get teased some because of her breast size, but I wouldn't worry about the other until you notice hair under her arms or on her privates. I do know how you feel though. My 10 year old son informed me that he had started getting hair on his privates. I made him show me and sure enough....he is.

I have a nine year old daughter who has developed little buds as well. i was as shocked as you are, and am certinly not ready yet either. i noticed this summer (before she turned nine) that she may be in need of a bralette, and sure enough i was right. i don't have much advice about what to do or when the rest is to come but wanted to let you know you are not alone!!! let me know if anyone gives you some good advice and i'll do the same. take care and good luck!

Hi, I went thru this with my own daughter. She is now 20. When I look back at it, I was more scared than her. She didn't like the thought of wearing a training bra. I didn't push the bra issue. But I did suggest she wear it with thin clothing. Somedays she had taken it off at school, due to it being not comfortable. I wouldn't make a issue out of it, by the 4th grade it was a great thing to wear one. Made them feel grown up and mature. The other things came around the beginning of 6th grade. I was so not ready for it. But it will pass and you will see it's not that big of a deal after a couple of months. L.

hi im T. my daughter started her's at 11 an then her period at 12 now she is 14 an looks like a grown woman it makes me very nerous cuzz im not ready to give up my baby yet

Dear C.,
Although they have finally passed laws banning most homones from conventional chicken, there are abundant honmones in regular beef. Try buying organic or honmone free beef/pork if she eats them. Also, many phyto-estrogens occur on soy. In my opinion too much soy is bad for girls and especiaaly little boys b/c of the estrogen. Google it. They make atheltic type tank-top undershirts as far as masking the issue if she is self-conscious about it. Don't forget the hormones given to cows passes on to their, milk so avoiding conventional dairy is very important also....(however expensive....) Good luck...and Happy Anniversary!

Hi, I have not experienced this myself but my best friend's daughter (who happens to be my oldest daughter's best friend) started forming at 8 years old. She was very self-conscious about it. She is ten today and will be 11 in March. She has had nothing else start except for maybe some signs at 10 that she may be having some hormonal moments. They are starting extremely early these days. Lifeway Christian Book Store has a line of "Lilly" books that are very helpful. I got her the "My Body" book (I think is the title) that tells them about the changes that your body will be going through (basically puberty) and really puts it on their level. She learned alot from it and I gave it to my oldest daughter at nine. Most of my other friends are giving it at 8 years now with how early they are starting to "form". I gave it to my daughter and told her that she can read it with me or read it herself and talk to me about any questions she may have. It worked wonderfully to help "Us" (the Moms) out with this part of life. Unfortunately, for my daughter, she is not experiencing anything yet. She feels like she is missing out on something. I keep reassuring her she is definitely NOT!

It is perfectly fine don't freak out. If u sit down to talk with her it will help the both of u. My daughter was a very late bloomer and she begun getting breast buds at 13.
I would suggest buying a Cami with a shelf bra in it ( some super cute ones r at justice) if you feel she is not ready or to young F. a real bra. Next, don't say things like " my little girl is growing up" because she may feel self conscious already. Just try to not make a big deal of it. It happens to every girl. My daughter, Allie, is now 14 and wears a t shirt bra. When you think she is ready F. a bra, ask her when she would like to go shopping F. one. First off start with a cute training bra, let her choose the ones she likes best. A trainer bra adds no support but gets her used to the elastic feel of a bra. A soft cup bra is usually the next thing u would look F.. Soft cups do not have under wire but are a step up from trainers. After that, look F. t shirt bras. T shirt bras come in super cute prints and colors to make wearing a bra fun. Usually, a t shirt bra is needed when girls are in stage 3 of breast development or usually age 11 or 12. T shirt bras are mostly underwire and may take her a few days to get used to the feel. You mat want to get a tan or nude color bra also so they won't be seen through shirts. If she has sore breasts or they r itchy and burny remind her it is part of growing up, there is nothing wrong with sore breasts. She may want to sleep On her back if they are too sore. And no sleeping with a bra will not make breasts bigger, it will just be more uncomfortable. Good luck and have fun!

Hi,my nine year old has breast buds. I wasn't ready for this either.I was in shock when she presented them to me. I called my family in New Orleans and told everyone.I went to Wal-mart and bought her some training bras. Size 30A.Make sure you get the padded ones so if she bumps her chest she'll be protecetd.Our little girls are growing up before our eyes.Remember how we were when we got ours. Take a deep breath and breathe. Go to Wal-mart.

Hey, You might not have to fret too much just yet. I was nine years old when I developed breast buds but did not start my period until I was 13 and breast did not fully develop until high school. When I was in the second grade a young friend of mine had fully developed breast but no period.
however, I did have a friend in the fifth grade who was fully developed in every aspect but she had been for a little while.
hope everything goes well...A.

Hi,
This has happen to some friends of mine. Even though it is more expensive, try switch to organic milk and chicken.Milk and chicken are pumped with staroids. Going ll organic is best.However, your grocery bill will be alot higher

The main reason this is happening at earlier ages isn't because of hormones in milk (though I don't think that's helping matters) but because girls are getting bigger earlier. Once your daughter hits 80 pounds, she's likely to start puberty. That goes for 8 year olds and 14 year olds alike. My daughter is 12, and has a slight build, so I'm not expecting it for another year or so. Though I could be surprised!

That is all very normal. My 9 year old step-daughter started developing last summer and we started her off with a cute little sports bra. That didn't last long by this summer she was in a "real" bra and began the growth of pubic hair. I was not ready for that considering her 7 year old sister still acts and looks so much younger(she can still wear 5T cloths)and my nine year old can wear some of my shoes. That just shows how different two kids can be. Studies show that the average age to begin menstruation in 1997 was 12 years old and I'm sure that has gotten even younger since then because of our diets. I know it sounds very young, but me and the girls mom have already talked to my 9 year old about what to expect when she gets her 1st period. We didn't want her to be scared when it happens. Even though we both hope it is a few more years before that happens but you never know. I hope this helps to know that you are not alone and that your daughter is doing what no mom wants to see their little girl do, growing up so soon.

Hi - my daughter who is also 8 (almost 9), in the third grade has breast buds ... At her 8 year check-up the pediatrician let me know about it. I thought it was quite early too and am also not ready for it. But she did not seem to be alarmed or concerned that it was too early.

Hang in there ... it will be alright ... our girls are growing up.

Well.......I am afraid the news is not good. I know exactly what you are experiencing! A week after my 8 yr. old turned nine she started her period. I was so in shock! Not to mention how she was feeling.

My daughter started developing at eight also. She is now 11 and has not yet started her period. We watch every day. We are concerned about what kind of protection she should use once she starts. After watching Oprah yesterdy, we learned that tampons can get stuck. At this young age girls are not mature enough to wear tampons.

I began developing breasts when I was in second grade, and was completely through puberty by the fifth. I had a precocious puberty.

I would suggest that you buy her a book about the body's workings and read with her. Remember that she might feel "dirty" to start wearing a bra so young - sports bras might work better then training bras at first.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact me. It's been awhile, but I still remember what it was like to go trough it.

C.,

I started my period at 9. My mother didn't tell me anything and I was terrified. I also started the training bra at 9 also it is time to have the sex talk with her but don't overwehlm her. If you notice this others do too and she needs to know what to expect. If you don't feel she is ready for the full blown talk, take it one step at a time keeping in mind that your daughter is growing up, no matter how much you may not want to beleive it. I know. My little girl is only 5 but she is my only one. I have lost 11 other children and I don't want to even look forward to that time in the future when this will happen. But I do know that common sense will somehow get through to me that I have to deal with it. Try going to the book store and asking for books on this subject. That may help. Good luck.

Hello C.,
Im going through the same problem, the only thing is that my daughter is a year older than yours. I started teaching her about femenine hygiene but still treating her lime my little baby.

H.

hey,i have two daughters and step-daughter.my oldest one started early,about the same as your daughter,but biggerby the time she was 16she was in a 36c her beast was so big we even talk to a doctor about it.just take a deep breath.set her down talk to her about it.let her know how little boys talk.my daughter came home crying several time.you will know when she is about to start.some get really sick.i know my youngest got sick months before she started.we didn't know what to do till the doctor told us what was wrong.you will get through it i did with two of by own.just don't get upset,if thinks you are upset it will scare her.it just the first thing you are going to go through.good luck
C. w.