Early Puberty???

Hi S. and other moms.

I've been following and reading the responses and can't hold it in any longer.
Starting puberty that young is NOT normal. But we are seeing so much of it we are thinking it is.
Please, I mean no disrespect to any of you moms who responded, or will, but looking at your profiles many of you are at least 10-15-20 years younger than I am. I will be 47 at the end of the month.
When I was in nursing school in the early 80's I had a classmate do a research paper on all the growth hormones in our food supply and the early puberty. That was almost 30 years ago and what she talked about then is coming true today. I can't say that what I did to watch where my family's food came from had much to do with it but my daughter didn't start her period until she was 12 and she's just 14 now. I try to buy meat/dairy/poultry that says growth hormone free and we eat a ton of fresh whole foods and very little packaged/processed foods. I also try to watch any plastic exposure. I will admit I don't understand it all, but there is a link between plastics and estrogen levels.
You're docs will say I'm full of bull hockey and that it is all just normal and natural. But I would challenge you to ask your doc if s/he took any kind of nutrition course in med school. And if they did was it more than just a semester course. This is all stuff I learned the last 7-8 years as a mommy and has nothing to do with my nursing degree.
I don't think there is any thing you can do to reverse it but try to start paying attention to feeding your family foods that guarantee growth hormone free.

Good Luck and In Good Health,

Lori Krause, RN
www.YourKitchenCoach.net

Oh, honey, you poor thing. I don't have my daughter going through this yet (she is only 3) but I went through this so I figured that I could give you a little bit of perspective of her side. I was wearing a training bra at the age of 7, and a real bra by the time I was 9, by my parents insisting that I wear it because I was mortified that I was the only girl at school that would be wearing one, or so I thought. I started my period shortly after turning 9 and they were heavy flows. I was so embarrassed by people telling me that I was too young to be going through it that I would try to hide it from everyone, including my mom who talked to me about everything. I heard so often that everyone thought I was too young to be going through that I felt ashamed and embarrassed, that I was being punished for something that I didn't even knew I did. It was a horrible feeling! I even overheard my parents talking one day and heard my mom say that she couldn't believe that I had started so early since she was almost 16 before she started. There were 2 highlights, that I can still recall to this day (and I am now 30). The frist one was my mom walked in on me while I was using the restroom during one of my cycles. She very calmly sat down next to me and told me to clean myself up, get some fresh clothes on, and get ready to go to the mall. On the way to the mall, she helped set my fears and feelings aside, and actually showed me how "cool" it was to be a woman, and she bought me a few REALLY nice bra and panty sets to make me feel better. Nothing sexy or risque, just little cotton sets to make me feel good about myself. The second was when I entered the 5th grade, I had a female teacher and she was teaching us about sex ed and had us all close our eyes, put our heads down on the desk, and raise our hand if we had already started having a period. Then she had us keep our hand up and had us raise our heads and open our eyes, I was so relieved at how many other girls in my class were going through the same thing. After class, a few of us were standing around talking and I found that while I was still the youngest to start out of my friends, they all started not too long after me.

I completely agree with Lori! It definitely is not normal for a child to start puberty at age 8. Fifty to one hundred years ago children stayed "children" well into their teen years. That says a lot about what we are feeding our kids. I truly believe that growth hormones in animal products are mostly to blame for this change. I have always fed my son organic foods for this reason. You will not be able to change what is already happening to your daughter, but you can start by feeding your family hormone free foods from now on. Maybe your younger two will go through puberty a little later than your oldest. My heart goes out to all these children that are forced to grow up too soon. Good luck to you.

My youngest was 8 when she started having periods. We still joke about how we were on the way to school 1 morning & she asked me when she would start menopause. I assured her she was likely the only girl out there hoping for menopause at 8! I would just encourage you to talk to her & explain what is going to be going on with her body. Don't hesitate to put her in bras when she needs it. Just respond to her needs as you would if she was 13. Becoming a woman is a process & she's just started early.

Soy is another product to watch out for - it has plant chemicals that mimic estrogen. Soy is in so many things - I think McDonald's hamburgers are in fact largely made of soy, to name one of thousands of prepared foods. And any sort of high protein snack bar is usually made of soy. I agree about watching plastics as well, BPA is a chemical that simulates the action of estrogen and is typically found in number 7 plastics (look at the recycling symbol). It's getting very easy to find hormone free milk and dairy without added cost - you just need to be in the habit of reading labels and trying different stores. Meat, not so easy to buy natural on a budget (and who doesn't have a tight one these days).

Best wishes!

hi S. my 8 year old has breast buds already and id like to know about all this also.i developed at a normal age all the way around.so im not sure whats up with her.she sure is moody at times like a premenstrual woman lol.so come on moms help us out!and i just read all the responses ty so much. and i did have my daughter drink oberwise milk with no hormones.but i guess if god says its time, its time, ty all.

i was ten when i started my period, and that was 30 years ago. they are starting earlier and earlier due to hormones and steroids in the food we eat. not to blame anyone, it's just a fact! i swear my husband and i are going to buy land out in the middle of nowhere and grow our own meat and vegetables just to get away from it. but even fresh groundwater is tainted in my opinion. it's just everywhere. anyway...i started at ten which back then was WAY WAY early, and i was really embarrassed. my mom had also had the 'general' talk, with intentions of more to follow, but i would highly reccomend talking to her about specifics now. i think that i started growing hair before i got my period, but i couldn't tell you how much before. i know that i knew enough not to be totally freaked out, but that first period is still freaky, even if you "know" in your head it's supposed to happen. i'm sure you remember this regardless of when you started...in my opinion the more she knows the better. she'll be okay.

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just read the rest of the responses! (guess i should have done that first) i absolutely agree with lori. unfortunately i am in an income bracket where organic is not an option. i am a living example of why poor people are overweight! anyway...don't want to get up on my soapbox...but it is so scary to think what this world is coming to. our hands are tied in so many ways...(yes, call me a tree hugger...my mom does lol). it's so hard to be a mom these days and try to look out for your kids. good luck to all of us!

S.,

You should bring the issue with your daughter's pediatrician. Not long ago, I watched a program about early puberty on TV and doctors, parents and kids (girls and boys) were interviewed. There was a mention about a treatment geared to delay the process. You may want to discuss the possibility with your pediatrician, discuss pros and cons, and even seek a second opinion to make sure you are doing what is best for your daughter.

Try not to freak out. She may still be a ways away from starting her period. My daughter will be 12 next month and is in 6th grade and hasn't started yet. I was her age when I started, so I keep thinking very soon it will happen. Her female hormones have been in high gear for sometime now, very emotional and dramatic at times. It's not surprising more and more kids are developing faster these days with the growth hormones in our animal food products...milk and meats mostly. Kids are taller these days and girls more developed. Choose your foods wisely, go organic as much as possible to avoid those extra hormones. We can't stop mother nature from taking over, but I'm sure we'll deal with it just fine!
Take care,
V.

Dear S.,
I don't know how long it is between that sign and when periods begin, but I can tell you that my daughter started shortly after her 10th birthday. She began developing breasts in third grade. Although we had had "the talk", I was not prepared for her to start so young. It was hard to see her try to deal with it at such a young age. But, she is 15 now and all the other girls have long since caught up with her, so it's ok.
I would say just make sure you tell her all about periods and have some pads on hand. Good luck.

I think thats about normal. I started my period in 4th grade, I think I was like 10, which that probably isnt completely normal, considering I was one of a few. But I think its probably ok. Nothing to freak out about, well besides the fact that you still think of her as your little girl. So I can kinda see how your freaking out. Good luck!

Sorry, but it's fairly normal. I started at 10 (literally on my 10th birthday!) & I had hair long before then. I also know there were a few in my class that had started before then. It's hard to think these little kids have to go through this so young. (We wonder why we grow up so fast - than you God for making htis way!) My cousins were fortunate & didn't start until they were like 14 & 15. Information is GOOD! Somehow I think my mother thought if she didn't acknowledge it - it would go away...LOL! Just don't traumatize her with it. Good luck - it's a rough road a head for the both of you.

I agree with all of the extra hormone replies... I have heard this before and not just here. I have a friend who buys hormone free products where & when ever she can for her boy's... Yes they even can go through puberty earlier as well. She has read that the hormones that make those products quicker are still in the products and then we ingest them and now they are making our kids develope faster.

Our bodies do not need these added hormones to help us, they only make our children grow up much faster than they need to.

If I were you or any mom out there, I would watch as much as you can for hormone free items and only buy them.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I started arm pit hair and a little pubic hair on my 7 yr old daughter not too long ago. I brought it up with her pediatrician and he told me that girls are developing earlier all the time. There's no real way to pinpoint the cause. It could be genetics (my mom started her period at 9!), excess body fat can help induce it, or it could be all the growth hormones in our foods today (milk, meat, etc). It's very hard to see them develop so early. I can't imagine her starting her period anytime soon. That would be so hard for her (and me) to deal with. Just take whatever comfort you can in the fact that this isn't uncommon.

Good morning, S.. Lori Krause is right on! Sorry to say. But there is also one other factor involved in early puperty for our young girls today...we have plenty of groceries. What I mean by that is the human population of any country matures quicker whenever our food source is in abundance. Think of it like this...if the body knows there is plenty of food available, it matures quicker to enable population growth. Sound silly? I know it does, but this has been studied for a long time and it is true.

But back to Lori Krause's response...all the growth hormones simply in our milk supply alone is getting into our children's bodies...how can this NOT affect their growth? I buy organic milk and keep the processed foods out of our home! If it was good enough for our grandparents to eat, it is good enough for us. Go back to real butter (not margarine--ever read the ingredients on that??) olive oil, products without wheat, organic meats, etc.

Above all, remember, you did not cause your daughter to reach puberty at such a young age. And if she does start her period soon, it is not the end of the world...just a little inconvenient.

As the mother of a nine year old girl going through the same things right now, I understand your concern. I don't now if you are an Oprah fan but she did a show recently about this very issue. Girls are maturing faster and younger than we did. Eight is a typical age now. We have not dealt with the menstrual cycle yet but they say it is coming much sooner than in previous generations. If you could get a hold that particular show it is very informative. Try oprah.com. Good luck.

G. S.

Hi S.,

I haven't dealt with this as a mother yet, however I dealt with it personally. I started when I was in the 3rd grade. It was very hard to deal with because my mother didn't discuss it with me at all beforehand and no other girls were going through it. So, my advise would be to prepare her for what is to come. Based on the changes she is starting to go through I would say there's at least a possibility of more to come in the near future. I wish you both the best of luck, I have a feeling I'll probably have to deal with this with my own daughter in a few yrs.

Hello S.,

I was around that age when I started developing. I was wearing a bra and pubic hair when I was in second grade. I didn't start my period until I was 12 though. So it may be a ways away for that! Just relax. I know it's hard for you to go through. I am dreading that day when my oldest (4 1/2) starts to develop! I hope this calms you a bit!

My Best
M.

Hi S.!

It is VERY possible...and I know it seems too young. I was only 9 when I started growing hair, 10 when the breasts came, and 11 when I started my period. So yes, it can happen. I was a lot earlier than my friends, so at times I felt weird, but my mom was really good about letting me know what was happening to my body. I recall in 5th grade (I was 10), the school showed us the videos of the changes to come, but I had already dealt with 2 of them! I don't know if schools do that anymore or not. I would just be honest with her, and tell her that everyone develops at different times. We are all unique. Good luck!

I have a 7 year old. We went to the doctor because I thought she had a UTI. The doctor asked if I knew that she had pubic hair starting. I said no and inside I freeked out. I did not want to say anything infront of my daughter so that she would not be concerned. Therefore, I called the nurse later and asked her if I need to be concerned. She said I did not at this point. She said a lot of it was based on heridety and if I started early, she probably would (and I did). She also said that a lot of studies that say that the milk and meat that the kids are eating, are causing them to develop faster. I teach 6th grade and I can attest that they are developing faster and bigger. We have taken both our children off milk that has hormones or steroids. We also bought a quarter of a cow that is hormone and steroid free. She said to call if her breast start to develop. It is scary, I know.

When my step daughter was ten her and all of her friends were starting their periods. That was in 1991. My friends and I didn't start till we were around 12 around 1975.

Hopefully it won't get earlier than 10.

Wow... so many responses already. Yes, it's the growth hormones that are found in all meats, dairy - cheese, milk, ice cream that is not organic!

Have a friend's daughter that was experiencing the same issue. When she went to her ped. her asked what milk they drank. She told him usually picked up the Walmart brand when there. Her daughter normally only wants water or milk to drink, so she was drinking lots of milk. Come to find out, WalMart brands get their milk from cows that have lots of hormones added to produce more, which in turn comes out in their milk. She was overloading on hormones by being healthy drinking more milk. What brand do you use?

I know I started as early as 10 or 11 when I got my first period. also by the time I hit 8th grade at 14 I was in adult bras in the area of 34 or 36 d or dd. course I've always been bigger than most girls. but the one thing I remember the most is that after the first period which was super light, I didn't have another one for several months.

so anyways every girl is different and it is a good time to start explaining what she can expect to happen especially the period thing with blood. This wasn't cover by my mother so I freaked out since mom never told me what to expect. so the more prepared you get her the better. I rather have an information overload than no information at all.

also if she is around a lot of girls or women going through their periods or puberty it can be triggered by their changes in hormones. Thus if her best friend is going through it she likely will be going through the same things.