I have a 9 yo daughter who has started puberty. She has hair under her arms and I guess my question is what is an appropriate age now to start shaving?
Also when should I expect her period? Her Being 9 is so different as I was in high school when all this happened to me!
I'm in shock that my baby is turning into a woman
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9 Replies
My 9 year old has started to get a couple of pubic hairs. No hair under her arms yet. But she has dark hair and is generally hairier than I was (blonde hair). Does your daughter generally have a bit of hair? My daughter has no other pubity signs. My niece had hair under her arms for years before her period. I wouldn't panic.
She is actually quite a petite little thing. She has head hair like me wavy and a bit thick. But I didn't start growing pubic hair or underarm hair until first year of high school. It is shocking that my baby is growing up and yes she has started budding I think they call it. Growing breasts. She has asked for crop tops. But yes is not large for her age tall for her age and we are not of any ethnic back ground.
My entire family started puberty around 9. Hair, pubes, smelling etc. periods themselves around 11. I'm 40 now, and a portion of my class was this age too, so nothing to worry about. My niece has been the same.
Unless her hair is bothering her I wouldn't even mention shaving or hair removal. We put way too much emphasis on hair removal and hair is not dirty, it's normal. So if she isn't worried about it, don't worry about it.
My daughter turns 12 in March and hse just got her periods for the first time this month.....She started shaving end of last year. I sat down and taught her how to do it and how careful to be etc and now she is a pro at it. If she needs to shave just tech her hun, you would rather that then having her teased at school because of hair lol xxx Good Luck
Omg mumma i just want to give you a hug! I have a 9yr old daughter too and i can imagine the worry you are going through.
Leave the shaving until she brings it up with you or is upset by it, professional waxing might be an idea rather than worry about cuts with a razor.
I was once told by a doctor that a period usually starts around 6mths after breasts start to grow (however i grew boobs when i was 11 and didnt get a period til i was 14)
Take a trip to a gp and that way you can get some sound advice. Goodluck!
I was like your daughter. I had hair at eight, periods started at 10. Just be open with her about it all so she doesn't get a fright like I did at 10, as my mother assumed I was too young and took me to the doctors, was so embarrassing .I started shaving my legs at 11. Under arms at 10. My teachers at school were wonderful, they let me leave pads in staff toilet, use bathroom etc as many times as I liked in till I got the hang of it.
My daughter started getting BO and under arm hair around that age, but didn't get her period till after she was 12, so her period may not come still for a while.
If she is getting hairy arm pits, then definitely let her shave them, she doesn't have to shave her legs if they don't need it.
My mother asked if I wanted to wax (single mum so I had been watching her get her legs and underarms waxed for as long as I could remember) the week before term started I would get waxed knee to ankle and armpits so only four times a year until I was 13 or 14. As for periods I knew about them, we didn't have a talk as such just if I saw pads or tampons in the trolley or bathroom I asked and mum would tell me, when I was 10ish mum mentioned that there are some extra pads and tampons in the bottom when I need them. It wasn't a big deal just a part of life. I don't have daughters but I don't hide pads or tampons from my son, he asks and I tell him.
I was 9-10 when I started growing hair under my arms and pubic hair. I was 11 1/2 when my period started.
Please make sure you talk to your daughter about the changes happening to her body and what is to come. My mum never spoke to me about puberty so it was very scary for me when my period started as I had no idea what was going on.