What would be a good time to start talking to my daughter about....?

Question

things like hygene and cycles. She is only six but i know for a fact there are a couple little girls that are only two grades up from her that are having to deal with periods all ready. I don't want it to catch either of us off guard (i know she is so bashfull that she would be too embarrased to tell me) but i don't want to bring it up to early either. When is it a good time to start talking about it?

a little more info. My daughter is adopted. So I have no idea how her mother was when she started. So that was another reason why i was thinking we should just start the dialouge. I don't even have a clue as to when it will happen.

Answer 1

You can start talking to her now! (Or could have started talking to her about this two years ago!) The younger the kids are the more willing they are to listen and pay attention to what you have to say.
Take small opportunities during the day to tell her about the "maintenance" of being a woman. While you are getting ready to go out tell her about your bra, deodorant, pads or tampons. What they are, why you have them. Stuff like that. My mom did that with me so I knew about boobs and periods when I was about your daughters age. So nothing came as a surprise! While you are getting ready one day ask her which bra she likes better, "The white one or the black one". So she can feel grown up helping you pick out your cloths, then tell her one day she will begin to grow breasts and you will take her to the store and help her find the bras she likes. Establishing a level of trust with these types of issues Before Puberty is very important!

Answer 2

Has she asked "where babies come from" yet? If not, you may want to have an age-appropriate talk about reproduction in general, and cycles as a part of that. There are several good books available to help explain the whole process to children of any age, without making it seem scary. I would ask your pediatrician for recommendations on this front. This will probably also lead to questions about how she was born, and I don't know how aware she is of her own adoption, but it will probably come up if you go this route. These are all touchy subjects, and I applaud you for wanting to help your daughter be comfortable with the idea of growing up and the changes she will eventually go through.

From my own experience, I was also a shy child, and was mortified to tell my mother that I needed my own feminine supplies. But, I was also well informed at a young age (I have younger brothers, and started asking and learning about the facts of life when I was about 5) and so I knew what to expect when the time came. She still may be shy, but as she grows older, I'm sure she will appreciate knowing that she can ask you important questions and that you will be receptive and caring.

Answer 3

Think about it like this. How old were you when you started? She will more likely start near the same age you did. Also, they SAY that a child won't start her period until she reaches 100 pounds. I don't know how true that is, but I know of a couple of people whos daughters started early because of their weight.
I would wait a couple of years to have that talk with her, because 6 is too young, and 8 is young too, but a better age.

Answer 4

Give her some time. Six is young most children are a lot older than that. If by chance she's talking to older girls and they tell her She'll ask you what they mean. She may be shy, but she'll feel like she has to know and more than likely ask you.
Talk to school nurse they always have pamphlets for you to take home and read so should your Doctor.
Just relax it's a waiting game. I had two girls and they too asked their friends before me, but soon they came to me. Friends always come first when it comes to something they think is hard to talk about. Just be ready with some material to help you when it's time to talk.
I can remember My Mom always said wash down as far as possible and up as far as possible, but it's the as far as possible that needs washed! LOL silly things you remember
Good Luck and be Patient!

Answer 5

I would start talking about hygiene very briefly every once and a while. And if she wants to know more hey good for her. I wouldn't talk about the other stuff until they do it at school. Most schools have a program that they present to inform the students usually about 4rth or 5th grade. You can always briefly inform, but i wouldnt go in depth until she does hit puberty. And make sure that when it does happen, don't mention it over and over...its embarrasing for her.

Answer 6

The Care & Keeping of You : The Body Book for Girls by American girl is a great book to get. Let her read it and then tell her if she has any question you are there for her.
I bought the book for my daughter when she was 8. That is when she started "developing" a little. I would another year or so.

Answer 7

it's better to talk to them early so they are better educated about it, you just when they are younger don't have to go into a lot of graphic detail. My daughter is 9 and knows all about it she started asking questions about 7 because her friends were taking about things. I found a great book at the library on how to explain changes in your body for kids to read

Answer 8

I somewhat agree with Milky Maid here. But with a book, there are words hard to pronounce, and thats what my mom did. But when it came time for my first period, I was scared & felt lost. My mother told me the words from the book, but it made no sense to me. (I was 9, when I was given the book.)
Honestly, sitting down when shes about 9 or 10, and taking the time to explain this to her is a little more easy for her to digest.
But thats my own opinion. Hope it helps.

Answer 9

I talked to my daughter about it seriously when I noticed that she had breast buds (4th grade) but she did not get her cycle until 6th grade. However, she knew about periods way before that because she knew I had them. She knew about the bleeding and cramps and she knew it happens once a month since she was 5 or 6.

Answer 10

You can start explaining that kind of things once she is 8-9 years old.Before that it isn't necessary.It's a very rare case if a 7-8-year-old girl gets her period,so there isn't a reason to start explaining it right now.Wait a couple of years and do it then.