9-Year Old Hormonal Development

Hi C.!
Yes, in general, girls are developing at an earlier age than we did. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I was a 4th/5th grade teacher for 7 years. It was not uncommon for girls in my class to come to me, upset and frightened, because they had started their period for the first time. It's good that you're going to talk to her about it. You want her to be prepared and not scared. Just a little information I learned as to why this earlier development is happening.... there are three possible reasons that I learned of: (1) an increase of hormones used in meat products that are consumed by children, (2) an increase in sexual content found in the media, which will "jump-start" an evolutionary response to be able to reproduce, and (3) girls living with a stepfather or other adult male to whom they are not biologically related will develop earlier as well, for the same reason as explaination (2). Kind of strange, I know, but that's what I learned in a child development class I took. Just thought you might be interested in the possible reasons for this earlier development. Take care and good luck!

C.,
As everyone else has said, it is totally normal. Once they develop breast buds, a little hard ball-like thing where the breast will be someday, it is usually about 2 years before they get their period.

my how time flies, huh! It is normal, don't worry. It doesn't necessarily mean menstration is on the way, they have to reach a mature body weight & other factors come into play. I developed early but got my cycles later. How fortunate you are that she asked you!! So many kids would die before asking about this kind of private thing. :)
Good luck!
D.

If your daughter is drinking milk this is a huge contributor to early puberty. Her period will soon follow. My Dr. told me to put my kids on Almond or Rice Milk-neither girl has developed early so far...you can try it or do some research. All the girls in my 10 yr. old's class last year that drank milk, already had breasts and some had their period already. Shocking, I know. The hormones that the manufacturers put in our milk is no good for anyone, let alone young ladies. Good Luck!

Each girl develops at her own rate. She could very well be on her way to getting her period. She may not get the tenderness in her breast before she gets her period at this age. Just have the supplies she will need ready at home so when the time comes.

I too, was a nine year old with pubic hair. My periods did not start until just before my 12th birthday. Not sure why I developed faster, but do remember feeling uncomfortable and different from my friends. My best advice is to keep reminding her that she is just maturing faster than the other kids, and it's not a bad thing.

I thought I was crazy when my 9 year old discovered this too!!! But it is indeed happening. We too had the "girl talk". If you're interested American Girl has a great book about the developing girl, it is very appropriate for her age. My daughter and I read and discussed it together. I thought it was very well put. Good Luck!

Ahh, the fun times are here for you. I teach fourth grade and my students are at so many different stages of development. You can probably best guage her menstrual cycle start by remembering when you started. It is usually pretty close to the same. She could just be getting some of her development now and will get the rest later. If she still has a small chest, it may not be happening yet.

As a teacher and a mom who sees and hears what the kids don't think I do - have some serious talks with her about all of the growing up issues...soon. They are already probably talking about sex at school. If not, it will happen this year. It only takes one kid to get a flurry of chatter started. Can you believe you're already at that stage???? Time does fly...

Good luck,
A.

I have been in your shoes and be prepared for the menstral cycle. My daughter started at 10 and she is now almost 14. She started before all of her friends and was embarassed to ask to go to the washroom to change. Just keep talking to her and let her know that she is not alone in this and remind her it happens every month. My daughter didn't really hear me when I said that and when it came back that next month she was upset that IT was back. Also teach her to count the days so that she will not be caught by surprise and unprepared. I put a cute purse in my daughters book bag with pads, clean underwear, a ziplock bag for soiled undies, and wipes to clean herself. My daughter has been regular since she atarted but some girls aren't. Children are developing sooner these days, so you may wnat to start preparing yourself for the talk with your 7 year old in about 2 years.

Hey C.,

Your little girl CAN be growing up. I speak from experience. I received my first period when I was in fourth grade so that put me at 9. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I was a total tom boy in school and I remember the day as if it were yesturday. I went to private school and were allowed to wear our gym uniform all day on gym day. We were playing dadge ball and I remember feeling a sting in the pelvic area when I caught a ball that shot right at me. I didn't think anything of it unitl I got home after school and was taking my clithing off to take my shouwer. To my surprise there was blood all over my underpants. I yelled for my mother, she came running into the bathroom walked back out and came in and we had the talk. It's sucked ever since. To make a long story short yes it is possible. I work in a general practice dental office but we have an orthodontist that comes in to do our ortho and alot of time she asks if the children have gotten their menstration yet. You'd be surprised at how normal it is for children this young to get their period. Hair means nothing. My niece has had hair since she was five (we call her spider cause she has hair everywhere) and she is anxiously waiting for her period. She is 12 1/2. Does your daughter look older than 9? Is she a fast developer? I ask b/c at the age of nine I was 5' 2" and weighed about 115lb and wore size 3/4 in women. So it was kinda a given that I was gonna get my period early. Heads up on you to start preparing your daughter for the first "change of life". I guess now the next thought can probably be where you stand on the whole Guardasil vaccine. Food for thought. Hope this helps.

Yes, she can be developing at that age. Your previous post mentioned the "American Girl" book. They have a few books in that series that touch on many timely topics, like body changes & development, hygiene, even friends and relationships.

Her body weight, hereditary, etc... are a few of the factors that determine if her cycle is on the way. If you had an early period, she may follow suit or she may just be developing hair at this point in puberty.

Wow - how excellent that you and her are so open. Good for you!

I'd suggest you start with where you buy your milk. Walmart recently announced that milk sold under its store brand will now come exclusively from cows free of artificial growth hormones called rBGH. The belief is artifical hormones injected into cows (to help them produce milk 300 days a year)are causing girls to reach puberty years ahead of time.

Roughly 15 percent of all dairies (mostly large dairies) in the United States inject their cows with rBGH. That increases cows’ milk production. Besides the documented increase of infections in dairy cows injected with rBGH, which necessitates increased use of antibiotics, there are ongoing questions about links to puberty, but to cancer in humans.

Most of the industrialized countries in the world have banned rBGH. But here in the United States, we’re not only drinking it, but we are giving it to our children.

Keep in mind, ORGANIC doesn't mean rBGH-free.

If you'd like to help stop schools from providing milk with rBGH, you can sign this petition: http://agriculturesociety.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/hormon...

I've asked my ped. about the milk thing and he would be more concerned about the plastic container it comes in rather than the horomones! My 9 year old niece had a lump in her breast recently and the ped. said it is the coming of puberty, no period yet though thankfully! I however got my period when I was 10 years old and they did said that can be hereditary. There are some great books out for young girls, stay away from the American Girl one-as it talks about Anorexia and Bulimia and has put some weird notions in my nieces head. Best of luck with your young ladies!

My daughter, now 12.5 years, began signs of puberty as early as 7 years. Started with some body odor, then breast buds, then hair. She first got her period when she was 9 (too early!) but then it went away for awhile and since about 11 years she's had it off and on. The non-consistent period can also be normal while their bodies adjust and regulate. My daughter is mature for her age and compared to her friends (curvy body, mature perspective on life and in behavior, etc.). I have heard about the hormones in milk, dairy, and meat and while that could (and likely is) a factor, also keep in mind that different people develop differently and girls usually develop earlier than boys and hormones in food and dairy can affect girls differently. Our son (age 9.5) has been eating the same foods and drinking the same milk as our daughter but has zero signs of puberty. One last thought, we should all consider advocating for fewer or no hormones in our food and dairy, but keep in mind that there can be a different consequence for no hormones. Also keep in mind that not all families have the financial ability to buy organic, etc.

I am glad to see that someone earlier on this thread referred you to my web site to sign the petition to keep hormones out of milk. That is a great first start. The other consideration is the meat, eggs, and other dairy products your family is eating. Go for locally-raised, pasture-fed meat and meat products. Unless you switch to these kinds of foods, you will be dealing with meats that are too high in Omega 6s (from industrially-produced animals), contain growth hormones and antibiotics, and are too high in carbohydrate content (due to feeding animals soy, corn, and grains instead of grass) and too low in protein. These can all contribute to a state of unhealth in humans and hormone problems in children.

Also, raw milk is the healthiest to consume because the delicate proteins and fat-soluble vitamins are left intact, whereas in pasteurized milk the proteins and nutrients are destroyed through pasteurization. If you find a healthy source of milk where the cattle are cared for properly, you don't have to worry about E.Coli and other contaminants as you would from commercial and industrially-produced cattle (who always have E.coli and other toxins, not to mention pus, in the milk). For more information on these important health subjects, visit www.agriculturesociety.com. Good luck!
-R. Saunders

C.,

Girls are developing at younger ages than they did before. My niece started menstruating at 9! It's good that you are open and talking with her, especially since she's starting to develop.

Hi Nine years old is a little young for pubic hairs, but I started on my cycle at eleven. And children are developing fast these days. Take her to a doctor and see what he says.