I Don't Know Her Future!

I was smaller than that in middle school and got my period in 8th grade (I'm only 5'2" and 100lbs now as a grown mother of 3). If she's healthy and just a petite person, she'll be fine. I think it's more for the girls with eating disorders (I had a friend who was anorexic and didn't have her period for years). They also say skinny people have a hard time getting pregnant. I got pregnant with all 3 kiddos on the first try. Again, if she's healthy and just small, she should be fine.

Is the doctor worried or are you? She's 11. So if she's thin, she might not start as soon as a heavier girl her same age... but she will eventually start.. she's female.

Also 4'8" 70lbs is thin but not THAT skinny. DS is that same height and weighs 62lbs. Yes, he is underweight, but she's 8lbs heavier than him.

At 4'8" and 70lbs, she is not too skinny. My daughter started at 11 and was taller and weighed less than your daughter. If she were 50lbs, I'd be more concerned. What does your doctor say?

I agree with Doris Day - no mom would write this.

Well since she is only 4' 8" I would not be in any rush for her to get her period since growth (height) significantly slows down once girls get their period.
My daughter was the first of her friends to get her period at 11 1/2 years old. She weighed under 100 lbs but was 5'3".
Some girls don't get their period until they are 16 and they are still perfectly normal and healthy. It baffles me that you are concerned about this and that your poor daughter is anxious about something she has no control over.

Honestly, this sounds like you are the 11 year old pretending to be your mom.

Even skinny girls eventually start their periods. What matters more than starting a period is if the girl is HEALTHY. If she's not eating enough, not getting enough fat and protein, it can compromise her health. It's not about the period as much as it is about her overall health.

It's a matter of body fat mass ratio.
When she hits a certain weight, her period will come.
For some girls it happens naturally at a younger or an older age.

My Mom got her's at 16 - poverty and starvation had her at 5 ft 5 in tall and she weighed 96 lbs.
Certainly anorexic by anyone s standards.
So if my Mom developed under those conditions - your daughter will too - sooner or later.

we don't know her future either.
but i'm betting it will be an anxious one if you fret over her like this.
some super-skinny girls have delayed menarche. many don't. there are many, many factors that go into it, and seeking advice from strangers on the internet about your child, whom we don't know and aren't trained to diagnose, will only make you nuts and cause you to make your kid nuts too.
why did you talk to a doctor from kaiser? is the ONLY thing he said that your daughter might not start her period?
of COURSE she's worried since you told her. intelligent parents don't terrify their children with vague, unfounded, useless information.
and stop asking strangers on the internet about your child's periods.
khairete
S.

Have you discussed her height, weight and general development with her pediatrician? If not, why not? That's where these types of medical questions belong.

A doctor won't be able to tell you precisely when she will start her period, but will have a much better basis for estimating it, based on the appearance (or lack thereof) of secondary sexual characteristics. That's a much better consultation for you than a bunch of strangers on the internet.

And why in the world would you tell your daughter something you "heard" from others, causing her to worry, when you have no medical basis for such a statement??? Please call your doctor, and if your child is stressed out, consult a counselor about how to work with her and be a more supportive parent without causing her increased worry.

And you might not want to put your daughter's real name on an anonymous internet forum. Use an initial or use a fake name, or just say "my daughter."

I have to agree with JC.
Weight can impact hormones for sure, but she'd have to be pretty ill for that to happen. Your doctor would already likely be concerned.
If her physique is just slight and smaller, that doesn't necessarily impact things - she may just be a bit later in developing. I was the smallest and shortest in my class and hit puberty later - but not abnormally so. There's really no rush. Puberty for some girls means 15 and still perfectly normal.
I suggest if you have concerns speak to her doctor. But mentioning to her she might not get her period because she is skinny .... I have no idea why you would tell a pre-teen girl that.
Have to say that one comment makes me wonder if this is a legitimate question. Can't think of too many moms who'd want to concern their children unnecessarily. Is this your concern or hers? I'd let it go if it's only yours. What difference does it make anyways? You can't control these things :) Good luck

Please just chill. Many girls don't get there periods until they are close to 13. As long as she eats healthy food when she is hungry and doesn't have an eating disorder, she'll be fine.

Also, she sounds thin but not too thin. And based on her height, she hasn't hit her pre-puberty growth spurt yet. Things will change when that happens. I see nothing to worry about at this point, as long as she doesn't has an eating disorder.

I was small and started mine the first day of 7th grade. But, it is totally normal for some girls to start later, as late as 15, so no reason to stress.

Welcome to mamapedia!!

I'm sorry - I don't have a crystal ball and see into the future.

Why are you stressing your daughter out over this? It will happen when it happens! DO NOT push this on her. Talk with her and make sure she is prepared, but please don't make her weight the issue. Let her body work the way it's going to work. Hopefully, she has about 2 years before she starts her period. Let her be a child! Stop rushing adulthood!

She will eventually start but maybe not until she's older. Take her to an OB/GYN and have them check her out. She is very young to start her period anyway. I know girls your daughter's age that started but not at 11, one that wears a girls 8-10 is 14 and she started her period at age 12 or 13.

I have heard that girls generally start having periods when they are around 100 pounds.. my daughter is 10 and weighs 52 pounds..

as my dr said.. people come in different sizes..

no hurry... she will grow and gain weight.. she will have a period some day.. but may not soon..

That was me at that age. I got my period at age 13. Really, don't worry, stress, or think about this. Your daughter will be fine. I ate tons...would have 3rds on dinner for example and had a huge appetite, but was just naturally very thin. Some people just have this body shape. The important thing is to be healthy...eat well and exercise your body. Being in sports or doing regular exercise was the only thing that made me start gaining weight because I put on muscle. In college I took weight lifting and long distance bicycling and finally my body started having more normal proportions. As her mom you really need to not stress over this because you will make your daughter anxious. As long as she is eating well and living a good life she is fine and yes of course her period will start...but keep in mind plenty of girls don't get their period till age 13 or even 14.

of course she will start - my daughters have always been super skinny, and I was too when I was younger, and my older daughter started the summer between 8th and 9th grade, my younger daughter hasn't started yet and she in in 8th grade now. The older daughter is now 5 ft 4 inches and 100 lbs if she has eaten recently, the younger daughter is 4 ft 7 inches tall and about 80 lbs. Don't worry about it, she's not going to be under 100 lbs forever, she will start.