My daughter is growing up .... but is it normal to show these signs at 7 ???

Question

My daughter is 7 years old. She is the tallest girl in her class ... almost reaches my shoulders and is just one size away from my shoe size !! What is truly worrying me is the fact that she has started getting light underarm hair and she now has a regular white discharge. In all behaviour she is just a child. Is this normal ???

Answer 1

Don't be worried. It is just the beginning of what could be a long process of growing up. My daughter is now 8 (just turned 8 April 1) and she has been rubbing herself. I freaked out and though she had an infection or something but the doctor said that most kids will begin changes as young as 7-8, but the more subtle changes. But all kids will start changing differently at different times. It is normal. She will slow down her growth spurt just in time for something else to change. It is only just beginning. Don't worry. My daughter is also the tallest in her class. She is almost ready to need her legs shaved because they are getting very very fuzzy! But don't rush her! just remember that she still has the mentality of a little girl even though she is slightly starting to resemble a little woman.

I also had breast in fourth grade and started my monthly at 9 as another poster stated, so I think you should spend time on yourself and get ready for the little woman you are bringing into this world! Prepare her well. A trip to the doc is not a bad idea so you and her doc can kinda talk to her and answer any questions she will for sure be having! Good luck!

Answer 2

More than likely, everything is fine with your daughter. I worked in a school and there were a couple of girls that started their periods at 8 and 9.

I believe the hormones that are in the milk and other foods may be doing this to our children, but I have no proof.

I think I would make an appointment with her doctor and just take her in for a check-up just to make sure all is ok. Better to be safe than sorry later.

Probably would be a good time to start having the talk about periods and all to her too, just so she's ready and won't be scared when it happens. I know the moms of the 2 girls I mentioned above didn't have the talk with them and they started while at school. The mom of the 8 year old came right to school and reassured her daughter that all was ok and they talked there. The other mom told me to have the talk with her daughter..that it was the schools responsibility to do this. I told her I thought it was something a mom should do with her daughter, but she refused, so it was up to me.

Of course we had a special program that we have for the girls, but it wouldn't have been for these girls until 2 years later...in 4th grade.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a seven year old daughter who is about the same as you described. She's getting darker pubic hair already and she comes to my shoulders as well. I am 5'8 and my husband is 6'7 so I know she gets it honestly. I think they hit their growth spurts earlier. She just went back to school two days ago and alot of the girls came back and they had done alot of growing over the summer. I was/am a little worried about it too but nothing I would make a special trip to the doc for. Remember all kids grow at different paces. I think the discharge is normal and will be as they grow older. Girls start thier periods earlier now as well. Don't be concerned just make sure you tell her everyday that she's buautiful and that you love her. Self esteem is what makes or breaks them when they are different from the other kids their age. Don't worry she's just taller- she is not abnormal.

Answer 4

i think that it's probably fine. Although I do have to agree with all the hormones that are pumped into our food, you never know what you are really eating. But I have a 4 year old that already comes above my waist. I don't know how your daughter feels about her size but my guess would be don't upset or make you daughter feel like she's abnormal. Some children are just naturally tall and big boned. My 4 year old daughter has a genetic cause to be a little on the big side, but i'm going to make sure she feels just as beautiful as anyone else in her classes.

Answer 5

Yes it is normal. My daughter started at seven with growing hair on arms,legs,etc.. She is also the tallest girl her class. Last year she started growing breats and cried. She didn't want to grow up and said they hurt. It went away after we found some websites for young girls and she read up on it. She tought she wasn't normal growing before her friends as they haven't really started yet. I talked to her doctor and it nothing to do with the foods kids eat. They are just growing up faster and we as parents need to prepare them for the changes that are taking place in their bodies. Ariah(9) is still growing like a weed(1 inch a week) and we are discussing the monthly now. Get her into sports for her height. Ariah wants to play basketball and be a chef at the same time. As to the discharge Ariah always has had it, especially during the warmer months. It is like a yeast infection because of the moisture down there. Don't let her wear tight pants,shorts or underwear and try not to use cotton undies during the warmer months. Ariah was also getting it from taking to many bubble baths and had to stop that. Just make sure it is clean and dry and that she doesn't have an odor or itching down their. Hope this helps you. There are tons of website out their for us mothers with girls to get answers from and for them to learn about the change. Find one that fits with you and your daughter so she can understand it.

Answer 6

When I was her age I was the same way. I was always taller than everone and I had breast in the 4th grade. I also started my monthly when I was only nine years old. I think it just really depends on the child. For me of course it was very embarrassing, but if you talk to her and support her about her changes she will be fine. Now that I am a grown women I am only 5'6" tall and pretty normal for my age. I pretty much stopped growing when I got in middle school. But if you are still concerned take her in for a physical, it will not hurt to have her checked out by her doctor.

Answer 7

I'd take her to the doctors just to ensure that everything is fine and she hasn't got any hormonal problems. But I'd say your child is very normal. Kids develop at different rates and girls, especially, can be early bloomers. You can have a very developed seven-year-old and a thirteen-year-old who still has the body of a little girl.

I'd have a chat to her about her changing body though and maybe prepare her for her periods so it isn't such a shock. I'd also consider thinking up ways to make everything more discreet for her just now as, if her friends are still very underdeveloped, she wants to fit in.

Answer 8

I was 8 when my periods started and I started buds of breasts. By the time I was 12, I was a D cup. My mother was the same way, as her mother was before her. Sometimes girls hit puberty early. It happens.

I was also taller than all the other kids, but I stopped growing at around 13 at 5'8". I am by no means a giant. I just had boys chasing me down at a very early age because of my breasts.

Just make sure you sit her down and explain what is happening to her body. That way she will be expecting the blood when it comes. I know my mom forgot to sit me down and I woke up covered. She apologiozed, because she knew it was coming, she just didn't want to face it.

She's OK, and make sure she knows that.

Answer 9

Ok well.... I have never heard of this actually happening to anyone i know...But have you ever heard of gigantism. Its were they grow up really fast and get really tall..I would definately go talk to her pediatrician. Not that anything BAD is wrong with her. But she might just be growing really fast and you need to find out so you wont worry so much. I mean i knew a little boy who was only 4 years old and was already 5 foot tall! But he had the mentality of a 4 year old.

Answer 10

Well first I think you need to take her in to the doctor and see what they have to say. My middle child got her period at 9, and she is absolutely fine today (27). But there is a syndrome called Precocus Puberty where they do grown hair and breast and so on and they put them on a medicine call Lupron Depot but I would have the doc check before anything!