Time between beginning pre puberty signs and start of periods

[Anonymous]

Ours got buds and discharge for over 2 years before getting period. Our 2nd has had more significant buds and more discharge than older sister for about 1- 1.5 years. No period yet.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for replying everyone!

[Anonymous]

ours got her period at 10.5 years old. She wasn't otherwise showing many signs of puberty
Main sign that came early was some small amount of acne around 9 years old
I got my period at 11.5 years old. It's likely your daughter will get hers at a younger age than you did

[Anonymous]

I started to get breast buds around the same age as your daughter. First period came at 12.5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope this is not taken the wrong way, but does anyone know if black girls and brown girls (darker latin, indian, native american, etc.) get their periods sooner? We are a south american family BTW, but caucasian/european descent from both sides. My MIL and my mother are convinced that darker skinned girls get their period's sooner than caucasian girls. I thought they were nuts, or grew up believing old wives tales. But now my daughter is 13 and her and her two white american friends haven't had their period while the 4 other girls in their group (all darker skinned) have had their periods since they were 11, two of them since they were 10. I wonder if there is statistical data about this. And why would that be? All 7 girls smart, well adjusted and are from supportive well off families. They have been friends since early elementary school.

African-American and Hispanic do start puberty earlier than European-descent white American girls: https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/01/health/early-puberty-girls/index.html (and there's many scientific research studies on it). However this is based on ethnicity, not skin tone. I'm not aware of any research indicating a darker-skinned African American girl is more likely to start puberty earlier than a lighter-skinned AA girl.

I know anecdotes aren't evidence, but just a point of reference: my very light-skinned red-headed freckled Irish mother started her period at 10. Me, her more olive-skinned daughter (my father was Italian) started my period at 12.

[Anonymous]

My DD started her period about a year after pubic hair started (and about 2ish years after breast buds). She actually got her period while I was away on a business trip. The American Girl books were awesome preparation. She didn't freak out, she had all the supplies, and she just followed the instructions in the book. She was 11 years 9 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD started her period about a year after pubic hair started (and about 2ish years after breast buds). She actually got her period while I was away on a business trip. The American Girl books were awesome preparation. She didn't freak out, she had all the supplies, and she just followed the instructions in the book. She was 11 years 9 months.

Mine was just barely 11, and got hers at sleepaway camp. At her checkup two months earlier, the doctor said she thought it was unlikely to happen in the next 6 months. So I'd given her some books, and helped her pack a little kit for camp just in case, and she handled it like a champ. Never even went to the nurse, even though I'd told her she should if it happened, even if it was just to get an advil for cramps.

She liked the AG book, and said the Hello Flo book was more helpful for practical tips, so she knew exactly what to do when it started. Somehow she even managed a tampon when they went swimming!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD started her period about a year after pubic hair started (and about 2ish years after breast buds). She actually got her period while I was away on a business trip. The American Girl books were awesome preparation. She didn't freak out, she had all the supplies, and she just followed the instructions in the book. She was 11 years 9 months.

Mine was just barely 11, and got hers at sleepaway camp. At her checkup two months earlier, the doctor said she thought it was unlikely to happen in the next 6 months. So I'd given her some books, and helped her pack a little kit for camp just in case, and she handled it like a champ. Never even went to the nurse, even though I'd told her she should if it happened, even if it was just to get an advil for cramps.

She liked the AG book, and said the Hello Flo book was more helpful for practical tips, so she knew exactly what to do when it started. Somehow she even managed a tampon when they went swimming!

That's amazing (tampon)! I remember the first time I tried to use one, my mom never used one so I didn't even bother to ask her, and I read the instructions that came in the box three times. And still didn't do it correctly. I walked around like a cowboy who'd ridden a horse all day. When I did finally figure it out, I thought oh wow, this is fantastic. And now they come in a size specifically for just-starting girls, which is great.

[Anonymous]

I was about 2 years after breast buds and 1.5 yeas after discharge. My mom told me about periods but not discharge and I thought something was the matter with me. I was so relieved when we got to that in health class.