DD no "development"

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
DD no "development"
7
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 1:49pm

My DD who is 13 and a half and in grade 8 is not showing any sign yet of development - not even little breast buds. All of her friends have something and are wearing bras. She shows little concern but I am wondering if this is normal. I was wearing a bra and had good sized breasts when I was in grade 7 - large breasts run on my side of the family. My husband's side are all quite flat chested so maybe she's taking after them. She hasnt started her period yet either - I started at age 14 so not too worried about that yet. She is also VERY VERY thin but eats like there's no tomorrow. She worries a lot about her weight and how thin she is. Pants are very difficult to find and she gets frustrated when trying to shop (so do I). I keep trying to reassure her that as long as she's eating AND eating healthy and not sick, everything is okay.

Do you think I should be concerned?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 2:05pm

Not at all..
Yet I am the least qualified to address that here.
If you could send some of that metabolism my way, I'd appreciate it... :-)

BTW...I remember the high drama crisis when my DD was accused of "stuffing" in the 7th grade. Unfortunately, she was the opposite developmentally. For parents it seems there are always concerns one way or the other.

As long as your DD is not concerned.

Avatar for suzyk2118
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-1997
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 3:39pm

Sounds like she just didn't get your genes but got them from your dh's side. I'm small; always have been, even pregnant (I moved up to a B then!) or after having ds. My mom got me a bra (not the kid kind) in 7th grade because she saw my friends had them - to be honest, I was mortified because I didn't 'need' it! LOL. And I started my period at 11. So it's likely she just didn't get the 'big breast' genes but will eventually grow a bit. If you're concerned (esp. about the period, etc.), maybe see the pediatrician or even a gyn.

Sue

Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 4:01pm

If you are concerned, by all means see her doctor. I wouldn't be too concerned as everyone develops at their own pace. In our family, there are 3 girls all within a year in age - my dd being the oldest. The youngest of the 3 just turned 13 and finally started developing and reached menstration. She was all kind of upset that my dd and their other cousin both started everything at 11. She is bone thin and nothing but legs!!

On the other hand, my cousin's dd is 15 and has been developed for a couple of years, but never started her menstration. Her parents aren't concerned, but it's bothered me for forever, as I have heard too many of these scenarios not being healthy.

If she's not concerned, I wouldn't make an issue out of it. All that mess will happen soon enough and then the real fun begins...




iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 6:41pm

Sounds like your DD may have gotten most of her dad's genes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Wed, 11-29-2006 - 11:01am

I tend to agree that girls develop and mature at very different times. My 12yo DS is in 7th grade and when I pick him up and see all the kids milling about, the differences in their shapes, sizes, etc. is enormous. Since DS has gone to school in this district since kindergarten, I recognize a lot of the students and somedays think "wow, does she look grown up", and then, "she hasn't changed much since 3rd grade" on others.

Does your DD have regular check-ups? If things haven't changed at her next one, you might want to mention your concerns ... or if you end up at the doctors' office before then, you could mention it then too, and ... flu season is coming!

HTH

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-1999
Wed, 11-29-2006 - 12:14pm
I too was a late bloomer- I can remember all the girls in 7th & 8th grade getting bras and there I was still in little-girl undershirts! I do remember that my Mom did take me for a check up as I too was 13 or 14 and still no period- Doctor said everything was OK I was just "later"- She did get me what they called "training bras" waaaaay back then- but they were just bras made for young teens with small cups- sort of like a bathing suite top- this way I felt I was wearing a bra! I still am small and my DD is too (for which she blames my genes!) So it would seem your DD has got her Dad's genes!
Kathy
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2006
Wed, 11-29-2006 - 7:44pm
I've heard that if there is NO development by 14, the child should be checked. It's probably just that you daughter is a late bloomer. If she's bothered by it, by all means see her doctor. She should probably be wearing a bra, as my 12-yr-old tells me that even those with no development wear them by 7th grade.