My DD just got her period but doesn't yet have hair under her arms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how you all know if your tween daughters have pubic hair.

don't make it sound so sinister pp.
I go swimming with my dd so I noticed when we were getting changed nbd.
Some girls tell their moms when they are getting hair and others are not as modest when getting out of the shower or when having the talk with them you might ask if they have started to get any yet. Us mothers need to be on the ball with our daughters at these ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how you all know if your tween daughters have pubic hair.

And here we go again. The Pubic Hair Police are back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how you all know if your tween daughters have pubic hair.

And here we go again. The Pubic Hair Police are back.

No, truly don't understand. My daughter would be mortified if I tried to sneak a glance (or even pondered) hers and I can't imagine my own mom had any idea about mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what I'm surprised by? How many posts there are from parents about their children going through puberty and worrying about the order of things, when things will happen, etc.

It happens when it happens. It's rare that there's a problem. Why are so many parents all up in their kids' bodies?

I know this is called the Tween and Teens forum, but it is meant for posts ABOUT tweens and teens, not posts BY tweens and teens. PP, aren't you missing out on precious social media time by posting here???

When I was a teen, my parents basically stopped parenting me. I had my period several times before I told anyone. I stopped seeing the pediatrician when I got my period because I was "no longer a child" and yet I didn't see an adult doctor until I was about 16. So I don't consider this to be "all up in their kids' bodies" -- I consider the OP to be a responsible parent. Making sure her DD's body is healthy is still the OP's responsibility. On the off chance you are actually an adult and a parent, you have a really bizarre attitude, PP.

[Anonymous]

Some of us don't have issues with being naked in front of our children. My daughters see me naked and I see them naked. My nine year old has breast buds -totally normal and typical development. And contrary to a previous comment, thelarche, or breast budding is the first sign of puberty with the activation of the hypothalamus -pituitary axis. Adrenarche is independent.

As a pediatrician specializing in teens I wish more parents would be open and discuss development with their kids. Unfortunately many of the parents have not had adequate sexual education themselves. There are so many great books out there to help parents who don't feel comfortable talking to their kids. Knowledge is a powerful tool. Trust me, talking about sex is not going to encourage your teen to have sex. and last plug for the day, start the HPV9 vaccine by 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how you all know if your tween daughters have pubic hair.

Don't you ever see your kids naked? Have you never had a conversation with your developing tween about the changes happening to her body so that she is as knowledgeable and comfortable as she can be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And contrary to a previous comment, thelarche, or breast budding is the first sign of puberty with the activation of the hypothalamus -pituitary axis. Adrenarche is independent.

I am the PP with that comment. I'd noted breast & uterine development was in tandem, and that body hair and odor was separate.

I did write that adrenarche preceeds thelarche by roughly a year, but I meant to write

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And contrary to a previous comment, thelarche, or breast budding is the first sign of puberty with the activation of the hypothalamus -pituitary axis. Adrenarche is independent.

I am the PP with that comment. I'd noted breast & uterine development was in tandem, and that body hair and odor was separate.

I did write that adrenarche preceeds thelarche by roughly a year, but I meant to write

Whoops. Typing fingers.

I meant to write "adrenarche usually precedes the first period by roughly a year," and it usually does. That's just the way it usually lines up. But yes, the two axes are separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: last plug for the day, start the HPV9 vaccine by 11.

if girls are given 2-3 injections of this HPV9 vaccine over a 12-24 month period wouldn't it be better to start this at the age of 10?.

[Anonymous]

I didn't get under arm hair until I was 13 which was 2 years after my periods began and I already had adult ammount of pubic hair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: last plug for the day, start the HPV9 vaccine by 11.

if girls are given 2-3 injections of this HPV9 vaccine over a 12-24 month period wouldn't it be better to start this at the age of 10?.

The first vaccine is given then two months later the second and then four months later the third. New data points to (WHO recommendations already in place) a two dose series if given before age fifteen (immune response is better in younger teens). FDA licensing is for 9-26 so it can be started earlier. There are two other vaccines given at 11/12 visit so recommendations were made to bundle all three together.