Early Puberty ?? - Children's Health Message Board

Lucky Dad · 04-03-2001, 06:37 AM

My son just turned 11. He has had pubic and armpit hair since he was 10 and the other night he showed me that he even has a few hairs growing in between his pecs and also right around his nipples.
What should I be saying to him??
Anything special I can say to ease his feelings of being a hairy freak??

Thanks for your comments!!

redfox · 04-03-2001, 08:33 AM

I think the best thing to do for your son is to avoid making a big deal about it, and stress to him that kids hit puberty at a wide range of different times. Tell him he's totally normal-- just a little "early," same as other kids are "late." My fourteen-year old is one of the "late" ones. It's not much fun to be on either end of the scale, since adolescents want so desperately to fit in and be uniform. Just remind him that over the next few years, everyone will be catching up to him, and it's just nothing to be embarrassed about.

Babernethy · 05-07-2001, 01:56 PM

A lot of studies have been done recently regarding puberty in both boys and girls being reached at much earlier ages. Many have been linked to hormonal pesticides and the use of growth hormones (ampherols) in meat...beef, pork and chicken. Some hormones are even used in vegetables. There has been no scientific tests done to prove that these hormones do not reach the end users!
A recent program on 'The Nature of Things' highlighted a middle American country where the population in the valley was exposed to a variety of hormone based pesticides like 24D (Killex) and compared them with the people on the mountain who were not exposed. The difference was that puberty hit the mountain children a full 3 years later!

The question is have you been having your grounds sprayed with pesticides and how much meat do your kids eat?
B

LuckyBoy · 05-08-2001, 08:33 AM

To answer your question regarding pesticides/hormones...We do not grow our own produce or raise cattle, so I am ignorant or the amount that is in the food I buy at our local Giant Eagle. As far as how much meat does he eat, I would say the normal amount for a child. We do not eat a lot of red meat...much more fish, chicken and pork. Again the amount within the meat I buy is unknown.
I appreciate your comments and it does seem that boys are maturing sooner these days, he just seems to be way ahead of the peers his age.

travis949 · 05-08-2001, 09:43 PM

Hello i would like to state your sun isnt alone... I am now 12 Years old and i am starting to have chest hair, i already have hair up by my belly botton. When i was 10 i started getting hair in my arm pits, and around my nipples.. tell your son he isnt alone.