What Age Do Girls Start Puberty?

Girls seem to be going through puberty earlier than we did. My daughter is 7 and is getting pubic hair. She is also starting to get little buds for breast. I don't want to happen yet but unfortunately it isn't anything we can do about it. I just try to keep her informed about changes and coming changes in her body.

What does her doctor say?
And I didn't realize we were on the metric system in Kentucky...

Does she drink soy milk? My niece drank so much soy milk and started growing hair at an early age. She has stopped drinking soy but she still has some hormone issues. I haven't asked about further hair growth or period questions but she is almost 11 and has huge fluctuations with her weight.

I agree it's happening earlier and earlier. A lot of it has to do with hormones in the foods we eat, but it's so hard to police that. I don't think you can reverse what's already happened. These epigenetic changes that happen in our bodies can be passed down to the next generation, so it's possible that changes in your lifestyle and her father's were passed down to her. Those epigenetic flaws can be repaired now through food science, not medicine.

Just let her know it's normal for her. I'd also have the talk with her about breasts and underarm hair and body odor and periods, little by little, so she's ready when it happens to her. Too many of us who didn't start our periods until 13 fail to talk to our kids at 8 and 9 and 10.

why do you think you need to do anything about this? kids grow at the rate they grow. some dont' get breasts til they are in there teens. were you thinking she needed something to make them grow? sorry for sounding weird but not sure why you think this is an issue and also why your looking at her private parts so closely anyway unless she is having a problem?

Unfortunately with our world today girls are hitting puberty way before we did. With the high demand for beef, chicken and pork if you are someone who consumes it, you are also eating all the steroids they inject to make our animals grow at a faster rate. It is in all the food we eat, the air we breath, the chemicals we use every day in life. Shampoo's, conditioner's, toothpaste.... the list is endless. Embrace it, educate and reassure it is normal. Another thing you might want to do is take her to see a PED and have her hormone level checked, she might be going through precocious puberty. Sometimes they can get therapy injections to help slow down the puberty. Good luck!

Nowadays some girls get their periods at 9 years old.

When you take your daughter to her annual physical, ask your Pediatrician about it. That is professional medical assessment.

I've had pubic hair as long as I can remember but didn't get boobs till about 14.

Perhaps you should consider getting organic milk and meat that has no estrogen in it. If I were you, I'd research that. Too many hormones in her food can cause early puberty.

Btw, for the poster who mentioned that Amy has used metric measurements, she probably lives overseas. MP doesn't allow for showing that you live overseas. I found that out when I first joined, when I was living overseas...

Interesting first question.

Amy,

Welcome to mamapedia!

I'm sorry - I don't read ahead - so if I duplicate an answer - forgive me.

I have a problem with you knowing your daughter has pubic hair. That just stands out to me. When my daughter was 8 - I wasn't looking down her pants to check for things like that.

She's STILL a child. her body might be developing at different stages, it happens. Make a list of concerns and get your daughter to the doctor with your concerns.

What kind of diet does she have? If she eats a lot of processed foods, it has estrogen in it. Which CAN cause early puberty, HOWEVER, with that being said - that kind of diet USUALLY causes breasts to grow first, not pubic hair.

Please take her to a doctor. She needs to be checked out to see if there is an hormonal imbalance.

Good luck!

Ouch, I pick up a bit of defensiveness in your SWH. We are here trying to help and no one said anything out of line.

For starters, I hope you have been communicating with her along the way as she has grown so that she understands what happens to her body when she goes through puberty, understanding her period, and mostly being comfortable to come to you to ask questions she may have pertaining to sex and more.

My daughter is 19 and I have never checked her private parts since she was out of diapers. I find that a bit odd as well. I feel that "checking" her is different that just normal getting dressed or being around the house and someone might not have all their clothes on because of showering, dressing, etc.

I hope you are not making a huge deal about this to her. The last thing she needs is to be self conscious of her body.

Will she be entering the 4th grade? Our elementary school nurse has a talk separately with the boys and girls in 4th grade to discuss upcoming body changes and answer questions because a lot of parents are too embarrassed to address these issues with their children.

Take her for her checkup and talk to the Dr. She sounds normal to me.

What is it that you want to do about it? She is growing up mom, accept it, embrace it and communicate with her.

ETA: Interesting how you removed your question to make it bland and the SWH. FWIW, anyone who reads the answers that are posted will quickly figure out what you asked.

It's normal for her generation. My daughter had her first period at nine, even though I didn't get mine until I was seventeen.

Our children are eating healthier than ever and so they are maturing faster than ever. Check under her arms, she may have hair under there too. I had a friend that used to shave her daughters underarms when the girl was 8 years old.

Speak with her about expecting her period in the next couple of years and what it means and how she will handle this.