What to Do if She’s a Late Bloomer

13 Comments
By the Dot Girl™ Moms

How many times have you heard your kids yell “last one’s the rotten egg”? Everyone scrambles because no one wants to be last. In fact, most kids want to keep up with their friends and would rather not be singled out for being the last to do anything. If your daughter is developing more slowly than her friends, she may get the feeling that she’s being left behind. Talk to your daughter about the developmental benchmarks for puberty (see How to Tell Your Daughter’s Period Might Be Coming). There shouldn’t be a reason for concern about delayed menstruation until your daughter reaches 16. Delays may be caused by low body weight or heavy participation in sports. If you are at all concerned, talk to your doctor.

If your daughter appears to be a "late bloomer" then your job will be to reassure her that her body is unique and is just developing at its own pace. Take the time to point out to her the wide variety of body types there are in the world. We’re just as different on the inside as the outside.

Without getting too negative, this is a great time to look at the bright side of not having a period: no pads, no cramps and no worries at the pool. Also point out that some girls who started menstruating early may be feeling just as weird about that. There’s really no time when it’s supposed to happen.

Some girls may equate getting their periods with being more mature. Let your daughter know that emotional maturity and physical maturity are two different things. Encourage her in all the other ways she shows maturity. Keep a positive attitude and look for ways to celebrate her uniqueness. She’ll know that she’s moving along fine and really not coming in last at all.

About the Dot Girl™ Moms

Two sisters, Terri and Kathy, founded Dot Girl™ First Period Products. Who better than two women who are also daughters and mothers to honestly address an uncomfortable topic?

Their motivation to create The Dot Girl's First Period Kit™ grew from their own awkward teenage experiences. Despite the fact that their mother was a wonderful nurturer to four daughters, she was never comfortable talking to them about their bodies. They found that this is more often the rule than the exception for both moms and dads. And the reality today is that parents often find themselves in the awkward position of having avoided the subject at all costs, to the detriment of their daughters.

Terri and Kathy's goal is to provide parents with the tools they need to explain the basics of menstruation to their daughters. And for the girls, they hope to lessen their anxiety about their first period and instead turn it into a positive experience. For more information, please visit www.dotgirlproducts.com.

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What others are saying.

late bloomer, 8/20/2009 12:49:28 PM
i am a late bloomer but mostly just my boobs (im totally flat) :( lol thanks kotex for making me realize that im not the only late bloomer :)

Katie, 8/21/2009 11:07:16 AM
I am 14 and almost 15 and haven't started my period. All of my friends have and I feel like it will never happen.

Beauty's mother, 8/21/2009 12:07:27 PM
I have a 13 year old daughter. Just recently, she's told me that she feels shameful that she's less developed than her friends. The tips in this article are a huge help to me. Thanks.

Rosa, 8/21/2009 6:47:04 PM
I have a young daughter who is super sensitive to chemicals and dyes. I found a product with no dyes and no chlorine but she gets sores from the rubbing of the pads. She has had 5 UTI's in her life and I am worried about the sores from the pads. Where and what should I do/go to get help and info?

mistery, 8/21/2009 7:03:47 PM
i am 15 and started the week before my 15 b day so do not be ashamed katie

Rhegan, 8/22/2009 5:34:41 PM
all of my sisters and friends have their periods thank you kotex for making me feel like im not the only one who feels like this

Terri, 8/22/2009 10:55:45 PM
Rosa,
If the pads your daughter is using are too big for her that may be causing the sores. Also make sure she is changing them frequently and wearing underwear with a good fit so the pads stay fitted against her body. A natural foods store should have options for pads with no dyes or chlorine. If the problem persists, check with your doctor. All the best, Terri.

Betty, 8/25/2009 6:39:54 PM
My 9 year old great-granddaugter is starting her periods and she is having a problem finding pads small enough that they dont bunch up in front and back. Do you still make juniors like you did when i started? I would appreciate your input. Thank you.

Pink!, 8/30/2009 11:35:17 AM
im not sure if im a late bloomer. i have smaller boobs and dont have my period yet and all my friends do. i wanna know if i will get it soon. should i ask my doctor? well i hope that i am not too late. thanks kotex!

janet, 9/9/2009 1:04:24 PM
I was 12 when I started puberty 31 years ago which at the time was seen as a normal age to start. I remember there were two girls in our year who were already fully developed by then but the rest of us were only then getting breasts and pubes but now you read 9 and ten year olds in puberty which is now seen as normal and 13 upwards is considered late.

jo, 9/9/2009 5:29:25 PM
Betty,
why don't you consider tampons, you may think she is too young but there's no harm in her trying them.

shadow =[, 9/28/2009 7:35:38 PM
im 14, almost 15, late bloomer >__> hate it but i know im not the only one out there =]

Jody, 9/28/2009 8:51:54 PM
I can relate to Betty! My 10 1/2 yyear old just started hers the day they went back to school this month. She is livid! Her buds just started this summer and she isn't 100 pounds yet. Thank God I bought pads the week before, just in case. But she is small and they bother her, would love juniors.

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