8 Year Old Starting Puberty?????????

D. ; yes, we have read a study that girls now a days are starting earlier, and 8 is around that age, just let her know things of whats going on with her body and help her through it, she will be fine, my sister started at 10 and i am hearing of it starting earlier, her body may just be building up, but she might just be an early starter. D. s

She could have an infaction down there. Though I did have a friend who started her period in first grade. I think that is just way too soon, but I do recommend calling her doctor about it.

My daughter started puberty just before she turned 8. She started developing, and when I talked to her doctor, was told so long as she didn't have pubic hair, not to worry about her starting her periods. My older daughters started about a year after starting to develop. Well, she ended up getting her first at 10 1/2,and in 5th grade, so she did start early. She also had a hard time being the only girl that had breasts in 3rd and 4th grade, so we had a couple years of really baggy clothes. Nothing can really be done to delay it, so I would suggest just making sure she knows what is going to eventually happen. Better to be prepared than have it happen and her not have a clue.

Ever notice that every generation says that something wouldn't have happened 30 years ago?
My daughter started last month at 10.
I started at 10.
My mom started at 9.
My aunt started at 8,and her daughter started at 7.
It really does seem to be a family thing more than anything else.

D.,
My daughter (10 now) did start with a discharge at about 8 and began getting breasts and hair at about 9. I was a bit wierded our but not really until a coworker mentioned that her daughter has a growth hormone defiency; and, once they start their period there isn't much they can do. Anyway, I had the doctor check her hormone levels and got her a check up. The doctor reported labs were where they were supposed to be and told me that her period could start between 10 1/2 and 12 depending on her system. She has continued to develop secondary characteristics, but not her period. I hope this helps. I did take every opportunity to let my daughter know that this was all normal and explain life to her. She didn't have much dairy because she was lactose intolerant until about 5. You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, it does seem too young to have to deal with it. I am so glad others feel that way, too.
B.

My mother always told me as a girl about my Grandmother (born in 1906) started when she was 9 and her mother was 8 when she started.

I don't write off, we as a society have too much junk in our foods, however I don't put it as blame for children growing up faster then others. In my family line, it was the way life went.

She could very well be getting ready to have a period, but how you handle it will effect her the rest of her life! Pray about what you will say, before you do.

If she is developing faster then the rest of the girls her age, she will need your support. So lay that line of open talk and trust and you will have a good structure.

Good luck ..

I see no reason to stress about the possibility of onciming puberty, yet. My first thought about the discharge was a yeast infection. Ask her if she has been feeling itchy at all. No, yeast infections are not just for adults and it doesn't mean there is anything wrong either.

Hi D.,

I would talk to your peditrician about it. But, yes, Dairy and meats are the biggest nasties as far as hormones. It's because they get stored in hte fat.

Make sure she is getting a balanced diet, and some good vitamins.

If she isn't showing other signs: breast development, hair growth, etc... then I think you still have some time before things really kick in.

Also, just to comment on the growth thing that was mentioned by another woman. I was 13 when I started my period and was 5'4" tall. (I remember because I was so proud I was the same height as my mom!) I am now 5'10". I continued to grow through highschool. So, while it may be true for some kids that they have reached 85% of their height by puberty ... I don't think it is true for all. Just like anything else.... not EVERYONE fits the 'this is supposed to happen' mould. Physiology and medicine are not a 'one size fits all' type of thing.

Talk with your pediatrician and ask the hard questions. I'm sure it will make you feel better.

Puberty typically starts with breast developmentment, then hair growth, then finally menstruation. I would probably call the pediatrician, if she did not have vaginal discharge previously and now suddenly does, it would probably warrant a visit, even just for peace of mind.

I don't know if this is normal or not but I agree that our dairy and meats are so loaded with hormones these days and that's probably a culprit of girls getting earlier periods :( What i've started doing is aiming for meats that are raised without added hormones (same with milk). These are a little less pricey than totally organic so it hasn't been as hard on my budget. Trader Joes is a great place to get reasonably priced meat that hasn't been treated with add'l hormones (same with their milk - and the milk is cheaper than organic milk). Even mainstream grocery stores are starting to carry meat and some dairy not treated with the added hormones. While organic is best, it's very expensive and I think this option is better than nothing.

I do know that my daughter started developing at age 9-10 and I thought that was too early and her doctor told me that with the hormones in our foods it is more common to be the age 10 today where as when we were kids it was 13. However, my daugther has had yeast infections at a young age due to a reaction with a bubble bath. A yeast infection can also cause a discharge so be sure to watch for that as well.

We have raised our two granddaughters most of their lives (now ages 14 years and 12 years). The older one started her period when she was only 9 years old. We took her to the doctor and she could not find anything wrong with her. She and I were talking about how many preservatives are in processed foods nowadays and we think that may have something to do with it because so many girls are having their periods at very young ages these days.

You can have your daughter checked out to feel better about it, but don't be surprised if he/she says there seems to be nothing wrong with her even if tests are run.

Our younger granddaughter had pubic hair about 2.5 years before she began her period at age 12.

I would talk to her about how important it is to keep her private areas like arm pits and down below very clean so that when she "does" begin having a period she won't smell even worse than we do anyway. You might also want to tell her not to go around asking all the girls if they have their period too because they might tell all the boys and then get teased for several months at school and that could be very embarassing.

L. C.

Hi D., you should speek to her ped Dr. about this issue. If she were to begin her period at this age, she would remain the same size she is now for the rest of her life. When a woman starts her period, she has grown 85% of hight, and weight, I do remember not getting much taller, after I started. The Dr. can address these issues and stop the cycle for now, let her continue to grow. I'm concerned about the same thing with my 9 yr old. Best of luck, mom of 4 daughters, three have periods, 1 to go.

hey D. being a mother of 5 girls i have had the talk more time then i can count and it seam to come at a earlyer age each time so each few year i pick up a book and we sit down first they sit down and read it then i sit down and go over the with them the best one out there is the book of you by american girl they carry it every where i got mine at target it cover everthing from washing to brest stages to hair down there to periods to pimples it a great book and the girls like to have it cause it cover alot of dont want to ask things

She may have a bacterial infection or she could possibly be starting puberty. My daughter started her period at 9 years old. She had pubic hair and boobs by age 8. All of the hormones that are added to our food are causing these kids to develop much earlier than we did. Scary!!!

Hi D., well I don't have any advice per se, but I am curious to see what others have to say about this. My daughter will be 8 in April, and already has underarm and pubic hair. Oh, I was definitely shocked! I started my period at 11, and my mother didn't start hers until something like 14 I think. I swear she has breast buds, and my mother agrees with me. So any advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated! ;)

Hmmm...I don't think you have anything to worry about just yet. It may have been a hormonal surge, during a growth spurt, or something along those lines. As long as there are no other signs of puberty (breast buds, pubic hair, underarm hair) I think you still have a couple of years.

Oh and don't worry about her not growing much taller than she is now if she is in puberty....i was 5ft 3 when I entered puberty and i'm now 5ft 10 :-D

You hit the nail on the head with the toxic comment. That's why I am always on my soap box about anti-oxidents and even sell them!

Our kids are hitting puberty earlier and earlier. Heaven knows we weren't having those issues 30 years ago! Might want to talk to her doc just in case though.

S.
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Most of the times her cycle will follow that of her fathers side of the family ask her paternal grandmother how old she was.....My daughter started the discharge (pre-menstral) thing at about 8 but did not get her period until she was 11 almost 12.