9Year Old Development

Hi - I don't know too much about the age issue - I was 12, so 9 seems a little young to me, but I read that it is happening younger and younger these days. But I definitely had one breast sort of "pop" out first - a tiny mound just popped up. The other lagged behind, I don't recall by how much anymore, I just remember my friends and I were amused by the one side popping out first. It didn't seem to happen to them.

Dont play games and ask mothers if you are concerned consult a doctor if you cant afford go to a clinic A. of no. Hills

I would go get it checked out. Probably just early developement. Are you having her drink only organic milk and meat products. There is a huge concern, and rightly so, of hormones in dairy and beef with too many of our girls developing early, having hormones disrupted from their normal cycles.

On another note, you need to also be very aware of the dangers of the Gardasil shots. These are causing serious problems in our young women and I personally am not having my daughter near them and they are promoting them with girls as young as 9. Is your daughter planning on being sexually active before the age of 14? Didn't think so. It has not been proven that HPV is the cause of cervical cancer and the main thing to remember about HPV (there are many types and the vaccine may cover just 4 of them and it may only be effective for five years - they just don't know yet) is that in over 90% of the viruses are taken care of by the immune system. If you get an annual pap smear, the test will catch any cervical cancer and it is easily treated. The problems that are happening is beyond the girls fainting or having soreness at the injection site. There have been over 15,000 (from six months ago) reactions that also include seizures, genital warts, chronic fatigue, paralysis, severe headaches (too much aluminum for the body to handle) and death. There has been a stronger association with our young women having severe problems when there are any allergies anywhere in the family.

So just say no to any Gardasil shots. Let them use someone else a bit longer as guina pigs. If you have the doctor /nurse ask you why you want your daughter to get cancer (nice huh? happened to us) just reply that you'll wait. It is not mandatory AND it should never be given at the same time as any other shot. With any vaccine, ask to read the package insert when you are told there will be shots. Take the time. Please. For more information, visit http://www.nvic.org/

I think it's probably normal. I started developing on one side first then the other. But I was about 10 or 11 when that happened. My period started at age 12. I would take her to the ped just as a precaution.

Hi K., Yes I think that your daughter is starting to develop. It is common for one breast to bud before the other one does. I think my youngest daughter started developing a little early too ( either age 9 or 10). I thought that I had more time too. If you haven't already done so, I think you need to talk to her about human sexual development ( in more detail when kids are little).

I was about 9 when I first started getting breast buds and, yes, one side developed before the other. I'm 38, almost 39 now so it wasn't early puberty that is being caused now by todays "junk". The doctor said it was totally normal. I didn't start needing a bra until 6th grade so I was 11 or 12 ish. I didn't start my periods until the summer before starting 7th grade so I was 12. I don't have any advice on how to help her deal with it though unfortunately, sorry :(

I would make an appoint. for the doctor. I don't want to scare you but my friends daughter was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she is 12. If u have questions or concerns better safe than sorry.

Good luck~

Honestly, K., I would take her to your doctor just to be safe. It's always better to be safe than sorry. I would hate it to be cancer or something and have it just chalked up to Puberty. The earlier you catch things the easier they are to treat. On a lighter note, yes girls can develop at young ages. My neighbor when growing up started her period at 8 and had large boobs. Please let us know what happens. Best of luck to you and especially your daughter.

Hey K..

Well like you my daughter is tuning 10 in 2 weeks and already has started to get "buds" for her boobs and has hair down there! I am a little freaked out and sad that is is happeneing already! I bought a book on the advice of family members who's girls 12-13 years old. It's by American girl and it's called "The care and Keeping of You" I figured that was easy fun way to talk to her about her body changes....Good Luck!

Jen

Hi. I would normaley think nothing of it but my daughters friend was told she has breast cancer and she is ten well 11 now. She thought it was just a part of growing up and didn't tell her mom for a couple of months. She has had surgary and chemo. And doing better now. I would call the doctor and just have it checked out. I would never have thought twice about it but I guess any thing is possible now a days.

I would say this warrants a call to the doctor. Girls are developing and hitting puberty at a younger age these days.
Make sure your family is consuming organic dairy and organic or at least hormone-free meat - don't want to speed the process up.

with dealing with this. make it fun take her on a shoppen trip for a training bar, and in my little girls school. she has several little friends that are 6,7,and 8 wearing little sports and training bras with Hannah Montana and stuff like that. wired i think but with little ones that need a bra they fit in as the cool girl now days. best of luck m~

K.,
Girls her age start developing breast buds. My daughter was 7 or 8 when hers started. She was off the charts for her height, so this started early for her. I was told around 9 or 10 it does start. She was always about 2 years ahead, except her period. That started when she turned 12 like me.
It is normal, but if it is sore, itchy or uncomfortable, make an appt with the pediatrician to check it out. I believe she is normal and may need to start wearing an undershirt under her regular shirts for a little added protection. My daughter was in fourth grade when we bought her first camousole (sp.?) to wear under her shirts. It was a little tighter and fit close to the skin.

Hope this is helpful!

Yes it happens.

The "American Girl" series of books, is great, for Mom and daughter, in addressing these kinds of issues. You can find it on www.amazon.com and read the reviews. It talks about these things in a "kid" friendly approach and is not intimidating. Its for this age group. Just go to Amazon and type in "American Girl books" and many will turn up... many topics for a girls changing body and emotional development. Then it may help her to feel better about her body's changes.

Also, the book "Your 9 Year Old" is great... for just reading about what this age development is like. The book is also from Amazon.

And yes, take her to the Doctor, just for a routine exam.

My friend's daughter's went through that at that age... and my Friend said that many of the 9-10 year old girls were getting "puberty" signs already.

All the best,
Susan

Yes, it's normal to start developing this early, and yes, it's normal for breasts to be noticably uneven for several years. I feel your daughter's pain - I was one of only 2 girls in my elementary school who needed a bra, and I was MORTIFIED. I would avoid giving her either a very negative view - "Oh, no, you'll be teased, let's try to hide it, bras are so uncomfortable," - or a very rosy view - "All the other girls will be jealous, you can show yours off when they still have nothing." Either extreme will make it more difficult for her. Treat it the same way you do her eye color, as just a biological fact. Good luck!

I haven't read the other posts, so excuse me if I'm just saying the same thing.
Yes it's common, unfortunately. My neice has the buds and pubic hair below and she's only 9 1/2. :( So for my daughter, 8, I went and bought the book about your body, it's by American Girl. I am not at home so don't have the exact name, but just search amazon for American Girl books. It's a great book to read with your daughter and I highly reccommend it.

Try reading "The Tween Years" by Donna G. Corwin for yourself. And then "the Period Book" by Karen Gravelle.

At this age things can go either way, this could just be nature happening, or it could be something else. I suggest a phone call to her doc, and some research. I am not sure how 'the change' starts in young girls =} I do know that its happening earlier and earlier these days. My daughter just turned ten, and I have also been meaning to look into signs. I have heard that hair growth is first, like in the armpits and such, but I have heard that 'mounds' will start first. I say a call to a professional is the best bet. Good luck.

Hi K.,

I would defininately prepare your daughter for growing up. I was her age when I started to grow breasts and I also got my period. My mom had not yet talked to me about the changes we girls go through. I was completely caught off guard and terrified.

I am thirty-nine so I was not a case of hormones in food like many are concerned about now. It happens. Everyone has there own time. There were no "early bloomers" in my family history.

Give her the basic information and answer what questions she has. If she doesn't want to talk take it in stride, and try again later.

I am not going to say it was an easy time for me. It wasn't. I had an older sister who had not matured yet and that made it even more difficult. Your daughter will get through it. Communication is the best way to help her.

C.

Hey K.,
Sounds quite familiar. I had the same thing happen to me when I was nine. Although I do recall that both breasts appeared at the same time. It is a little rough developing at that age. I remember I started my period a year later and that was very traumatizing as well. Thankfully, it didn't happen consistently until junior high.
May I suggest a book by The American Girls called "The Care and Keeping of You"? This book talks about all the changes that will happen to her body and it is very tastefully done and it written specifically for maturing young ladies. I wish I had this book when I was younger because it would have emphasized the fact that what I was experiencing was normal although at a very young age.