puberty

[happymommy]

We drink soy - my son is allergic to dairy. He doesn't drink it anymore, since he decided a couple of years ago he doesn't like it, so he gets calcium supplements and loves MEAT. We still like it, and it aids with our digestion.

I actually think there is conflicting evidence on this one, but we should all do what we think is best, so don't let me sound like "I'm right and you're wrong" as I have heard about lots of soy for boys - I do wonder about those other countries where they consume lots of soy.

In Asia, soy is a big part of the diet, especially Japan. They actually didn't traditionally have a word for "menopause" in their language, and some doctors think it's due to the high soy content in their diet. It can help with menopause symptoms, but you have to have it every day, about 30 grams a day or so. My mother in law said she never had any menopause symptoms, and (Korean) they eat a lot of tofu, not much meat. I love tofu!

Anyway, my DD drinks soy probably just a cup or so a day, maybe two. But she is developing just like I was (and we had never heard of soy in the 70's in the midwest). I needed a training bra in 3rd grade.

I have heard of problems with girls developing too late, but maybe there are some conditions when they do too early as well. Maybe before age 7 in a concern.

My kids also started losing teeth by age 4. DS just lost his last baby teeth (with the assistance of the dentist - but they were ready to come out, and he got braces now finally). I don't know if there is a correlation. I can say although my daughter is entering puberty, her brother is two years older and I don't know about him, not quite yet.

It IS weird to see our little girls develop - they are still little girls inside, at least my daughter is. She likes to watch Nick JR shows if given the chance, and doesn't like HSM or Hanna Montana, anything pre-teen at all. Very much a little girl inside. Yikes!

 

[Nie0214]

I was 11. 8 seems so young, I've heard it is around the same age as mother/grandmother etc. I don't know how old my mom was though.

 

[eclairemom]

I saw on 20/20 or Primetime a couple years ago that generally girls will start their period when they reach about 90 lbs. Every generation is larger than the one before, so puberty just comes earlier and earlier

 

[happymommy]

Oh that makes sense! My DD is almost that size (she's a bit large, tall, not as chubby as last year) and 9 years old.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

not to be a naysayer or anything (!), but....did the dr indicate that it was OK for this little girl to be starting her period? I've heard about several instances, most recently with a friend of mine's daughter, where, the little girl (7 or 8 years old) was tested and it ended up being a thyroid condition that was causing her to start her period TOO EARLY. I'd be somewhat concerned and asking the dr to check EVERYTHING to make sure that it isn't some other kind of problem causing her to start puberty early.

My DD8 is definitely *moody* and does have slight issues with body odor - I asked the dr at her 8 year checkup and she indicated that starting her on deodorant would not be a good idea at this point (she's too young and over time, her body would longer "accept" the deodorant). She also said that unless she starts developing breast buds or pubic hair, not to worry about the body odor. Does the OP know if this little girl is developing in other ways as well? That, to me, would be a red flag - period, but no other signs of development.

Just my 2 cents.

yes, her breasts are just starting to develope and she has over hairy legs. poor kiddo.

 

[abdmom]

Just took dd10 for her annual physical last week. I asked the pediatrician about this very issue. She said that for girls, ages 8-14 is considered to be the normal range for periods to start.

 

[lpberg]

So this whole discussion brings up another question: what have you discussed with your daughter(s)? *Have* you discussed puberty with your daughters? What have you said? Sounds like the OP took the opportunity and ran with it....

Personally, my DD8 hasn't ever asked anything - for example, when I was pregnant with DS4, she never asked how her baby brother was going to get out, or how he got in there, for that matter! On the flip side, friends of ours DS7 just asked a few weeks ago about "how the seed gets planted" (his words, not mine) Does anyone have any kids that just haven't asked?

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

So this whole discussion brings up another question: what have you discussed with your daughter(s)?* *Have* you discussed puberty with your daughters?* What have you said?* Sounds like the OP took the opportunity and ran with it....Personally, my DD8 hasn't ever asked anything - for example, when I was pregnant with DS4, she never asked how her baby brother was going to get out, or how he got in there, for that matter! On the flip side, friends of ours DS7 just asked a few weeks ago about "how the seed gets planted" (his words, not mine) *** Does anyone have any kids that just haven't asked?

well my dd didn't have a clue until the other day so I guess I am not much help. I am the same poster who in the middle of summer asked about books for ds explaining* (don't know if I can say it here) sex. Because one of his friends cousins is pg at age 12. So I learned from that lesson to jump at any opportunity I have to discuss body changes.

 

[lpberg]

Actually, you make me feel better!! That I'm not the only one who hasn't spoken to my daughter about any of it!! And the books you asked about for your DS - would you mind sharing titles, if they are generic enough to be used for both boys and girls???

We had a long talk about drugs and alcohol with DD not long ago....she was having problems swallowing food (long story - had to do with choking on candy), so we have been working with her under dr's direction on that.....led to the conversation about Mommy not being able to swallow medicine pills when I was her age.....and there went the conversation.

 

[cajunpeach]

I was 11 yrs old and so was my DD. That being said, there was a child at DD preschool that had started at age 2, YES TWO years old. Talk about a huge responsibility. I can't even imagine.

 

[lntsmom]

endrocrinologist...asap. Precocious puberty is treatable with hormones. I was treated as a toddler...but when I was 9 my mom just accepted it as what was going to be. Years later, dealing with IF issues caused by the hormone issue, my RE told me that today they stop the puberty with hormones until it is more age appropriate.

This isn't just a matter of fitting in...the long exposure to estrogen can lead to a variety of cancers. It also causes young girls to begin storing fat much too early, leading to obesity if it doesn't already exist.

This is a tricky situation because if you don't know the girl's mom it might come off as being a busy-body, but if you can, you might talk to the mom. She really needs to take her daughter to the specialist. I can tell you from experience that even the best OBs often have no knowledge and training in this area!

 

[mjkacmom]

So this whole discussion brings up another question: what have you discussed with your daughter(s)? *Have* you discussed puberty with your daughters? What have you said? Sounds like the OP took the opportunity and ran with it....

Personally, my DD8 hasn't ever asked anything - for example, when I was pregnant with DS4, she never asked how her baby brother was going to get out, or how he got in there, for that matter! On the flip side, friends of ours DS7 just asked a few weeks ago about "how the seed gets planted" (his words, not mine) Does anyone have any kids that just haven't asked?

I have kids who've never asked (although they've always known how babies are born). I finally gave up, and gave dd a book on puberty when she was 9, and she was so mad I didn't tell her earlier (they hear things at school). When she was 10, I gave her a book on EVERYTHING (puberty, sexuality, etc.), and then gave it to ds when he was 10. Boy, did the questions fly! Sometimes they need a nudge (not one of my kids ever indicated wanting to be potty trained, but they all trained well between the ages of 2 1/2 - 3 - my neighbor insisted on waiting for her ds to be interested, and then gave up when he was 4 1/2, and trained him).

 

[AnnaS]

I saw on 20/20 or Primetime a couple years ago that generally girls will start their period when they reach about 90 lbs. Every generation is larger than the one before, so puberty just comes earlier and earlier

I was going to ask what is the weight more or less for the 8 yr. old. I am not sure where I read it also or heard it - but their size/growing is a big factor. Wether it's the food, milk, etc. I don't mean necessarily overweight either, yet some are. There is always a child or two in a class (boy or girl) that looks either a few years older or younger than their average classmates. The girl who is either tall, large, overweight, looks older/more mature will definitely get her cycle a few years ahead of everyone else.

Regardless, it's too young to start with that responsibility. I know my daugher was 13 and I still need to remind her of a few things here and there almost three years later.

 

[asmit4]

I was barely 11 and I wasn't the first in my group either. A few of my friends started at 10.

I would say that in todays age- 10-12 is normal. I do think though that girls as young as 7 or 8 need this explained to them just in case.

 

[minkydog]

I have 3 sisters--2 started their periods when they were 12-13 and one started her period at age 7-1/2 In fact, we started within 6months of each other and I'm 8 YEARS older(I was 15).

As a middle school nurse, I would say most of my 6th graders have not started yet. By 8th grade, nearly all of them are having periods.

 

[chip91]

My dd is 10, I know it's going to happen soon, she's pretty developed and has all of the other "signs" ..

I admit it, I'm just not ready for this, I've prepared her but still when it happens, I'll probably be mortified for her, I was not quite 11 when i got mine, summer going into 6th grade, let me tell you, it's not been fun.. And since about 16, I've dealt with heavy, painful periods..oh my poor girls (or dh for that matter, we have 3 girls!) GL to all the Mom's out there who are about to or have dealt with this, I'm sure I'll be back for support! Thank goodness I work at school, so if it happens there she can just come to my room!



Chip

 

[kadee_29]

I think I started a few months after I turned 13. My daughter is 10 and already *has* to wear a bra every day. She also needs deodorant. We had the puberty talk a few months ago. We actually got her a few books off amazon that helped me explain everything more in her terms. (Mom is so not ready for this.) She understands whats going on and seems to be ok with it which surprised me since she is such a tomboy. But I was room mom for her last year and I know of at least 4 girls in her class that had already started theirs and the weight thing a pp mentioned would fit for them. DD just passed the 70 lb mark but she was only about 50 lbs about a year ago.

 

[minkydog]

My dd is 10, I know it's going to happen soon, she's pretty developed and has all of the other "signs" ..

I admit it, I'm just not ready for this, I've prepared her but still when it happens, I'll probably be mortified for her, I was not quite 11 when i got mine, summer going into 6th grade, let me tell you, it's not been fun.. And since about 16, I've dealt with heavy, painful periods..oh my poor girls (or dh for that matter, we have 3 girls!) GL to all the Mom's out there who are about to or have dealt with this, I'm sure I'll be back for support! Thank goodness I work at school, so if it happens there she can just come to my room!



Chip

My DD was 10-1/2.

 

[dramaticmissy]

I started at 8 years old 3 months before my 9th birthday, and so did my mother. Yes it is young I remember being the only one in my class. I did start to develop breasts before everyone else as well. I think you are doing the right thing by explaining now.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

DD is 8 and is showing no signs of puberty. We have been having the puberty and sex talk for the last 2 weeks. This has been an on going conversation. Every night she seems to have a couple of more questions. I just answer her questions and tell her to let me know if she has any other questions. She plays softball with girls who are 11 and I really want to be sure she is getting accurate info. Several of the girls on her team have hit puberty. Hopefully, we have a while before she hit puberty. She is tall for her age; however, she is very thin. Also, I hit puberty around 12 and so did my sister. I figure better to be safe than sorry.