Atten Mothers: What is the Appropriate Age to Tell Your Daughter about Periods?

United States
January 30, 2007 4:37pm CST
My daughter is now 11 yrs old and I still have not told her about having a period. I am scared she is not old enough but it seems girls are getting their periods early these days. What age did you tell your daughter and was it a hard discussion.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
30 Jan 07
I don't have kids, but my own mother thought that eleven was too early to talk to me about it. So when I did get my period at eleven, I didn't know what was happening and I was *terrified*. My niece is twelve, and most of her friends got theirs at age eleven or twelve, so I'd say your daughter is definitely at the right age for that kind of talk. My sister picked her up a really good book on puberty - it was put out by American Girl, actually - and they sat down and went through it together which eased a lot of the embarrassment and difficulty of it. Good luck!
• United States
30 Jan 07
Thanks I will look and see if I can find a book.
@Miriel (1041)
• Norway
30 Jan 07
In Norway the childrens learns this when they are 10-11 years old. I would have told her before that. Maybe 9-10 years old. I actually think 11 years old are a little to late. I got my period when I was 11 years old, and I know a lot other who also got it at that age. So I advice you to go ahead and tell her.
• United States
30 Jan 07
Thanks, I guess I was just hoping she would be a late bloomer like me. I did not start my until I was 16.
1 person likes this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
2 Feb 07
My mother told me about them when I was 9 years old, and I started when I was 12. But I knew about them before she told me. I think she waited much longer to tell my sister. Girls are starting much younger these days, and I think it's wise to tell them before they start. You don't want them to be caught off guard, w/out a supply handy, or w/out any knowledge of what is happening to them.
• United States
30 Jan 07
What? Tell her now. As I recall my mother told me around 11 or 12, then I got my period a few months later, still not exactly sure what was going on. I think my mother only told me because she took me to the doctor a few weeks before and the doctor probably hinted that I was due to start my period. Your daugther(just a guess) will start to have her period by 12 or 13. Have you talked to her about her body at all as she developed. You think it is young to get your period around 11 or 12, I thought that was normal. Bring up the facts with her, see how she responds. Let her responses tell you how much information to give.