Why is my daughter developing so early?

For most children, early puberty starts for no known reason. It can run in families. Sometimes there is a problem in the brain, such as an injury, a tumor or an infection. Early puberty can also be caused by a problem in the sex glands (testes or ovaries), the thyroid gland or the adrenal glands.

What causes a girl to develop early?

The cause of precocious puberty often can't be found. Rarely, certain conditions, such as infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities or injuries, may cause precocious puberty. Treatment for precocious puberty typically includes medication to delay further development.

Is my daughter developing too early?

In girls, signs of precocious (prih-KOE-shiss) puberty include: breast development before age 7 or 8. start of menstruation (her period) before age 10. rapid height growth (a growth spurt) before age 7 or 8.

What happens when girls develop early?

Early-maturing girls are at increased risk of a range of psychosocial problems including depression, substance use and early sexual behavior, as University of Florida psychologist Julia Graber, PhD, described in a recent review (Hormones and Behavior, 2013).

Is early puberty healthy?

While your child's physical changes may be a concern, it's also important to consider their psychological needs. Children with early puberty are more at risk for low self-esteem, depression, and substance abuse.

The Impact of Early Emotional Neglect

What is causing early puberty?

For most children, early puberty starts for no known reason. It can run in families. Sometimes there is a problem in the brain, such as an injury, a tumor or an infection. Early puberty can also be caused by a problem in the sex glands (testes or ovaries), the thyroid gland or the adrenal glands.

Why are girls hitting puberty so early?

Researchers and physicians hypothesized about possible causes for the increase in early puberty, such as increasing rates of obesity; greater exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in food, plastics, and personal-care products; and stressful or abusive home environments.

Will early puberty affect height?

In girls, earlier age of menarche, breast development, and growth spurt were related to shorter height. In boys, earlier age of growth spurt and slower progression through puberty were related to taller height at age 18 years.

How to delay puberty?

For central precocious puberty, medications called GnRH analogs are the standard treatment. They work by blocking the hormones coming from the pituitary gland that trigger puberty. Most children who need treatment get these medicines as injections or implants.

How can I prevent puberty early?

Most cases of early puberty cannot be prevented. Limiting your child's exposure to reproductive hormones from outside sources may prevent precocious puberty. These sources may include estrogen or testosterone creams, lotions, or other medications.

What race hits puberty first?

African-American and Hispanic girls tend to reach puberty earlier than their white counterparts, research shows.

What are signs of early bloomer?

An early bloomer is a kid whose body starts to develop ahead of others their age. For some, this means the appearance of breast buds; for others, an unanticipated growth spurt. Whether they get tall or curvy or hairy or stinky, being among the first can bring lots of challenges.

Is 7 early for puberty?

But it's perfectly normal for puberty to begin at any point between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys. There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around 14.

What weight triggers puberty?

Puberty in women normally occurs between 11 and 14 years of age. If a child reaches a particular weight (around 45 kg or 100 lb), the onset of puberty is triggered. The heavier the child, the earlier puberty occurs, possibly affecting risk of later disease.

Is 10 years old too early for period?

When Do Most Girls Get Their Period? Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule.

Is it normal for a 4 year old to have pubic hair?

It's not uncommon for young children to show certain traits associated with puberty, including some pubic hair, underarm hair and the beginnings of breast development, said Dr. Paul Kaplowitz, who led the American Academy of Pediatrics report.

Does milk cause early puberty?

Fact: There is no scientific evidence that drinking milk causes early puberty. In the United States, girls are entering puberty at younger ages than they were in the first half of the 20th century. Researchers do not know the exact trigger for early-onset puberty, although it is likely influenced by many factors.

How we can delay puberty in a girl naturally?

Eat a healthy diet.

A healthy, balanced diet can encourage normal pubertal development. Encourage your child to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Limit consumption of fried foods, soft drinks, and animal products. There is some evidence that early puberty could be related to drinking large quantities of milk.

What are the 5 stages of puberty in a girl?

What is peak height puberty?

Whole-year peak height velocity is 9.5 cm/y in boys and 8.3 cm/y in girls, with slight variations in the different studies.

Does early puberty affect fertility?

Girls who begin puberty early commonly experience problems with regular menstruation; early puberty also could cause infertility for both genders. The study has identified kisspeptin, a hormone made in the brain's hypothalamus, as the master controller of the onset of puberty.

At what ages do girls have growth spurts?

There's a very broad range of time in which kids hit puberty-related growth spurts: Most girls start their sexual development between the ages of 8 and 13 (the average age is 12), and have a growth spurt between the ages of 10 and 14.

Why are kids getting periods so early?

The most probable explanation for why periods and breast development might be happening younger is that girls tend to weigh more today than they did a generation ago—and this higher body fat percentage is leading to earlier activation of the pituitary gland, which produces the hormones responsible for puberty.

Is it normal for a 8 year old to have a period?

“It is not uncommon for girls to start their period as young as 8 or 9,” says Dr. Sara Kreckman, UnityPoint Health pediatrician. “This can be both emotionally and mentally challenging for girls this young, as well as their parents.”

Is it normal for a 9 year old to have pubic hair?

It is normal for production of these hormones to increase (something we call adrenarche) and for pubic hair to appear after age 8 in girls or 9 in boys. The reason why this increase occurs earlier in some children is not known.