Premature Adenarche/Puberty

[Anonymous]

I will be making an appointment at our ped, but would appreciate anyone's knowledge in the meantime. Noticed last night that my 8yo (grade 2) has pubic hair. No underarm hair. I did notice this fall that she was getting some body odor and had her start wearing deodorant. She is not overweight at all. Is somewhere near 95% height and maybe 80% weight. She plays soccer with an intense coach and does gymnastics so she is really strong/has good muscle mass and low body fat. I have another daughter who is 11 and has started puberty (no period yet) and a teen son, I can google and see that 8 years old is the minimum age for "normal" puberty to start, but it still seems wildly early from my perspective, particularly on a child who is slender. Reading about premature adenarche made it seem like a possibility for DD. That condition often results in a child reaching their full height really really early and being somewhat short, which is hard to believe for my 95% height kid. Anyone dealt with this? Is 8 genuinely a normal.healthy age? I mean she is in 2nd grade! I'm wondering if the hormones from my 11yo could be affecting my 8yo (the way women roommates periods sometimes align).

[Anonymous]

1) the appearance of the first hair isn't really the start of puberty, I think breast buds are the thing that peds look for; 2) 8 is young (I'd be freaked out too!) but categorically not premature because it's in the normal range; and 3) it's absolutely, positively nothing to do with the existence of another pubescent child in the house. If that were the case then there would be loads of stats on younger siblings entering puberty at earlier ages.

[Anonymous]

Read the book: “It’s so awkward.” It’s a book for parents on modern day puberty. Puberty looks much different now than when we were growing up. It starts earlier and lasts longer. However, it makes clear that pubic hair is not a sign of puberty which adults often assume.

My 8.5 year old DD has early stage pubic hair and underarm hair. No breast buds though. She is very tiny. It’s not puberty. It’s her adrenal glands.

[Anonymous]

I think this is within normal? My pubic hair do you mean the fine hair is just slightly darker?

[Anonymous]

My DD is almost 9 but I noticed pubic hair before she turned 7. She had testing done through a pediatric endocrinologist (bone scan and blood test) and they said she had premature adrenarchy, which is not the start of puberty. They said as long as I didn't notice any puberty signs such as breast bud development before 8, that no other interventions were needed. She developed breast buds around 8 1/2. She has always been 90-95th percentile height but she may stop growing early depending on when she starts her period.

I got her the American girl book that talks about puberty and development, things like body odor, getting your period, etc. We talk about her body changes as I don't want her to be surprised if she gets her period around age 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bad diet I reckon

You would reckon wrong.

[Anonymous]

My son was on the early side of puberty. My ped said it was normal. Someone is on the early side. It was a real shock. But I too have read 8 is normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was on the early side of puberty. My ped said it was normal. Someone is on the early side. It was a real shock. But I too have read 8 is normal.

This child was stick skinny too. For what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

My now 11.5 year old had a few armpit hairs at 8. She got breast buds at 10 and now has sparse pubic hair at 11.5. No period yet. Like the PPs said, it’s adrenarche, not puberty that starts the hair growth.

[Anonymous]

The endocrinologist suggested hormone blockers when my just turned 8 year old had breast buds and underarm hair.

Misconception is that it’s only overweight kids. Mine was about 75% height and weight. The doctor said that if puberty happens early they would stop growing early so they would be the height of a ten year old.

She had a capsule put in her arm for about 3.5 years. Just before she turned 12 they took it out. It’s only been a few months and I have no idea when she’ll get her period. She had no side effects.

[Anonymous]

This is the NIH website. .

“Although some authors have used the terms “adrenarche” and “pubarche” interchangeably, adrenarche refers to the (re)activation of the adrenal zona reticularis for production of androgens, and pubarche refers to the clinical appearance of pubic hair.”

Also .

“Adrenarchal androgens normally contribute to the onset of pubic hair (pubarche) and sebaceous and apocrine gland development. Premature adrenarche is the most common cause of premature pubarche.”

[Anonymous]

Too much soy, seed oils, and tap water

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP, I would be scared too. How tall are you/your husband? If you are short/average it’s possible your DD will stop growing sooner than most girls her age. She is 95% at 8 so she is probably as tall as a 10 year old….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP, I would be scared too. How tall are you/your husband? If you are short/average it’s possible your DD will stop growing sooner than most girls her age. She is 95% at 8 so she is probably as tall as a 10 year old….

Also, there is a girl in my DD(10)’s class who already has her period (while my DD has not started puberty yet). This girl is also a full head taller than most girls in her class (including my DD).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP, I would be scared too. How tall are you/your husband? If you are short/average it’s possible your DD will stop growing sooner than most girls her age. She is 95% at 8 so she is probably as tall as a 10 year old….

Also, there is a girl in my DD(10)’s class who already has her period (while my DD has not started puberty yet). This girl is also a full head taller than most girls in her class (including my DD).

It’s no longer unusual for 10 year olds to have their periods