mommy wars and breastfeeding

Early Puberty in Girls: What Are the Social Consequences?

A friend of mine took her 5-year-old to see the doctor last summer. She was concerned because she noticed that when her daughter came home from camp at the end of the day, she smelled . . . like a grown-up. "It's the weirdest thing," she confided to me. "She's only 5, but I think she has body odor." The doctor was reassuring but told her to keep an eye on her daughter. Apparently, among a handful of other symptoms -- early breast development, pubic and underarm hair, and a growth spurt -- body odor can be a sign of early-onset puberty. "But she's only 5!" my friend protested. "You'd be ...

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