Early Puberty

Pinklepurr

This thread has really got me thinking. My DD is almost 10 but is very petite (wears age 7-8 clothes) and there are no signs of her body maturing yet. We've had "the talk" but she was far more embarrassed than me!! However, it has got me thinking that I should at least be prepared even though I hope, for her sake, it happens when she's around 13, like it did for me! I shall be buying a book and a few supplies! Can anyone recommend some small sanitary towels for small girls? Thanks

Caroline73_2

Why do so many mothers not explain these things to their daughters? Even my 5 year old son knows I have periods!

euronorris

Caroline73 wrote: »

Why do so many mothers not explain these things to their daughters? Even my 5 year old son knows I have periods!

I have no idea! I'm quite shocked to read some of the experiences on this thread!

My Mum had already told me all about it, plus I had two older sisters, so there were already bins in the bathrooms and it was openly talked about.

I didn't realise how lucky I was. I didn't even have any cramps for the first couple of years. Oddly, I then had an op on my ears, and ever since then my periods have been painful. NO idea why. I guess it may have something to do with the trauma of the ear op, but maybe it was just coinicidence.

My Mum did used to buy me god awful pad's though! Thankfully, my sister's helped me out there, and I soon switched to tampons too. Although, these days I prefer pads a lot of the time as I've found that tampons aren't as reliable as I'd like.

mrsspendalot

Caroline73 wrote: »

Why do so many mothers not explain these things to their daughters? Even my 5 year old son knows I have periods!

From my own personal perspective, I wanted my little girl to be a little girl as long as possible. I think girls grow up far too quickly nowadays. I didn't want a 10 year old who thought, dressed and behaved like a 13/14 year old because I had introduced her to teenage or adult issues too early. Perhaps that was misjudged. Very rarely as parents do we get it right 100% of the time It is a learning curve.

My DD is a very young 10/11 emotionally, and there are no signs of any physical changes which would have alerted me to early puberty, so I felt I wanted to gradually introduce her to changes which would start to happen to her over the coming years, without getting in there too early and causing nothing but embarassment or fear. I have just, for example, started buying her roll-on deodorant and body sprays and explained why she needs to start and use those.

Given that I am due to have a baby in the summer, I thought that would be a good time to discuss periods and other 'womens things' with her in part of a wider context, which is in good time for her starting Secondary School in September, and after she has turned 11. I think that as long as you know your own daughter, you know when the right time for this type of thing is. Just because I haven't sat down and talked to her yet doesn't mean I haven't been watching for signs of any changes which would lead me to believe she was about to start puberty.

pigpen

I don't think they need to know for a good few years so why tell them? they know very basic stuff.. male/female have different bits and men don't have babies.. they don't need to know the rest until it will affect them. Unless you want to end up with a 2 year old trying to insert a tampon which my sister had. These know girls have these pads and boys don't but until they are about 9-10 IMO that is enough.

Though, how DD3 will manage with periods over night is beyond me given she still wears a nappy for bed!!!!!!!!!! I am dreading it..

Small pads.. the ones for teenagers weren't absorbant enough my girls found and a lot were too wide and folded up and leaked at the sides so they like the boots ones which seem narrower but very absorbant, their second choice are bodyform.. and the ones with wings are a must.. they help with positioning and with preventing leaks.

NEH

mrsspendalot wrote: »

From my own personal perspective, I wanted my little girl to be a little girl as long as possible. I think girls grow up far too quickly nowadays. I didn't want a 10 year old who thought, dressed and behaved like a 13/14 year old because I had introduced her to teenage or adult issues too early. Perhaps that was misjudged. Very rarely as parents do we get it right 100% of the time It is a learning curve.

My DD is a very young 10/11 emotionally, and there are no signs of any physical changes which would have alerted me to early puberty, so I felt I wanted to gradually introduce her to changes which would start to happen to her over the coming years, without getting in there too early and causing nothing but embarassment or fear. I have just, for example, started buying her roll-on deodorant and body sprays and explained why she needs to start and use those.

Given that I am due to have a baby in the summer, I thought that would be a good time to discuss periods and other 'womens things' with her in part of a wider context, which is in good time for her starting Secondary School in September, and after she has turned 11. I think that as long as you know your own daughter, you know when the right time for this type of thing is. Just because I haven't sat down and talked to her yet doesn't mean I haven't been watching for signs of any changes which would lead me to believe she was about to start puberty.

Just beware that there aren't always obvious signs...You also have to be careful as these things can crop up in the playground and it would be more of a shock to find things out from other friends some of which may or may not be true...

building_with_lego

euronorris wrote: »

I have no idea! I'm quite shocked to read some of the experiences on this thread!

My Mum had already told me all about it, plus I had two older sisters, so there were already bins in the bathrooms and it was openly talked about.

I didn't realise how lucky I was. I didn't even have any cramps for the first couple of years. Oddly, I then had an op on my ears, and ever since then my periods have been painful. NO idea why. I guess it may have something to do with the trauma of the ear op, but maybe it was just coinicidence.

My Mum did used to buy me god awful pad's though! Thankfully, my sister's helped me out there, and I soon switched to tampons too. Although, these days I prefer pads a lot of the time as I've found that tampons aren't as reliable as I'd like.

....Mooncup? :A
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/


I'll never go back.

pigpen

I don't think it is shocking to find out from friends.. if not more reassuring that it is true.. you know us old folk are usually wrong! So long as the myths are dispelled and they can say to their friends 'Actually, this is what really goes on' I think it is good they share this info.

Neither of my girls can remember where their books are so I need to go digging.. it might jolt Mimi out of her nappies... here's hoping!

euronorris

building_with_lego wrote: »

....Mooncup? :A
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/


I'll never go back.

I take it you like it then? lol

Is it comfortable? Did you find it difficult to start with? What about if you are and about and need to empty it and rinse it? What then? ie, I'm comfortable doing that in my own bathroom, or even in someone else's bathroom (provided they have a sink in there, not just a toilet), but I wouldn't be comfortable trying to rinse it out in front of others in a public loo.

Also, from the diagrams, it looks quite small. Is it really suitable for heavier days?

NEH

pigpen wrote: »

I don't think it is shocking to find out from friends.. if not more reassuring that it is true.. you know us old folk are usually wrong! So long as the myths are dispelled and they can say to their friends 'Actually, this is what really goes on' I think it is good they share this info.

Neither of my girls can remember where their books are so I need to go digging.. it might jolt Mimi out of her nappies... here's hoping!

Yes but you do have to be careful because you don't know who will have told their friends and if what they know is correct...I'm not saying don't talk about it as i know we did when we were young but it's amazing how many wild myths fly around at that age :rotfl: