Puberty at 8?

[Anonymous]

My daughter has one puberty related hair. She turned 8 in September. She is a little alarmed and while I am not alarmed I would say this is a little earlier than anticipated?

Is this normal? I mean it is ONE hair so I think I am probably overreacting but this feels like the beginning of a REALLY new and alarming part of the journey!

[Anonymous]

I started puberty around 8 or 9, so I think it can be normal. But, I definitely didn't turn into a teen that early. I was definitely still a kid for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Yes I know boys at 9 that look like teenagers

[Anonymous]

Is your daughter overweight? Early puberty is more common in overweight girls due to the effects of obesity on hormones.

[Anonymous]

It's on the early end of normal.

Buckle up OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter overweight? Early puberty is more common in overweight girls due to the effects of obesity on hormones.

Not even the slightest bit she is all muscle and bone

[Anonymous]

The beginning of puberty for girls is typically breast buds, not pubic hair or armpit hair.

If you're concerned, go to your ped. They know all the signs and could tell you what's next and what to expect.

[Anonymous]

It’s considered normal for girls but on the early side. My 13 year old also had a few hairs at 8 years old but still didn’t have breast buds until she was almost 11 and just now got her period at 13. Her pediatrician wasn’t worried about the hair and said it was normal at the time. Her sister is 10 now and has no underarm hair but has started complaining about breast buds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s considered normal for girls but on the early side. My 13 year old also had a few hairs at 8 years old but still didn’t have breast buds until she was almost 11 and just now got her period at 13. Her pediatrician wasn’t worried about the hair and said it was normal at the time. Her sister is 10 now and has no underarm hair but has started complaining about breast buds.

I was like this as a child. No health issues.

[Anonymous]

8 is in the normal range. Earlier than most, but classified as normal puberty, not early onset.

[Anonymous]

I was thin at 8 but also a B cup. Got period at 12.

[Anonymous]

I got breast buds at 8, period at 12.5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I know boys at 9 that look like teenagers

This is really not normal. Not that uncommon for girls.

[Anonymous]

My DD had a small amount of pubic hair at 4. Went to ped and was told because no breast buds not a concern.
She got breast buds right around 8 and got her period a week before her 10th birthday. Shes 11 now.
She’s adopted so no idea if early puberty is hereditary.

[Anonymous]

We're going through this now. Noticed breast buds on DD the week of her 8th birthday. Growth rate also seems to be speeding up slightly, which is another sign of early puberty. Pediatrician ordered a bone age test (just a quick hand x-ray) to see if it's really early puberty. Will follow up with a thyroid test and hormone panel if her bone age is too advanced. Not that we would do Lupron, but so we can treat thyroid or other hormonal issues if that's the cause. It's important to note that the normal range is considered 8-13 now, but the norm for caucasian girls (if OP's daughter is caucasian) is 9 3/4, so early 8s is still significantly early for that demographic.