Puberty at 7 ? ? ?

Wow! All I can say is YIKES! My daughter is 5,now I'm scared.What are we eating these days? I have gone almost completely organic with our diet. Especially with the milk because I had read about this with cow's milk.

It is very possible that she is reaching puberty. Between the ages of 5-9 the adrenal glands start producing more hormones which eventually cause the growth of pubic, armpit and facial hair. A few years later girls start producing more estrogen which leads to breasts and eventually menstruation. The timing of this estrogen burst depends on reaching a critical weight level because the hormone leptin (secreted by fatty tissue) triggers the hypothalamus to start this whole puberty-process. This does not mean she has to be overweight to start early. It just depends on the weight needed for her particular body type. In fact, there has been in a trend in the US for the last 100 years or so of a younger and younger age of puberty-onset. Moreover, children who are healthier, better nourished, and better cared for mature earlier. The average age for puberty onset for girls in the US is now 8-9. So 7 is quite likely very close to normal. I think this is scary to those of us who remember starting this process at 12 or 13 or later. There is also much debate on the level of growth hormones in meats and even now in produce. But as far as I know, you are not going to reverse the process by starting all organic stuff now. If she has already reached the point that her hormones are being produced, it would probably do you both good to take some time and look puberty up together so that she can learn about it and you can help her know what is happening to her is normal. Good luck!

I've yet to go through this with either one of my girls, but when I was 7 or 8 years old I also had a lump in one of my breasts, my doctor said the same thing as your daughters. Even though this was the beginning of puberty I still didn't fully develop until I was 14. Hope this helps ease your mind a little.

A.,
my daughter was about that age when she started her period. and she had formed brest at that age too.. now she just turned 14 on may 10th of this year and I took her out for a mother/daughter day out.. when we were having Brekfest at a restaurant I had the usual everyone ( wait staff )sing Happy Birthday.. well after it was over a guy (must have been in his 20's ) was going to give my daughter his phone number.. well the look on his face when he found out she was only 14.. my daughter is 5'7" tall with a 38 full C and her shape is hourglass... what I am trying to say is yes! it does happen that early.. and she will start looking alot older then she really is.. even though my daughter is 14 , she looks like she is late teens to early 20's... I have taken her to doctors and had alot of test done.. and all the doctors told me the same thing... she is healthy so I would not worry about her but would prepair her for the upcomming changes she will be having soon... I told my daughter about it when she was 7..from the advice of a doctor... it is not to young.. Good luck and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.. B.

My daughter was about 7 or 8 when she started getting her brests. I was worried also, but the drs assured me it was ok and she didn't develop anything other than that til she was 12. Just assure her it is ok.
M.

I don't think it's unheard of for puberty to begin this age. I didn't start my period until I was 15, but my breasts had started developing years before that- I think I was wearing a training bra by 4th or 5th grade. I remember being in 4th grade when a girl in my class started her period. She had absolutely no idea what was going on, and she was crying and terrified. Make sure you tell her everything she needs to know about what is happening to her body and what to expect. You might be surprised to what she might already know- esp if she has friends with older sisters.

Yes I would believe that it is puberty. My daughter who will be 7 in August is already forming breasts. It's sad that they have to start at such an early age. I do know that I also developed when I was in 3rd grade. I hope this helps....

Unfortunately, I fully understand what your daughter is going through. I started developing breasts between 1st and 2nd grade(ages 6 to 7). I also my period at the age of 10. It doesn't get any better from here on. Explain to her that what is happening is completely normal. Let her know that you are there for her with any question no matter how insignificant it may be. She needs to be well-prepared for the future, i.e. boys.

Well for me i didn't start till i was 14 and it like happened overnight. My half-sister hit her period at 9 so it is not impossible but she was always overweight. Now my neice started doing this at age 10 and hers is finally full fledge at age 12 now. I agree you do need to start talking about it little by little so she will know what happens with our bodies. I still can't believe that it is happening to kids sooner now

Hi A.,

Both my sister and my niece started their periods at 9. It's not too early for those early signs. Like the other person said, prepare her and it won't be a problem. She might not start her period for a couple of years, but you don't want her to be scared when she does.

Good luck!

I feel for your situation. I have seen girls that young need a bra but mostly overweight girls. I was an early bloomer but not quite that early. If it was me I would go for a second opinion.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

I've got three words for you...Hormones in Meat. Many children are starting puberty early because of all the hormones pumped into our food. Go organic. It is more expensive, but worth it, and the meat tastes better. Also, because it is more expensive, you by less, eat less and that is a good thing!

My niece is 7 (she will be 8 in September) and she already has little "bumps". Unfortuntaly our children are growing up way too fast these days but I don't think there is anything we can do about it. I have a daughter that is also 7 and she is showing no sign of puberty so it all depends on the child. I think the size of the child may play a factor in it also because my daughter wears size 7/8 and my niece wears 14/16. But that is just a comparison I see in my family.

my niece started getting breast at 7 and started her period at 8 and now she is 14 and in a DDD cup so watch out world but i believe it is the steroids they are putting in the food now days

Well, I don't have a daughter that old but I do remember a little about when puberty struck when I was growing up. I remember the first girls to start getting breasts and having their periods were in 3rd or 4th grade. (8-9, 9-10yr olds.) Seven years old does seem a little early in my opinion but I'm no expert. Not to sound rude but are you very developed? Also I hear more and more about the growth hormones that are in a lot of foods today. Kids do seem to be developing more rapidly now than in the last 10+ years or so. But if you are concerned, get another opinion, what does it hurt?

A.-

There is a medical condition called precocious puberty that can occur even in babies. I would suggest you take your daughter to a pediatric endocrinologist for testing. They can advise you whether or not your daughter's early puberty is a result of a hormonal imbalance.

Yes, this is possible. I was the same age7 and in the 1st grade...my birthday is in November. My parents were divorced and I lived with my dad. I remembering him buying me my 1st training bra. I also started my period when I was 9. I have 2 girls, so I am sure that they will take after me.

Good luck!

Me personally - I developed early. I was wearing a training bra at 8 - and my period started at 10. It's possible. My only advice is to prepare her. My mother didn't and it scared me to death when it finally happened - I thought I was dying. And I got made fun of a LOT since I was developing so far ahead of the other girls. Good luck! With education and understanding - she's going to be just fine!

welcome to my world. my daughter was 8 and the same thing happened. i saw the lump and off to the doctor she went. they said the same thing. she was growing boobies...it took me forever to start frowing them, but they did tell me that our kids will start much sooner than we did. next thing i know she'll be 10 and getting her first period. omg....i wasn't prepared to hear that, so i can understand.

I think that i remember with my 17 year old that the breast become tender and i get the little knots along time before puberty actually starts but your the mother so when in doubt check it out...A.