It's a good idea to start talking about menstruation early on. Girls can receive their first period as early as eight years old and as late as fifteen, with the average being about twelve. If you prepare your daughter for what's to come, she'll have a much easier time of it. The earlier you start talking about periods, the better; even before your daughter's first one. Explain that girls' bodies change when they get older and sometimes they need a little help in figuring out what's normal vs. not normal. Then give her our basic guidelines: no one girl is born with a lot more blood than another, so if she has more blood than usual, she should try not to worry about it. Also explain that everyone's body is different and not all girls experience periods exactly like hers does. If she has any questions after you've explained this information, there will be time later for her to ask them. For now, just know that she's ready when she's eight years old. Of course, not every girl wants to hear about her body this way. If she doesn't, she won't feel comfortable asking questions or telling you anything else about her changing body. But most girls do want to know about their bodies, and if you don't tell them they might wonder why not. Maybe she feels embarrassed or afraid that you'll think she's disgusting or abnormal.