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As a pediatrician, I often get questions from parents about puberty—when it starts, how it progresses, and what’s considered “normal.” Puberty is a natural part of growing up. It refers to the changes a child’s body goes through to develop the physical and hormonal characteristics of adulthood.
While boys and girls experience different specific changes, the overall goal is the same: to prepare their bodies for adulthood. Puberty brings rapid growth, changes in hair patterns, and unique anatomical developments for both sexes. It’s important to remember that this process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes place in a predictable series of stages—technically five in total. Everyone is born at stage 1 (pre-puberty), and stage 5 marks the completion of puberty.
Girls typically begin puberty earlier than boys, often starting as early as age 8 or 9, while boys may start a bit later. Puberty typically takes about 2 years to complete. However, there’s a wide range of normal. Pediatricians track these changes during annual check-ups, and we often discuss what stage your child is in. This helps give an estimate of how far along they are and when they might complete puberty.
One of the key things I monitor as a pediatrician is the timing of puberty. While some parents might get excited about growth spurts starting at a young age, early puberty can be misleading. If a child begins puberty too early, their growth plates may close sooner, meaning they could stop growing earlier than expected—and ultimately end up shorter than peers who started puberty later. On the flip side, some children start puberty 2–3 years after their friends. They may temporarily feel left behind in terms of height and development, but these “late bloomers” often catch up and may even surpass their peers in height.
Puberty is a dynamic and important phase of development, not just physically, but emotionally and socially as well. Regular check-ups during these years help us ensure that your child is progressing at a healthy pace. If something seems out of the ordinary—whether it’s early, late, or progressing too fast—we can step in early to guide and support your child through these changes.
Dr. Savannah Browning grew up in Fayette, AL. She moved to Mobile to attend Medical School at the University of South Alabama in 2009, and has been a proud Mobilian ever since. She joined Children’s Medical Group in 2016, and her office is at the Airport Boulevard location. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Andrew, and their three children: Jude, Luke, and Annie.
Author: Savannah Browning
Dr. Savannah Browning grew up in Fayette, AL. She moved to Mobile to attend Medical School at the University of South Alabama in 2009, and has been a proud Mobilian ever since. She joined Children’s Medical Group in 2016, and her office is at the Airport Boulevard location. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Andrew, and their three children: Jude, Luke, and Annie.
