Ok I'm a little freaked out

[mom2madison06]

Originally Posted by boomer Yes, I believe genetics also has a lot to do with it, but so does body fat. A female who is severely underweight or athletic (i.e. low body fat) usually does not menstruate.

Yeah, it's the body fat percentage. Girls have to reach a certain percentage before the body begins menstruation. I started when I was 10, and I believe maybe 120 pounds. Seemed to be about a year, year and a half after boobs and pubs. Also around the time I reached my adult height and stopped growing, LOL. The zit problem could be a sign, but it could also just be more bacteria on the skin, combined with more active sweat and oil gland. Washing my face with an antibacterial soap like Dial or a facial cleanser with TTO in it has made a HUGE difference for me. No bacteria on the face = no zits. And for a while there during puberty, I'd keep some rice paper with me to absorb the excess oil on my face. It's calmed down since having Maddie, but man, I used to have an oil problem!

[cowmommy]

My 5 YO recently started getting pimples and developing breasts

[amandaev]

I'm physically getting sick. My D will be 8 in 2 weeks. I'm not ready for this.

[lombardowa]

We took dd to the dr on wed because she seems to be putting on a lot of weight and the dr told us it could be due to a hormonal shift and early puberty setting in. She's only 6. I was shocked. Dr. said it's not that uncommon anymore for girls to start at 7.
Also, when dh was in college (early childhood education) his professor told them about a study that linked fluorescent lights (like in schools and stores) to early puberty. There's a little food for thought.

[mandikaake]

Originally Posted by amandaev I'm physically getting sick. My D will be 8 in 2 weeks. I'm not ready for this.

At least you have some warning. I was pretty shocked. We had a little talk yesterday about her hygiene and things that would follow. Now she wants to wear a bra. I don't think so. She has undershirts and that's as far as I'm willing to go at this point.

[suebe333]

NUTS : My DD is going to be 8 in a few weeks and she had one pimple about a month ago . I was hoping it was a fluke . My DS is 11.5 and started with bad acne at the end of last summer and all the hair started coming also . What really bugs me about it happening to him already is he is not mentally where is body is physically ykwim ? freaky .. Good luck to you mama it sucks I know....

[This-End-Up.com]

It varies from child to child. I started my monthly at age 9. some dont' start till 17.
My daughter develope adult like armpits at age 6-7 and HAD to start wearing deodorant. She is 9 (almost 10) and starting with the zits. I look for her to start sometime this next year.

That kind of stuff has such a wide variance range that there really is not any reasone to freak out.

[rowynne]

My oldest sees a pediatric endocrinologist for other issues & she discovered the start of some pre-puberty signs last summer (light pubic hair & breast buds in one side). So we had the menstruation talk with her then, "just in case." She still hasnt gotten af (thank goodness!), but has more hair & has asked us to start using deodorant (so we went & bought her the teen stuff). SHe is also starting to break out a bit on her forehead & nose so I bought her the neutrogena soap to use & that has helped (poor kid has my oily skin). She is overweight & has been since she was 4 (in came on very suddenly which is why she sees the endo.) so she has been over 100lbs for awhile. Menstruation tends to be "genetic" & can start a little earlier with each generation. I was 11.5 so I do expect dd to start somewhere around there (I hope no earlier!!!), but we do have "supplies" ready for her just in case & have had another recent talk about it as well as who to talk to or go to if it happens at school or somewhere else.

[trashley]

DSD is almost 12, still hovering around 70 pounds and has started getting her breast buds in the last few months. I have no idea if that means menstruation any time soon, but I'm trying to mentally prepare for it

[turtle2who]

OMG I am so glad I have a boy! I hope it stays that way too after reading this!