Wondering About Girls and Puberty

i see ppl blaming early puberty on hormones but not everyone can afford to buy organic..you think bout it cpl hundred yrs ago they was marrying girls off at 12 to become moms cause of life span..but at 9 they can become moms not very healthy but it happens.There are places you can get bras for kids i got my daughter some bras in kids section at J.C. Penny plus they got them at most all big stores

C.,
I am mom of 3 duaghters, 17, 14, 11! A girl usually starts to develope about 3 yrs before she will start her period. Nine is not too young. You will notice her "buds" first and they might start and then stop for awhile. It might be a good time to find a good book at her level...what's happening to me? I think that is what one of the books is called. The more she knows the less she will worry about it. My oldest was a 34c in 7th grade!! My middle girl is barely an a cup while my 11yr old is a 34b already! If I can be of any further help dont hesitate to contact me! Good luck and welcome to pre-teenhood of a young lady!
P.

Just so you know. My daughter started to develope as well at the age of 9. It is very normal. Each female is different. There is no way to tell the exact age a girl will start puberty. My daughter's friend is 12 and has her monthly for 1 1/2 years now. She started in 3rd grade.

A.

Oh my gosh! My little girl is a year old and this conversation is FREAKING ME OUT! I started developing breasts at age 10, but they stayed the same size until I was about 16-17. I didn't get my first period until I was 14, and it was so embarrassing! This is going to be so hard when she is "of age". I'm already strictly giving her organic milk, yes it is more expensive, but I'll make sacrifices for her. I never knew there were hormones in chicken too! I am so grateful for this website. I hope it is still around when I need breast/period advice. And good luck C., just keep emphasizing that ALL girls go through this. I just remember the horrid embarrassment of puberty.

C.,
I am sorry to say that this is a very common with the hormones being added to our food. The person who mentioned this before was absoultly correct. There is growth hormone added to our cows and chicken especially. This is causing earlier development in our children. I noticed it in my poor son who had started developing breasts. I can tell you though that there is HOPE! First thing to do is start eating organic foods or foods without BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) There are now certian brands of milk advertising this quality (Upstate is one of them). These brands of milk still contain antibiotics but no Growth hormone. There are OVER 90 hormones in the milk that we give our children if it is not organic!!! The second thing that you can do is get a progesterone cream (they sell it at most health food stores in the menopausal section) This will help balance the increased amount of Estrogen. This can be rubbed anywhere to be effective. Lastly excercise is important to help flush out the hormones. If you have any more questions please let me know. I can tell you my son is losing his breast and extra weight thankfully and it can be done!

Early or not you can't stop it from happening. She may be developing them at that age. Just make sure you start educating her on the ways of boys and sex and how they act when girls start to develop.

Hi,
OK, I just read the response about the new average age being 9. I don't think that 9 is either new or unusual. BUT...you really should prepare yourself before you talk to your daughter there are alot of great resources out there. (not just the internet)
My first suggestion is get a book.....Go to Borders by yourself, get a coffee and look through the selection they have on books for your comprehension and books to give your daughter to introduce her to the idea.
My second suggestion is to call you insurance company. They often sponsor classes at local schools and hospitals called things like Girl to Woman or Getting to know my developing body. By the way they have the same thing for boys too. If you live in Pittsburgh, like me, Magee Women's Hospital has a great program so does Blue Cross.
And one last note you can't stop nature only cope with it.
Good luck and enjoy your daughter. She'll be talking about women's issues before you know it.

Kids are hitting puberty a lot sooner these days due to the hormones injected in cows,chickens,pigs............
I know of girls getting the period at 8 years old!! Could you imagine?!?!?!
Just remember, with breasts comes emotions.
Good Luck!!

C., my daughter Katie started developing in 2nd grade,from breasts to pubic hair, shes in 4th now. She is on Lupron to stop her period, which started last year before Thanksgiving.
I had to take her for a Bone Age scan, which determines the growth of her bones and whether or not she is maturing faster then she should. I also had to take her to an Endocrinologist, who is dealing with her early periods.
I would ask your pediatrician if he/she thinks she is developing early, and whether or not she should have the Bone Age done.

I think girls are developing at an earlier age due to hormones in our food!! Another scary thought is going to be her period! I had one of my girls get it at 11 and the other at 10! Now I am terrified for my 11 year old. And yes if you think shes developing...she is. Mom's always know.....Go to the store with her and pick out some training bras. K-mart has some joeboxer ones in the girls section. They are kinda like sport bras..but look much nicer! Make this a good experience for both of you! And forget dad...it will make both of them uncomfortable.

Hi,

9 is the new average. Check the stats on the internet, nine is the new average of when girls start. It seems way to early, but it is not abnormal now. This also has lead to the increase in teenage motherhood, because at 9 and through puberty they are way too young to make good choices.
My suggestion is to face it head on (your husband too) and have "THE TALK" with her. It is important, and she needs to know you support her and what she is going through.
The breast start it, then the hair growth, then you get the period and the hormanl psychotic episodes. I would have a kit all ready for her so that when she does come and tell you, you are ready.

Good luck.

L.

Welcome to the wonderful world of puberty. My daughter is 11 years old and has had pubic hair since she was three years old. I almost had a heart attack when I first discovered this. Her doctor said not to worry, it happens.She began wearing a bra at 8 years old. Well right after her 9th birthday she got a "surprise visit", her period came and I cried like a baby. She is such a baby, that I took her to her doctor to see what could be done to postpone it. Again she said not to worry, everything is just fine with her. She is now 11 years old and looks like she's 16. She is a full C cup and has developed entirely too fast in my opinion. I want my baby back, but it's out of my control. I say all this to say, that little girls aren't little girls very long any more. I've finally stop worrying about how fast she's developing and started talking to her about the facts of life. Her father on the other hand is still in denial. If he had it his way, he'd go to school with her just to make sure that the boys don't look at her! I wish you all the best while you and your daughter go through this wonderful, yet complicated stage of life.
Good Luck!

Hi C., I know just how you feel. My daughter is 8 and I had to have her start wearing a sports bra to school. Keep your chin up, what she's going through is totally normal.

C.,

This is not silly at all. I'm sure you've heard that girls are reaching puberty younger and younger. If you think she is starting to develop, now may be a good time to talk to her about the changes she will be experiencing very soon. From what I've been told...a girl will begin her period about a year after her breasts begin to 'bud'. How old were you when you began your period? I was 11 and when I asked our pediatrician when I need to talk to our daughter who is 8, she suggested when Lily turns 9 or 10 at the latest. I'm not looking forward to these changes my daughter will be going through because she is still my little girl, but I know it will be happening before we know it. If you can communicate openly with your daughter try asking her if she notices a difference with her chest or ask if you may see if she is changing.

I wish you the best of luck...I know I'll need it around this time next year!

B.

These days the average seems to be between nine and ten.
I start developing a bit early. I was in training bras at age 8. By 10 I was a B cup, by 12 I was a C, by 14 I was a D, and then I leveled out at the age of 15 with DDs.

Hi C.!

I guess that it's just different for everyone. I started developing around 10, but didn't start wearing a bra until 11, and by 12 a bra was a definitely necessary. If you don't want her to wear a bra yet (you'd have a hard time finding one that small anyway), you can have her start wearing undershirts. It gives a little coverage if there's a problem with nipples showing.

Hope this helps!
J. B

No this is completely normal. In fact there are a lot of girls that have started their periods by 9 yrs old. Puberty is hitting at a much early age now because of all the hormones in things. To add on to Beth's response, My 12 yrs old just started her period in July. Very late for my family but she is much bigger then me and the doctor says that has something to do with it. Maxie and I have been talking about things in life for a long time. Starting off slow like bad people (ie kid nappers) and then about our bodies anatomically calling them by correct names (ie breast or boobies, vaginia, etc) then when she started growing public hair we talked about that and that is when we started talking about the facts of periods. I am a Health Educator and in my experience whatever you do has to be comfortable to you to talk about. Honesty is very important. Just remember these kids are being faced with things A LOT earlier then we ever did.

hi, i am the mother of a 19 year old daughter so i have been thier and done that. I was a late bloomer myself, accually i never got breast until after i had children then the bloomed, but my daugher on the other hand well lets say she bloomed very early, accually when she was 10 she tried on my wedding dress, i was 19 when i got married, anyways she was already getting breast she could not even zip my dress on up over her chest area, she did fine to the waist but after that nope no luck, so what i am tring to get too is i think all girls develope at diffrent ages, it may be time for a training bra, ewwwwwwww bad thing to think but if she is developing then maybe it is time, I hope i helped you out some but i would not be worried about it too much sounds like your little girl is growing up faster then you wanted her too. Also i will tell you that i have a niece that has been wearing trining bras since she was around 8 she is 10 now. sincerley T.

I agree that girls are hitting puberty earlier. I am 26, and I developed breasts @ 9 years old. Of course they weren't "full" but it was pretty embarrising to have the "nubs" as my grandmother referred to them. Though, being a tomboy, I refused to aknowledge them right away. By the time I got my period, at 11, I was already a C cup. If you notice them, than that means others will too (boys @ school) so maybe it's time to take the "little woman" shopping for some trainers. It will, at least, get her comfortable with the idea that they're there & that it's natural, not embarrasing.

My daughter who is now 21 got her period by the time she was 11 yrs. old. So it is rare but possible. And not to frighten you but she is now wearing a size 32DD and hates it so hopefully your hubby is right.

Hi there!
I know exactly how you are feeling. My 9 year old is just hitting puberty I believe. She has had a bra for a while...but now she is developing more hair on her legs and underarms. I am concerned she will start her period soon (I did when I was 9!) She just seems so little to me. We bought this wonderful book at Barnes and Nobles that I suggest you get and read with your daughter. It's called The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls (American Girl Library (Paperback))
by Valorie Schaefer (Author), Norm Bendell (Author)
It really made my daughter feel alot better about some of the changes that are going on with her right now. Good luck!