pubic hair -- 9 month old

[angelady]

Hi everyone, been so busy with my LO and life in general...

wondering if anyone has come across or heard of this, but in the past week my little one (~ 9 months) is developing pubic hair...at first it just looked like fuzz, but now its a bit longer and darker. yesterday i also started to notice a faint linea nigra...not sure if it was there before, but it definitely is now. I'm so worried because she was on soy formula for ~ 3 months before going onto an organic lactose-free formula
(bf/milk formula first 3 months-->soy next 3 months-->current cow milk-based lactose free formula from 6-9 months)

the only thing i have changed recently is her soap, which has lavendar in it, apparently can stimulate this kind of thing. so i eliminated it. could it be the current formula and perhaps even though its organic, could there be hormones in the cow milk that's stimulating my daughter?

she has ped visit on wednesday. im quite concerned

 

[bananaz]

I'm no expert but I really doubt soy formula would be on the market if it could cause something like that. It's very unlikely her condition is a result of anything you did. Anyway, I hope the pediatrician can give you some answers

EDIT: also want to add that just because she has pubic hair doesn't necessarily mean she's going through puberty, if that's your concern. It may be an isolated symptom.

 

[minties]

I'm not sure about the hair, but both of my kids have linea nigra and both were breastfed, so I don't know if that is a huge worry. No one has ever mentioned it at their checkups.

 

[angelady]

thanks for responses, i appreciate hearing from anyone who has familiarity with this or feedback.

to bananz: actually the doctor did mention she could be experiencing precocious puberty...so yes, it could well be and this does worry me a great deal. i can't wait to see the pedi to see what she says/thinks and to get results of bloodwork she'll order.

to minties: thx for feedback...actually she hasn't been bf for months...i was on progesterone in my first tri, dont know if that could make an impact. but her pubic hair and her linea nigra have only showed up recently...im sure i would have noticed a line on her before, unless i was too busy dealing with other things...sometimes i'm not sure if it was there before but i only noticed it now because of the pubic hair...its hard to say. but definitely i've only noticed the pubic hair recently...and it has definitely gotten longer and darker in this past week...earlier in the week it was like light-coloured peach fuzz.

 

[bananaz]

thanks for responses, i appreciate hearing from anyone who has familiarity with this or feedback.

to bananz: actually the doctor did mention she could be experiencing precocious puberty...so yes, it could well be and this does worry me a great deal. i can't wait to see the pedi to see what she says/thinks and to get results of bloodwork she'll order.

Right, I understand that, all I was saying was that there are other possible explanations. Here's a study you might find interesting: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/117/3/951.full

I hope the appointment goes well

 

[DittyByrd]

I don't have much insight but I have a family member with precocious puberty. My cousin's LO is 3ish and actually started her period and developed small breasts. It is apparently uncommon and doctors don't know why it happens. She took a medication for a determined period of time and her period stopped. If it wasn't controlled with the short-term medicaiton, she would have needed medication to prevent puberty until she was 10 years old or so.

She was breastfed, FWIW.

 

[angelady]

hi,

-->dirtybird: did your cousins' LO start with pubic hair and linea nigra like my dd?

 

[minties]

I mentioned breastfeeding as I thought you may have a concern that the formula was causing these things, I never used formula and my kids have the line so I was thinking maybe it was just a normal baby thing.

 

[Leids]

If it is precocious puberty it could be due to simple things such as being in contact with someone taking topical testosterone medication or having hypothyroidism which can mess with hormones. Obviously it could be something even simpler to explain or more difficult. I doubt that it's something that you would be able to control.

It's relatively uncommon (about 4% of girls). It seems unlikely that non-organic cows milk formula would cause it because if that were the case it would be a lot more common, but I guess it would be possible. If that were the case though I would think the situation would improve or stay the same after switching to an organic milk instead of getting worse?

I'm no expert, basically just saying don't blame yourself! I hope everything goes okay at the doctor.

 

[MiniKiwi]

My little girl has a visible linea nigra, I thought that was normal?

Either way, I have no advice, I just hope everything goes well with the doctor. Try not to stress it in the meantime

 

[Flower15]

I've never experienced this myself but my friend noticed this on her LO at around a similar age. She was really worried so took her to the doctor and he didnt seem to be worried at all, just told her to keep an eye on her. Shes 15 month now and doing fine. Obviously there are many causes for it, just didnt want you to stress, just go to the ped on wed and least he can put your mind at rest.

 

[aliss]

For what it's worth my son was on soy and we never had this issue although I am concerned about long term affects for sure.

 

[x Michelle x]

My son grew pubic hair at about 3 months old, not a whole covering but there were definite dark wiry hairs.. I took him to the doc who said it was a surge in hormones and it was nothing to worry about. She was right as although the hairs stayed for a while, no new ones grew in and all the thick pubic ones just fell out naturally.

 

[x Michelle x]

Oh, he was bf for 2 weeks and on comfort milk at the time

 

[summer rain]

Two of mine have the linea Nigra too, my newborn was born with it and my second youngest (they are both boys) developed it after a few weeks or months. It has never been of any concern xx

 

[Nancy_clarke]

My LOs boy bits covered in blonde hair, didn't think anything of it

 

[annanouska]

I'm a bit uncomfortable writing this..,weird as I'm not normally shy about this kind of thing! I wasn't bf, 2 weeks overdue and 6 lb.from about 12 months I grew quite quickly, had my first bra at 5, pubic hair ( down below and underarms) at 6 and periods at 7. The drs apparently didn't have any concern over it and said it can happen from girls much much younger. I'm sure your dr will help and run any tests if needed as IF she does have any imbalances may be able to prevent something similar. I was only found to have "problems" at 11 which was a bit late!

As a few pp have said this can be completely normal and no issues fi ger crossed for you. I'd hate another little girl to go through what I did xxx

 

[beth_terri]

My ohs sister was born with hair pretty much everywhere including pubic hair!

I would definitely go see a doctor about it, just to see what they say.

I know soy formula isn't supposed to be given to baby boys because it can cause problems with development (testes etc), but I only know this because when my elsest was a baby my doctor prescribed him some due to sicking up normal formula loads. I told the HV and she went mad saying how boys shouldn't drink soy etc. She then phoned the drs complaining.

But im not sure if it would have any effect on a girl.

x

 

[DittyByrd]

hi,

-->dirtybird: did your cousins' LO start with pubic hair and linea nigra like my dd?

It started with breast development then her period. Not sure about pubic hair or linea nigra.