[tnlibrarian]

My oldest is seven. A couple of months ago we became concerned that she was showing signs of early puberty. When the doctor examined her she said that she is in very early puberty and probably around two years away from starting her period. The thought of a nine year old having periods is, to me, terrible. If hers are like mine were and can still be at times she'll have to deal with horrible cramps and sometimes vomiting. I was 13 when my started and I would have to miss school because it would be so bad. I still remember laying in the bathroom floor and crying because of the pain and nausea. They won't do anything to surpress it because 8 to 9 is now the average age for girls to start their periods. From what I found on PubMed they are attributing it to steroids used in meats as well as things found in the drinking water, such as estrogen from birth control pills.

Well, today she was playing her younger siblings and was sitting the sunlight. I looked at her and realized that it looks like she's getting acne already. My brothers and sister had horrible acne--they had to take meds for it, tried all kinds of ointments and face washes and my brothers have a couple of scars from acne. She looks like she's getting a pretty good patch of it on one cheek. I'm going to by some hypoallergenic face wash or a bar of Ivory soap and make her start washing her face twice per day. She is just too young for this. My MIL started her period at around 9 and was pretty much fully developed by 11 or 12 so the doctor said it's just that she's taking after that side of the family. I hate it, though. That's too young for such grown up things and kids can be so cruel to girls like that. I also know symptoms of bipolar can show up during puberty so that's another worry we have.

I'm just so freaked out to see my seven year old starting to deal with puberty. It's just too young but as I said--they won't do anything to delay it.

[Trippin2.0]

OMW! My daughter's the same age, I would ABSOLUTELY freak out if I was in your situation. Can't you explain to the Dr's that she's just not emotionally ready to start transitioning into a woman?! I feel it's so unfair to her for them to refuse helping her, she's basically going to miss out on part of her childhood! And childhood is short enough as it is. I mean can you even imagine? Like how do you even play with a sanitary towel stuck to your fricken underwear?? How will she deal with all the physical and hormonal changes?? Are those Dr's RETARDED?!?! I know some girls develop early, but in my experience, those girls were forced to mentally mature early, like eldest sister, helping mum with daily responsibilities, so naturally their bodies followed suit. But your baby doesn't sound like a little woman!! I'm sorry if my ranting upset you further, i just really feel for you. Please maybe try a different Dr...

[Tosspot]

I started getting pubic hair when I was 6, not on my legs until about 8. my mom took me for testing but they didn't want to do anything for me. Luckily though I didn't get my period until 13. Most of my friends had theirs by 11 though, I turned out to be a "late bloomer" Im 25 now soo the age is still getting younger. My mom was 15 when she got hers, and my grandmother was almost 17

[Secretum]

I'd get a second opinion. I'm only a few years removed from the "did you get yours yet!??" phase. Most of the girls I talked to did not "get theirs" until they were 12 or 13, so unless things have changed very drastically in 10 years, there is no way that the average age to begin menstruation is 8 or 9.

((Hugs)) for you and your daughter.

[tnlibrarian]

I think I'm going to address it with another doctor the next time we're there. If I see for sure she is getting acne we'll go in sooner rather than later. We saw the one female doctor they have. I understand it may be more comfortable to discuss it with a woman but, to be honest, the two male doctors and the male nurse practicioner we've seen have been beyond excellent. I would trust their opinion above all others.

[Rosie23]

I have a couple of friends who's daughters have done that. And they were equally alarmed.
As for acne. I have had two boys who had it bad and if they stayed away from junk food especially the oily ones like chips and fries, it would almost go away completely. But it is hard for kids to give that stuff up. So try diet before pumping her with medication.

[tnlibrarian]

I didn't see it there this morning. The girls were outside playing and they are always picking plants and flowers to make "gardens" with in the sand and water table. My oldest is allergic to something growing around the dogwood trees in the corner of our yard and I saw them up there. We figure she probably picked something she shouldn't have and then put her hand up to her face. The big thing to watch for now will be the rash getting worst--as in weeping and really red--or obvious acne developing. I know with me if I kinda have a spot in the afternoon by morning there is no mistaking it for anything but a zit!

[faerie_moon_x]

Another thing with the early maturing of women is also caused by sanitation and physical health (not just the bad chemicles in food, etc.) Physical health here meaning you have enough to eat, drink, pleanty of rest, and exercise. Female bodies are triggered to prepare for puberty once their chemical balance says they are healthy enough to do so. So like 100 years ago it was far more likely to get your period at 16, and it gets younger every year. Then add on top of it all the chemicals and hormones we eat and it is like speeding up the process even worse!

[SunAngel]

My niece was only 8 years old when my sister talked to her about her period because the girls are starting so early these days.

I didn't get mine until I was 14 yrs. old.

[Lauru]

I got mine at 11. I thought I was dying. None of my friends had theirs yet

[Sheba976]

Puberty is starting earlier for girls now. It used to be the average age of 12 - 13 but now it's 9-11. My nine year old has been showing some signs of it also. She has been getting acne on her chin from time to time. I've trained her to take better care of her skin and it has been clearing up. I have also heard that young girls that are overweight are more likely to start puberty early. (Of course I'm not saying your daughter is overweight) There is really now way for a doctor to stop a natural course of development. Supressing it would cause more damage than good. It is alarming, but she may just be in pre-puberty and may not get her period for another year.

I did buy my daughter some American Girl books that talk about development but do not mention anything about sex. It also has a lot of good information about skin care, deodorant, hair care, etc. My daughter refers to it often when she has questions (if she's too embarrassed to talk about it) After she reads about it in the book, then she talks to me about.

It's called the "Care and Keeping of You"

http://www.amazon.com/Care-Keeping-A.../dp/1562476661

[sillyfab]

Originally Posted by Secretum

I'd get a second opinion. I'm only a few years removed from the "did you get yours yet!??" phase. Most of the girls I talked to did not "get theirs" until they were 12 or 13, so unless things have changed very drastically in 10 years, there is no way that the average age to begin menstruation is 8 or 9.

((Hugs)) for you and your daughter.

Things have changed drastically in ten years. 8 or 9 is actually the average age in most parts of the United States, unfortunately. It's mostly because of the nutrients we eat in red meats that are fed to cattle as they are being raised. Not to mention the environmental factors, like the fact that women are now giving birth to pre-term infants more often than not in this country. (Just learned about this in nursing school a couple quarters ago.)