Pam, in a post many days ago (I'm only a "touch" behind reading), commented
on her late-maturing kids and said, " I think there really is something to
breastfeeding long and maturing later, which is the way it should be. " I'm
not sure what is "early" anymore. My oldest son was shaving (not lots, but
some) in grade 7 when he was 13. My other son is maturing now fairly quickly
at 13. That seems early to me, for boys, anyway.

I think this would be a fascinating thing to study. I know genetics and body
weight also play a part. I was a late maturer and my husband not terribly
early, so we figured we'd have "late bloomers." Not so, I guess. I was
breastfed for 9 months (fairly amazing in the 50s) but think my lack of body
fat (oh, for THOSE days to return...) was as much a factor in the late onset
of menses (nearly 15). Maybe because many children who were breastfed for a
length of time maintain a healthy body weight that they mature later
(although my earliest bloomer is also the skinniest.)

.
Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, BEd, IBCLC
Peace River Breastfeeding Clinic
Peace River Alberta, Canada