Would any of you be comfortable sharing when your girls got their periods (specifically, as in age 12 years and four months) and how far into puberty they were at the time?

I'm wondering if girls generally have lots of pubic and underarm hair before they get their period, or does it often come just when a few strands have sprouted? Are breasts well on their way to developing, with at least a real 'A' cup, or are just breast BUDS enough?

I'm so dreading all of this and the lack of being able to predict it is so hard. My doctor said a girl will LOOK like a woman before she starts, but with so many girls getting it at age ten, I rather doubt all those ten year olds have large breasts and full hair....

Anyway, if you wouldn't mind sharing details that would be great and I would think going anonymous would be perfectly acceptable to protect your daughters' privacy. Oh, and how did they handle it?? Were they upset? And if you know when their friends got periods, I'm hoping to get any kind of census! Thanks!

By Reds9298 on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:49 am:

I don't have a daughter that age, but *I* got my period at 10 and I was very developed when I got it. A 'B' cup, pubic hair, and shape. Everyone always told me my mom I was so developed so early. I was one of the first to get my period out of my friends.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:52 am:

Both of my girls had pubic hair and underarm hair, before they started. They did also have actual breasts. While not huge, it was definitely more than just breast buds.

The first one was 11 years and 5 months. The second one was 12 years and 2 months. Actually, I posted about it, at the time. I wrote then, that she was excited and worried all at the same time!

I myself was 13 and 2 months, when I started. I really can't remember the details about hair and breasts, although I'm sure I was wearing a bra, by then.

It is hard to predict. You just have to wait. Both of mine, accepted it as something that had to happen. I don't know if they were "excited", but they both knew it was coming, eventually.

I really don't know the details about any friends. I think they were about the same ages. My older one, definitely needed to shave that following summer, when we went swimming. I think they younger one needed to, when she was 12.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:58 am:

My daughter started getting hair at 10. This year, age 11 she got her period. She is already a 36B cup and we have to nair her under arms, legs and bikini area because she is very hairy (seems odd for a redhead). She grew breasts quickly but so did I as a child. I think some of it can be heredity. She was OK with it at first but she gets cramps every month so hates getting her period. She is still trying to get used to tampons. She swims and dances weekly so I had to introduce her to them right away. The breasts embarress her a bit. She is more developed then any of her friends. She was prepared in advance that this could happen (I had a breast reduction because mine got so big). I think no matter how much you prepare them, the reality of it is still a shock.

By Kaye on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 10:07 am:

My daughter started at 11 year 11 months. She had full pubic hair, was a solid A cup. In general what I was told. They develop breast first, then pubic hair, which happens about 6 monhts prior to her period. Also their weight tends to be around 100 pounds. Now my dd was only about 85 pounds, but with in 5 months she was at 100, it packed on fast.

Also from the time girls start their periods they only grow for about a year longer. So you need to make sure they eat well. I also noticed that my dd's shoe size hasn't changed at all in the past year.

By Debbie on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 10:08 am:

I did not get my period until I was close to 13. I was the last of all my friends. I did have underarm hair and was a B cup. So, I did develope somewhat before I started. I was so excited to get it, probably because all my friends already had theirs. But, once I realized what a hassle it was, I wasn't so thrilled!

By Yjja123 on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 10:20 am:

Kaye--I was the exception to that rule. I kept growing and it wasn't until after highschool that I reached my whopping height of 5'. I was 4' 10" all through highschool.

By Anonymous on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 10:25 am:

I was the last of all my friends to get my period. I was hoping secretly not to get it. I was 14 1/2, which is really late. I was a freshman in highschool, and it was the month of February. I can remember it exactly. I had 2 older brothers and no sisters. My mother briefly talked about it. I knew all about it, I use to read pamphlets we got at school. My friends would talk about it. One morning I went to the bathroom and it was there. I wasnt scared. I was more like shocked/surpised. Honestly I thought I wouldnt get it, because I had friends who got theirs yrs earlier and here I was in highschool. I got the pads, and used it. I hated those thick ones. Im so glad they changed over the years. I did not even tell my mother at first. We were never close. I was embarassed by all of it, even with my mother. I think several months later, she found some pads in my closet. I bought my own, the thinner ones then my mother used. I was too afraid to use tampons at that time.
Although my kids are young. Ive tried to somewhat explain it to my daughter. She doesnt understand quit yet. When she sees my "supplies" in the bathroom, she asks about them. My son has asked too. Ive explained it to them, not sure they understand.

By Tink on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:16 pm:

I started my period when I was 11y3m, just after leaving 6th grade. Unlike most of the ladies here, I wasn't wearing a bra yet (didn't need one for another 9 months) and had almost no hair. Of course, I'm still not very hairy anywhere on my body. I grew about 4 inches over the next 6 months and gained 20 lbs, putting me over 100lbs finally, but I didn't stop growing completely until I was 17. I handled starting pretty well and knew what to expect but I started hating it pretty quickly and I haven't stopped hating it since then.

By Marcia on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:38 pm:

The doctor told me that they will get their period 2 years after breast buds appear. That was right on for my oldest, who was just over 11. My middle daughter seems to be on the same timeline, and my just tuned 10 year old has had breast buds for a few months.
She also told me that the pubic hair would become much thicker before it began, and again she was right on.

By Andyjoy on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 01:27 pm:

I was just over 12 when I got my period. I had breast buds but didn't need a real bra, just an undershirt. However, I was pretty developed for me, because I still wear an A cup even though I'm 30 pounds heavier than I should be! I had a little pubic hair but no underarm hair yet.

I was 5'2" at the time and stopped growing at 15 when I hit 5'7".

My sister was 13 and was more developed when she got her period. She was probably 5'. She didn't stop growing until 19, when she reached 5'9"!

By Breann on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 01:36 pm:

I was 16 years and 1 month old when I got my period. Pretty late, but I was fine with that. I had small breasts, but had hair. I was last of all my friends.
I hope my DD takes after me. I would be devastated to have to send her off to elementary school having to worry about pads and such I hope she is at least 12-13 when she starts. Too bad we can't choose the age!

By Anonymous on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 03:49 pm:

I was 9 when it happened to me. It was okay, mom had barely talked to me about it. The pads were awful & I felt like everyone in the 4th grade knew. I was the first one in my friends. I kept growing and so did my feet...ending at 6'4" and a size 12 shoe. So, I was another exception to the growth rule.

My DD is 9, so I'm paranoid. I got her a great book and we've went over it & she's reading it. She has underarm hair, a couple of pubic hairs she says and her breasts are starting to develop. I'm worried about her getting it at school & have tried to prepare her.

By Annie2 on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:11 pm:

My girls each got their period at 12 1/2. They got it about a year after breast buds.

There is a great book called "The Period Book, everything you don't want to ask, but need to know" by Karen Gravelle and Jennifer Gravelle. It's written by the first author and with the help of her 15 year old neice.

It talks about everything like: the basics, tampons, getting your period at school, how to use tampons, etc. It also has many illustrations.

By Kaye on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:23 pm:

just a quick note...someone suggested to me that you demonstrate to your dd about a tampon in a bowl of water. Show them how it comes apart and how it works in your body. We had to learn about this very suddenly this summer as my dd started in the middle of a water park...fun fun!

By Hol on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 12:11 am:

I was 13 years and 10 months. I started the week before I entered ninth grade. I was thrilled, as it seemed to me that all of my friends had started before me. I had had breasts, albeit small (A) for about two years, and I had pubic hair and some under arm hair. I already had the pads and belt that my Mom had put together in a kit for me. I don't think I told her right away because she had a habit of telling all the relatives everything that happened, and I felt that this was one thing they didn't need to know. I understand that my Mom was 15 when she got her first.

A friend in ninth grade told me about tampons. Her Mom was a nurse, and she had older sisters, so I trusted her. I remember buying a box at the drugstore on my way home from school. I was always home alone after school, and I remember practicing putting them in. I also remember crying because they sure didn't go in as painless or easy as she made it sound. My Mom and Grandma had a FIT when they found out I was using them because they were both convinced that I was sexually active. My Grandma convinced my Mom that no girl could use them if she was a virgin (which I was).

I always took it in stride, as I have always been glad that I was born a woman. I tried to pass that positive attitude on to my daughter as well. We celebrated when she got hers. We went out to dinner and saluted her entrance into womanhood, just the two of us. My DH was SO upset when she got it, like he was convinced that she was now "in heat" or something, and that the "evil males" would be lined up to get her. LOL! She was 13 years and 9 months. She and I were both very irregular our first couple of years.

I never grew anymore after age 14. I was 5'4 1/2" until the last couple years. Now I am 5'4". I always wore a size 6 shoes until I had DD, then went to a 7.

She has been 5'1" since she was 14, and the same shoe size as me. She had pubic hair and underarm hair when she got her first, and was a C cup. She had been a DD until she finished nursing Megan this past January. Now she's between a C and a D. I know that she's always preferred tampons to pads.

Neither of us ever made a big deal out of it. We have accepted it as part of life for a woman. I think that when your daughter(s) do get theirs, welcome them into the "club", and into womanhood.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 12:53 am:

Mine mostly use pads. If a swimming opportunity comes up, then they use tampons. No biggie for me. My mom didn't really ever talk about tampons. I think I just bought some and tried it out. I usually bought my own supplies. I babysat a lot and usually had my own pocket money. I think I didn't like bringing it up, that I needed more supplies. Things are a lot more open in my house.

My mom gave me the little pink booklet and expected me to come with questions. I read through the little pamphlet and took it in stride and never really had any questions. Mostly, I was too embarrassed to bring it up. The day I got my period, my friend called during dinner, to ask if I'd told my family yet. Well, I hadn't and got to share it with everyone, at supper. Not really the way I wanted to mention it! LOL! Oh well, somehow we get through those moments.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 08:51 am:

When my daughter started I gave her a large painted box that holds her necessary items and included a poem and a necklace I made her. It says: Jessica, This necklace was created especially for you by me in celebration of your passage into womanhood. The various semi-precious stones represent the curiosity and joy that sparkles in your eyes. As the months and years pass may you never lose your youthful enthusiasm for life. The moon goddess charm represents the lunar cycle which draws the ocean tides and guides your monthly cycle. Let the moon inspire you to realize your connection to the greater universe and to your own natural rhythms. Garnets represent your menstrual cycle, a monthly reminder of your inherent power, wisdom and strength as a woman. May you always respect yourself by nurturing your mind, spirit and body knowing that within you lies the miracle of creation. Always remember that you are special and you are loved....
She and I also went out---just us girls--as a celebration. She said that I made the moment special instead of a dreaded passage.

By Lorebunde on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:23 am:

Its funny this subject came up, my 9 year old already has breast buds. She wears a size 8 shoes, size 14! She is not heavy though, just tall. I know I have to have that "talk" with her very soon!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:25 am:

Yvonne, that sounds like a neat way to mark the event!

By Hol on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 03:41 pm:

Yvonne - That is BEAUTIFUL!! If I could have your permission, I would like to duplicate that for my grandaughter, and put it away for her. That way, if I am no longer here when she becomes a woman, it will be something special that she can remember me by.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 05:32 pm:

Go ahead Hol. Note: I did not write the poem. I found it online somewhere. The necklace was easy to make. I found the moon goddess charm on ebay.

By Crystal915 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 07:22 pm:

I started wearing an A cup in 5th grade, and got my first pd in the middle of 6th grade, at age 11. I definitely had some hair by then as well.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:38 pm:

I started with breast buds at age 11 1/2. Pubic hair shortly followed and then my period at age 14.

My friends daughter is 7 and already has underarm hair, has to wear deodorant and it starting to show some budding in breast area. THAT scares me that my DD couldn't be too far from there!

By Hol on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 11:34 pm:

My DD and I would always end up with the same cycle, too. I found out that that is quite common. Sometimes a whole dorm full of women will end up on the same. It has something to do with pheremones (sp). I guess we all give off a scent to one another that controls such things, if the women live with, or spend a lot of time together in the same environment.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 12:09 am:

My kids and I all just had our periods. First Emily, then a few days later it was Sarah and then a day or two later, it was my turn! the poor garbage can in the bathroom was overflowing! I think we had to empty it twice, before garbage day!