Advice from mom's with DD's in puberty?

[here757]

thanks for the info on the blood work. and x ray.. i never heard of that..
but if your girl is like me... mother nature will visit her at the worst time..
ie right before prom LOL . wedding , big trip to the beach
i wish you guys luck

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Our DD is 12 and started her menstrual cycle last year- she started developing "size" in areas when she was 9- she is not getting size from me because I took after my Dad with a very high metabolism and taller than average- I do hope she continues to gain height but she is larger than I am now in many areas and although she can wear a lot of my clothes (size 7/8) some of them are a bit long on her- basically we buy her petite in the same size- She fills everything out & I think she is gorgeous But it does worry me- She is just starting to occasionally shave- she has used the creams for over a year now and I am more comfortable with- I do buy her the sensitive formulas because I, myself, breakout with the creams- she has been fine using them-
I went ahead and got her a disposable razor but told her she could only use it after she asked me- ( I want to check and make sure she NEEDS to use it) I hate that she will have to start shaving- I got the Smooth Away pads and she has used that as well- about the same mediocre results I have gotten- But softening the hair and leg is a plus-
Good Luck with it- It can be hard but make sure she knows the doors are open for questions- and make sure she knows NOTHING is weird or not normal (even if it is) Just reassure her and see the doctor whenever you need to-

 

[Tricia's mom]

Forgot to add that DD started shaving with an electric shaver until that became ineffective, then we tried the intuition razor. Now she does well with your average triple bladed disposable. We have italian in our lineage so we are a bit thicker haired. Makes for a glorious mane, never have to worry about balding!!! Anyways, an electric razor is a bit less intimidating and requires no chemicals to remove hair!

Also, if your DD is getting close to her menstrual have you thought about having her use panti liners? It helped my DD feel fresher and offered a line of protection for that unexpected start! I started my first menses on a school field trip and was so alarmed and too embarrassed to ask for help! I did not want DD to have the same embarrassment so when it became obvious her time was nearing we stocked up and showed her how to use panti liners. DD also liked the teen spirit brand of deoderant.

Again HTH!

Electric razor..thats how I started, good choice.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

my dd was 8ish too, went for the hand xray, everything was FINE. I thought stuff started up when they became teenagers, so 8 seemed strange when she was laughing one minute, crying the next. I remember praying she'd just get her period already!!
It's just so much earlier for girls now...someone said hormones in meat and milk? or better nutrition overall? who knows!

 

[ilovejack02]

If she doesnt want to shave , but worried about underarm hair showing for swimming how about one of those rash guard shirts for swimming.. it has short sleeves and helps keep the sun off.

 

[Kiderak]

Electric razor should work fine, you can try it on the inside of the arm to prove it won't hurt or anything.

 

[sylhar12]

When my daughter was about 8ish or 9ish I bought her own special bag of "stuff". I put in it pads, pantyliners, deoderant, razor, shave gel, bath and bodyworks shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, and books. Definantly go with the American Girls books. I like their book called the care and keeping of you. There are also others. I gave her the "stuff" so when the time came she did not have to feel akward asking me to buy it for her and she could examine all the products beforehand. I did ask her to let me know before she shaves so I can show her how. I bought one of those razors that have the protective wire wrapped around the blades. When she had her first "cycle" I did not even notice until she said,"mom, I started my period yesterday." Like it was no big deal. Like ,"mom btw we are out of cereal and need milk." kinda way...lol. Good luck!

 

[enchantingodin]

At the age of 10 I was 5'5" (I'm now 5'7"), wore an A+cup, and had already started my period. My current ped told me during an unrelated conversation that girls usually grow 2 inches after they start their period. Which was/is true in my case.

This link might be helpful - good luck!
http://www.epigee.org/menstruation/menarche.html

 

[tzolkin]

Our primary concern with Pey starting menarche at this time is that once you start to have a period you typically stop growing (because your growth plates fuse together at that time). Since Pey is only 4 feet 3 inches tall, this would be a really bad deal for her later in life.

I stopped growing when I got my period, but I had some endocrine issues, so that may have influenced things. I did have my growth plates checked at that time (issues with my spine) and was told that I was definitely done growing. I got my period at 10, but I was abnormally sized. I was 5'5" and a c-cup. I now wear a d-cup and have gained a few pounds after 3 kids, but I really look the same as I did in 5th grade.

My DD just turned 10 and has yet to get her period, but we started noticing changes of breast development and pubic/underarm hair at 8. (So even though you're seeing signs, her period may still be a few years off.) I talked to her doctor because I stopped growing at 10, but DD doesn't seem big enough to be done growing yet. She told me that girls can continue to grow for two years after menarche.

 

[Sydnoahmom]

At the age of 10 I was 5'5" (I'm now 5'7"), wore an A+cup, and had already started my period. My current ped told me during an unrelated conversation that girls usually grow 2 inches after they start their period. Which was/is true in my case.

The 2 inches info is what our pediatric endocrinologist told us when she was seeing DD, now13. We started seeing her in 1st grade and she started Luperon injections in 3rd grade, based on her bone age studies. I gave them to her for approx 2 years. She started her period in March 07 (5th grade) She is 5'5"now, what that anticipated her max height to be based on mine and DH height.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I have been through one DD in puberty already and the second in line is right now. I have to agree, get her the American Girl book, it worked wonders on making our girls feel more relaxed. As for the shaving, I would suggest you do it for her before using the lotions, they can be very harsh. I wondered about those "Smooth Away" pads, but haven't been willing to try yet, but I am intrigued. My oldest shaved on her own one day and told me after, that was easy enough. Like I said, the book made her feel comfortable! My middle doesn't need to yet, but will soon I bet. Side note, I was a month shy of 10 when my Aunt Flo first visited and I continued to grow about 6 inches after that. I don't know if that is rare, could be, but it is not impossible.

 

[RN4Babies]

My dd8 also has breast buds, but no other signs of hitting puberty yet.

I agree with pp's who suggested trying an electric razor; it might be a little less scary than a razor with soap/shaving gel. Also, the Venus razor is wonderful; I think you could drag it sideways on your skin, and it wouldn't cut you.

 

[mjkacmom]

thanks for the info on the blood work. and x ray.. i never heard of that..
but if your girl is like me... mother nature will visit her at the worst time..
ie right before prom LOL . wedding , big trip to the beach
i wish you guys luck

My poor dd - she got her first period a few months before her 12th birthday while we were camping with friends. Her next one came when she was rustic camping at lake Michigan with her aunt! No showers, just an outhouse. She was never a milk drinker, didn't eat a lot of meat, 5'2", 100 pounds, so not overweight. She started shaving on her own at age 10, even though she has super-light blonde hair - she was just self conscious. I did get her the American Girl book, as well as a book covering everything else, especially sexuality, at 10 (It's So Amazing), and I'm SO glad I did. I don't think we'd be able to have an ongoing discussion about sex now if I didn't start when she was 10. A friend of mine works at her JH, and hears about oral sex parties all of the time.

 

[taximomfor4]

I have been through one DD in puberty already and the second in line is right now. I have to agree, get her the American Girl book, it worked wonders on making our girls feel more relaxed. As for the shaving, I would suggest you do it for her before using the lotions, they can be very harsh. I wondered about those "Smooth Away" pads, but haven't been willing to try yet, but I am intrigued. My oldest shaved on her own one day and told me after, that was easy enough. Like I said, the book made her feel comfortable! My middle doesn't need to yet, but will soon I bet. Side note, I was a month shy of 10 when my Aunt Flo first visited and I continued to grow about 6 inches after that. I don't know if that is rare, could be, but it is not impossible.

In our peds class, for nursing school (2 yrs ago), one of the groups of students did their paper on growth after menarche. All the most recent studies they found said the average growth after onset is 2-6 inches so seems you were at the upper end of the average range!