My 8 yeard old and puberty?

Question

My 8 year old step-daughter is in second grade and she appears to be going through puberty and I am not sure how to address it with her... I am thinking that she will be menustration soon because the doctor said it would be very soon. How do I approach this topic with her? I just don't want to expose her to so much since she is still so young...

Answer 1

Have you talked to her doctor about how to address this with her? I would start there, because she is so young and this is, well, in my opinion, a sensitive topic.

I don't have experience with this because I have boys, but I do remember my mom didn't offer up a whole lot of information about this, so I got a lot of my information from books.

I did have a cousin who started menstruating at 9 years old. Her mom didn't talk to her about it before then, so she freaked out when it happened. So, obviously don't do that lol...

Answer 2

She's too young to go through puberty, it's not possible!

Answer 3

This is rough since she is so young, but as time goes on kids are going through puberty younger and younger. You should just sit her down and gently explain that "Everyone" goes through changes in their lives and then go on explain what some of the changes are. Tell her that it will happen to her but she doesn't need to be scared, it happens to everybody. Make sure you address the period thing with her before it happens or the poor thing will be terrified when it does.

Good luck.

Make sure she knows she's not alone and that it happens to everyone.

Answer 4

My oldest daughter went thru that at around the same age. Her doctor referred us to an endocrinologist who did a bone age x-ray and basically what we found out was that at 8, her bone age was closer to 12. She was also developing, which caused her much distress due to male attention. So she started getting monthly shots given by the endo which stopped the puberty in it's tracks so her actual age could catch up to her bone age. Also, she would have stopped growing sooner and probably been less than five feet tall. So these are all things to consider. She was on the shot until almost 12, when she decided she was ready for puberty to kick in and the doctors agreed it was safe. Hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 5

I would just tell her what is going to happen, and that it is all very normal and everyone goes through it. Make sure she knows your there to help her and if she has any questions make sure she knows its okay to ask.

Answer 6

you need `to DISCUSs this with her. She will be confused what is happening with her body and if she got her period before you told her anything she will be scared. She is young and it is sad but you have to talk to her as puberty is happening , young or not. I hope your talk goes well.

Answer 7

buy her a book made for her age

Answer 8

I'd get a second opinion, from an endocrinologist, just be sure something correctable isn't prompting this early puberty.  8 is really young just to be brushng this off without further inivestigation.

Answer 9

there is a great book from American Girl called "The Care and Keeping of You" it deals with the changes her body will go through as well as good hygiene etc. My daughter is 9 and going through puberty and is fairly close to starting as well. We have this book, but I am just completely open and honest with her and it has worked so far. They even have a body journal, which is neat and a lot of other useful books. Check it out on their website americangirl.com Just do not ignore it, it is the same as other situations, she needs to be educated on this even if it is a sensitive subject.

FYI  the book does not address s*x at all. It is about your body and periods, but not s*x. I recently had the talk with my daughter because she had a lot of questions and I felt an honest answer was best. You can explains periods without explaining s*x. Both of my girls have known about periods since forever, it is no big secret in our house.

Answer 10

An eight year old is certainly old enough to know how women's bodies go through a monthly cycle, releasing an egg, preparing a "bed" in the uterus, and then shedding that "bed" through the v****a when there is no sperm to fertilize the egg.

Be honest, direct and matter-of-fact.  You'll be fine.

Answer 11

Sit her down and talk to her factually. Don't give her any more information than she needs - an don't make her worry.

Let her know that every woman goes through it eventually, she's probably going to start early, her friends probably don't know anything about this.

Use this as a tool to start an open door policy for communicating about 'these things.'  Good luck.

Answer 12

Go to a local book store and look in the childrens books [ask for help if needed] and get her maybe 2 books about it [not ones that are all facts and look scary] Get her a book, and then explain it to her when going through the book.