My older DS was 15 before he started getting noticeable hair under his arms. My younger DS, now 12.5, is still very prepubescent. Totally normal.

When you think about the fact that girls generally mature earlier than boys, and the fact that many girls don't have their periods at 12, you realize that a 12-year-old boy is not too old to be prepubescent.

There is absolutely no modesty in our house. We all see each other naked. My almost 14 year old son was like that until very recently - maybe 6 months ago. Now I always knock before I enter his room. Before that I saw his penis even when he started to spout pubic hairs. My 5 year old twins are starkers all the time. But then again were British so that might explain it.

Its completely normal. I remember Tim Lincecom (SF Giants pitcher) saying he was 4'10'' when he started High School. He is now 30 and finally seems to be filled out and man-line, rather than a skinny kid. You might ge a good book onthis subject for you and your son, since he may be wondering the same thing. Every young teen imagines that he/she is physically abnormal.

It's been a while since we've last been to the pediatrician but the last time we we're there, she did say everything was normal when she did the genital exam but that was over a year ago

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have three sons (14, 12 and 10) and until they hit puberty (only the oldest has) they walk around naked very freely. Very little modesty amongst them. I had to really press my oldest to cover up once it became inappropriate. Before you ask, I am quite modest and do not let my sons see me undressed. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are all boys and there are no girls in the house, but they are very comfortable walking around undressed, or in just underwear.

I grew up with one brother. Totally different situation and there was NO walking around naked.

When did the oldest actually start puberty? And the 10 and 12 year olds are still completly prepubescent?

Oldest started at probably close to 14. The 12 and 10 year olds are totally prepubescent. It really does vary tremendously.

Go to a swim meet for the 11-12 year old age group. You will see boys who look 8 and boys who look 16. Big range of normal at this age.

May be normal, but if you are concerned, I suggest you privately express your concern to your pediatrician and schedule an appointment.

I happen to know a guy who had a much more unusual reason for late-seeming puberty and "soft" appearance: he has Klinefelter syndrome - XXY chromosomes rather than XY. Male genitalia, but did not develop normally. He wasn't diagnosed until late teens and it would have been helpful if he was diagnosed prior to that time.

Side note about seeing 12 yr old son naked: I will be shocked if I can get my two boys to stop walking around naked. They're only 9 and 7 but any attempts at getting them to cover up are short lasting. They have no sense of privacy, at all, and seem oblivious to the fact that the rest of the household doesn't need to see their junk. (In good news, none of my kids is likely to need to play the "you show me yours, I'll show you mine" game in order to learn what the opposite sex looks like below the belt; the younger sisters are also totally fine running around naked, again despite parents encouraging things like CLOTHES.)

OP, ask your kids' doctor. It's within the range of normal, but your ped may see early signs that you're unaware of. I have an 11yo boy and his ped informed us at his 10yo visit that he was in the first phase of puberty. Yikes! He's crazy tall and a big kid all around though, and I believe that weight plays a factor in early puberty.

His little brother likes to barge into his room and has confirmed with great horror that there is hair where there didn't used to be. BTW he has become more modest since this whole process began.

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have three sons (14, 12 and 10) and until they hit puberty (only the oldest has) they walk around naked very freely. Very little modesty amongst them. I had to really press my oldest to cover up once it became inappropriate. Before you ask, I am quite modest and do not let my sons see me undressed. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are all boys and there are no girls in the house, but they are very comfortable walking around undressed, or in just underwear.

I grew up with one brother. Totally different situation and there was NO walking around naked.

When did the oldest actually start puberty? And the 10 and 12 year olds are still completly prepubescent?

NP. I have three sons (14, 12 and 10) and until they hit puberty (only the oldest has) they walk around naked very freely. Very little modesty amongst them. I had to really press my oldest to cover up once it became inappropriate. Before you ask, I am quite modest and do not let my sons see me undressed. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are all boys and there are no girls in the house, but they are very comfortable walking around undressed, or in just underwear.

I grew up with one brother. Totally different situation and there was NO walking around naked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly shocked at how many replies are just people shocked that I saw my son's genitalia.

People have given you advice, but it seems as though you just want to talk about your kid's genitals and the various circumstances you have seen them. I'm done replying.

She's not the one with the issues here.

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly shocked at how many replies are just people shocked that I saw my son's genitalia.

People have given you advice, but it seems as though you just want to talk about your kid's genitals and the various circumstances you have seen them. I'm done replying.

I'm honestly shocked at how many replies are just people shocked that I saw my son's genitalia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written your post word for word. Looking around at his classmates, I have to assume he's within the range of normal -- but I don't really know what the range is.

I know he's not supposed to have a full chest of hair at age 12.5, but his little baby-size peen and girl voice and babyish demeanor does give me pause. (to weirdos: we go camping together, so yes, I've seen his nether region and it looks exactly like it did when I was changing his diaper 10 years ago).

Compared to his classmates, I still feel as if my son is behind. Over the summer, we would go to the pool and he would play basketball in the pool with his friends, and I couldn't help but notice most of them had armpir hair already.

Who cares, they will all go through puberty eventually.

It really and truly isn't a race. Stop stressing over it your likely to give your kid a complex.
If your mom sense is telling you something is wrong ask his DOCTOR, he or she is the only one who can give you accurate info.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written your post word for word. Looking around at his classmates, I have to assume he's within the range of normal -- but I don't really know what the range is.

I know he's not supposed to have a full chest of hair at age 12.5, but his little baby-size peen and girl voice and babyish demeanor does give me pause. (to weirdos: we go camping together, so yes, I've seen his nether region and it looks exactly like it did when I was changing his diaper 10 years ago).

Compared to his classmates, I still feel as if my son is behind. Over the summer, we would go to the pool and he would play basketball in the pool with his friends, and I couldn't help but notice most of them had armpir hair already.

Who cares, they will all go through puberty eventually.