What is "normal"? (puberty related question)
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive July-December 2005:
What is "normal"? (puberty related question)
My SIL and I got into a puberty conversation the other day and she told me that my niece, who is 7, has pubic hair. She said most of it is the soft kind but some of it looks more adult-like. She is a bit concerned and I said I would ask here for her to see if anyone else had a DD who had this and what she can expect. Thanks! (going anon since I'm talking about family members)
Here is an article from Cornell University's "The Ribbon", published on the site of the National Research Center for Women and Families:
http://www.center4research.org/children11.html
The article evaluates a study of over 17,000 girls by pediatric offices. Here is a relevant quote:
"Results found that in their seventh year, 27% of African-American girls and 7% of white girls had begun breast development and/or had pubic hair. Between ages eight and nine, those numbers had increased to 48% of African-American girls and 15% of white girls. Also at age eight, 17% of African-American girls and 2% of white girls had axillary hair."
I'll see what else I can find.
Thanks Ginny!
I searched the web after I posted here and found that same information quite a few times. I also found info that said that it is nothing to worry about and sites that said to see a doctor because it could be a problem with "increased adrenal secretion of weak androgens." I am even more confused than when I posted here.
I am also a bit concerned now for my own DD who is also 7 (although about 9 months younger than my niece.) Both of the girls are VERY tall for their age and look older than they are. My niece is very overweight, but my DD is not. My DD has the "peach-fuzzy hair" and I worry that she may follow in her cousin's footsteps.
Oh the joys of mothering girls!!
OMGosh that is soooooo young! Kayla is 7....going on 40. Thankfully nothing yet! I think she should check with her ped if she hasn't already just to make sure her hormones are in check.
A funny story about Kayla....when she was about 3 she kept bugging me and buggin me about shaving her legs because she saw her sister and I both so it. I told her no and explained about being the right age and how once you shave the hair comes in thicker and darker.....well....those of you who know Kayla know that she went right ahead and shaved her legs on her own. I can't hide anything in my house good enough. So, she only did the fronts and now at 7 she has these funky legs, front half dark brown gorilla hair (lol, its really not THAT bad) and soft blonde down on the back of her legs. SHe has not shaved them since fearing that it will get worse. What a PISTOL!
Sorry to wander off topic.....this post just made me think of that!
My DD is 7 and on the small side for her age. No signs of puberty so far, thank goodness! I'm so not ready for that yet! LOL!
Being overweight can definitely cause signs of puberty to start early, just as being very underweight can delay puberty.Two of my girls had some light, soft pubic hair starting around that age, but nothing much. It started changing at around 9 for N, when breast buds developed. By 11 it was all there, and she got her period at that time.
My 10 year old started everything a year later than my now 12 year old.
My youngest is now 9, and she still has no signs. She's tall, but just an average weight. My girls are all tall, none of them are overweight, and was is quite thin.
My oldest has just turned eight and has begun developing breast buds but has no hair down there at all. She is quite a bit underweight for her age but is also very tall. I have heard a "rule of thumb" that most signs begin around 70 lbs and puberty really kicks in around 100 lbs. If that is true, my dd may be 20 before hitting puberty! 
I'd encourage your SIL to talk to the ped about it, either to ease her mind about the development or to have any testing done that might need to happen.
I experienced this firsthand! I developed early and had pubic hair and breasts when I was 8. I was the only girl wearing a bra because I most definitely needed one!
My dd who is 9 began developing breast buds about 6 months ago and also had to start using deordorant around the same time. The other day I noticed that pubic hair had just started to develop. You can see the outline, I guess.
She started shaving last week. Well, we'll see if it continues but she used my shaver and shaved her legs and forearms (see shaving post ).
Deanna, wasn't that hard? DId it cause problems for you socially? Please know you do not have to answer this question. I am just curious.
Jessica is 10 and has started growing hair both underarm and pubic. She started really growing breasts a year ago and already is a 34B. At 8 she had breast buds and peach fuzz--it just started becoming more so maybe it will be awhile before your friend's daughter gets anything more.
I worry about Jessica because I was over a C cup by the time I was 12. I hope she does not end up like me! I kept growing to a E cup and ended up having a breast reduction in my 20's. At 5' tall I looked like Dolly Parton!
For me, socially, it sucked. all the boys wanted to date me (and I didn't trust their reasons) and a lot of the girls hated me. I was nicknamed boobs brown and the name stuck with me all through highschool.
Jessica is already as tall as me (5 feet) and wears a larger shoe so I think she will be taller than me. She seems excited about going through puberty and actually wants to get her period! I am not ready but she is. LOL.
As far as leg hair--we have been debating it for a while. She is a redhead and has very hairy legs. She wants to shave. I say no way. I may compromise and nair them for her. 10 just seems so young for these things!
Kim - Interestingly enough, I don't remember it being hard at all. I remember my girlfriends talking about my boobs being big, but it was never a negative thing that I can remember. All the adults around me (mom's friends, mothers of my girlfriends) always talked about how 'mature' looking I was because I was curvy at an early age, too. I think it just made me feel older.
Once we got to jr. high, I was 'back to normal' and looked like everyone else, so it's not like I ended up with extremely large breasts or anything, just got a lot early and quickly then settled down again. Funny thing is now, I'm curvy and thin, but my boobs are the same size they were in third grade!!! LOL
I feel like the girls who were tall had a lot more to deal with negatively as far as peers, but that was just my experience.
Yija...interesting about your dd nad hair legs. I too ma a redhead and have heard that most redheads do not grow much hair on their bodies.
Another side note, shaving the hair on your legs doesn't make it come back darker, it can make it more coarse. Mostly though, you start to notice it and if you would let it just grow it would be long and more soft (think about a mans beard). I shaved my not so hairy legs religiously a couple times a day in high school(sports reasons) and as a 30 year old I can still not shave and people don't notice, I have baby fine blond hair on my legs.
She has/had a lot of hair on her legs. It is light almost blonde from the sun but still hairy looking. It was fine hair but she wanted smooth legs.
I did break down and nair them for her. She is thrilled to have smooth legs. LOL
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