My dd is 8. She has had some oily patches on her face for a while now and has needed deodorant for about a year. I *think* she might be starting to have some breast development. She is skinny as a rail and can fit into her little sisters 4t pants, they're just too short of course. I swear at certain angles it looks like there is a little something protruding but I started to think it was certain tops. Tonight she was trying on clothes my sil brought over and without a shirt on it looked like there was something there. Does it begin that subtle? Or could it be that she is just naturally so thin that it would look that way? I had to start wearing training bras at the recommendation of my doctor when I was 9. I remember being horribly embarrassed and devastated, I don't remember there being anything to notice or feeling different. But the doctor said I should get used to it since she could tell and I was in a 36b by 8th grade. I am freaking out!!!

By Dana on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 08:33 am:

My sisters daughter started her period at the age of 9. My other niece started at 10.

With the signs of deoderant and oily patches, it does appear to sound like it. And yes, the little breast buds are very subtle. My daughter is 10 now, and sometimes I see the little crease bumps in only some of her shirts and I think "huh?" And when naked she does appear to be a little poofy...but only a little. She's been that way however for quite a few months, so I figured I was wrong thinking they would have starteed to show even more by now. She is also very thin.

By Annie2 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 09:06 am:

Breast buds, as you know, are when the nipple seems to poof out a bit. If your dd is using deoderant for odor she is on her way into puberty. My 17 year old dd started her period in 7th grade, my second dd started the same year in school, so around 13 for my girls. My third dd, just turned 13, got her period a few months ago...she is so thin but athletic. She hasn't had another period since so I'm thinking that she broke her hymen. Kay came outside with her panties in hand so excited that she started her period! LOL

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 11:06 am:

My older daughter started her period at 11 years and 5 months. 2nd daughter didn't start until about 12-1/2.

It sounds to me, like the process is starting.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 02:09 pm:

My daughter started her period at 11. Poor girl is 14 and a 36C. It runs in the family
She started with breast buds around 9. She wore undershirts until she was a B cup. I didn't want her wearing bras too soon. After-all we have many years of that torture. LOL.
It sounds like it is beginning but don't freak out--it will not happen over night. At least with my daughter, it was gradual.

By Rayelle on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 02:14 pm:

I have calmed down a bit, I mean it doesn't change who she is lol! I was going to wait until she was 9 or 10 to tell her about periods and since things are the way they are do you think I should still wait? I would never forgive myself if she started her period without me having told her about it I know she isn't likely to start tomorrow or anything. I just want her to know that something happens.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 03:20 pm:

I DO think you need to start preparing her.
I suggest this book... "Growing up it's a girl thing".

By Yjja123 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 03:23 pm:

Here is what I did when my daughter started:
http://www.momsview.com/discus/messages/41/44126.html

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 03:34 pm:

I loved Growing Up: It's a Girl Thing by Mavis Jukes. My girls both read it cover-to-cover many times. It doesn't read like a science textbook, and has pretty graphics and stuff in it. She takes a conversational tone.

Yjja123's Thread

I think I explained things, around 9 or 10 years old to my kids. With Emily, Sarah was already living it, so it seemed like the topic was just there to discuss.

By Rayelle on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 11:59 pm:

Thanks! I will have to check out that book. My mother was horrible about this stuff. I mean she told me about it, but she made it a point to work taking me bra shopping into conversation with extended relatives right in front of me! She knew it embarrassed me and found it cute and amusing. I was 7 when I first asked about it. Some older girls teased me for thinking a period was something at the end of a sentence. My mom gave me a 7 yr. old version of things and I thought it was something that happened when you went to the bathroom.

Ugh! The worries that are going through my mind! There is a family history of horrid cramps and things. But I am getting ahead of myself.

By Yjja123 on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 10:05 am:

I think it is very important to discuss it with her and to open up the lines of communication. We did not have one conversation, we had many. The way you present it to her is going to be something she always remembers.

By Bellajoe on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 10:30 am:

My mom was never one to talk about this stuff. I only learned about periods from health class or my friends. I knew where the pads were in the house because I had asked "what are these " and got the "those are big girl things" answer.

My sister got her period and thought she was dying because she had no idea why she was bleeding there!

I'm definitely going to make it a point to talk to my dd about this stuff and I just ordered that book from the library.

She's 9 and I think she is to young to talk about this stuff because she so little and not "blossoming" yet But I know I better bring it up sooner than later.

By Yjja123 on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 11:29 am:

The fact is, even at 9, there may be talk at school. It is better to prepare her with the facts yourself, then let her learn about it in the school yard.
The book is very easy to read and opens up the conversation. My son even read it.

By Rayelle on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 12:07 pm:

I wonder about what my dd hears. My brother and sister threw the whole you have a baby when you get married theory out the window because my kids knew they weren't married! It made for an easy answer for awhile.

My dd has said more than once she will never have kids because she never wants to be pregnant. I know this will likely change and yet I wonder because I had a horrid pregnancy the last time and I wonder if I might have traumatized her. Anyway after the realization that you don't have to be married to have a baby dd asked me questions like did I want three children? And how do I keep myself from having more? I told her when she was old enough to have babies I would tell her what she could do to not have them and she was happy with that answer. She seemed relieved actually. She hasn't asked me much but it doesn't seem that she would be too shy or embarrassed too. You never know though. Time to get the communication lines open on this stuff for sure!

By Annie2 on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 12:40 pm:

My kids have that book, too and yes my ds has read it, also.
He's living in a house with four women so there is much talk about periods, tampons, pads and cramps.
I had horrible cramps in high school to the point where I would throw up. I took Anaprox back in the day but now you can buy naprosen over the counter. My 17 year dd has the same type of cramps I had but other dd has none.
When I got my period my momm put a lame book on my bed, about rabbits and a box of pads with a belt!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 02:19 pm:

My mom just threw a pink pamphlet on my desk. I suppose she wanted me to come up to her with questions, but the book explained it pretty well and I really didn't have any! LOL!

By Dana on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 05:36 am:

So funny about what our moms did. My mom pretty much handed me this little pamplet made by Kotex called "Growing up and Liking It" I think it must have belonged to my older sister (7 yrs my senior) because of the clothes the kids were wearing and the way they talked about girls and boys getting together as a group. It was so dumb, but I read it a few times, LOL. Mom also gave me a box of pads that used a belt, but I don't recall ever having a belt. I had not started at that point, and by the time I did the stick on type existed. THANK GOODNESS! Mom never did talk to me about it. I learned it all from school.

I also recall being in High School and asking questions to Mom just to make her tell me, even though I knew the answers. I just had to know she would talk to me about it. It was sooooo not conversation in our house.

I am open with my DD, and even my 3 yr old son knows about monthly cycles (I swear I have no privacy in the bathroom). But my daughter absolutely HATES when I talk about this stuff. I've always been open and matter of fact about it so that she wouldn't feel embarassed...but I guess it is just in her nature to be shy.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 08:18 am:

I used a pad and belt for just a short while, because they came out with stick-on pads, sometime in the first year after I started. I really hated the belts.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 02:14 pm:

Can she just wear a tight tank top under her clothes? I grew A LOT in the 8th grade and I hated it then!

By Crystal915 on Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 10:39 am:

Eeeek!!! I developed early, started around 8, and got my period in February of 6th grade, a couple months after I turned 11, so yeah, I'd say this is the start.

OMG, the way some moms handled it, that's both hilarious and terrifying!! My mom was very good about explaining things often and early, because her mom didn't prepare her AT ALL, and it was traumatic. We started health classes in 3rd grade, and I already knew the basics from mom. By the time I started, I just quietly got out of bed, got a pad, and put my clothes in the laundry... mom found out later while washing the clothes. I'm hoping that because Madison is very thin and small, she will develop later, there is plenty of time for that "gift" to start.

Funny sidenote... my kids are 6, so we haven't talked about it yet, although they have seen my tampons in the cabinet. So, our pup, Izzy, just went into her first heat. For a day or so, J and I kept trying to figure out why there were spots of blood on Shane's sheet. (Izzy sleeps with him, and spends almost all her time in their room because of the cats) So, Shane goes to take Izzy out, and notices she's bleeding. J comes and asks me if she's fixed, then tells me the mystery is solved, she's in heat. The kids want to know why Izzy is bleeding, and I was in bed with a migraine, so J tells them to ask me if he can explain. I say ok, cross my fingers, and listen to his explanation. He did ok, gave the whole "She's growing up, and she could have puppies now." speech, but for a couple of days the kids wanted to know when she WOULD have puppies. It took a few explanations on why she wouldn't and how even though I *could* have another baby right now, I'm not going to, so just because you *CAN*, doesn't mean you *DO*, and you should wait until you are married to have babies, and Izzy isn't married! I was so unprepared for this!!!!