Dr. Greene’s Answer:
Several times throughout childhood, Amy, there are situations where the past and future collide. No, not collide really. It’s more like a double-exposed photograph with the past, present, and future superimposed. I can remember seeing my children toddle across the family room wearing my loafers, many sizes too big. Conjured up in my mind is an image of myself as a toddler, tromping about in my dad’s shoes. While watching these scenes, one in my family room, one in my mind, I recognize that someday my children will really fill those shoes — perhaps with children of their own.
For me, breast buds in an infant is another one of those precious times. A burst of your hormones passed to your daughter shortly before delivery is one of the finishing touches in preparing her lungs to breathe air when she is born. These hormones include estrogen and androgens and can have several transient side effects. Real, mature breast tissue forms, creating firm lumps under the nipples. Some babies even leak some real milk from their breasts. This is colorfully named witch’s milk, a term which captures the magic of the situation, but inappropriately attributes sinister and supernatural overtones to this natural wonder. Breast buds commonly occur in both boys and girls.
These firm lumps of breast tissue are normal and not a cause for concern unless they are accompanied by fever, pain, redness, warmth, or other signs of inflammation. If any of these symptoms occur, you’ll want to contact your pediatrician to rule out a breast infection.
Many little girls may also develop a cloudy vaginal discharge. Some little girls will even have mini-periods — with blood appearing at the vagina during the first week as estrogen levels fall rapidly. Some boys and girls will have genitalia swollen by the hormones. Many boys and girls will have their first experience of acne, with real pimples appearing on the face and upper chest at around three weeks and lasting for three or four weeks. In the majority of cases, no treatment is needed and the acne will go away on its own. Creams and other over-the-counter medications may actually exacerbate it, so it’s best to just leave it alone. I recommend simply a gentle wipe down with warm water once or twice a day – no cleansers or soap are needed at this young age.
All of these changes disappear gradually, usually over the first several months of life, as your hormones and their effects vanish. Typically, the breast buds are the first to form and the last to go.
Budding breasts, a face full of pimples, and her first period are all visible reminders of a moment not long ago when she was still inside your uterus. They might even remind you that not terribly long ago, you were inside your own mother and receiving these same hormones. And these same little bumps are a glimpse of a future that seems so far away right now (especially on those sleepless nights), but will come all too soon — when your teenage daughter becomes a woman.
Cherish moments like this when they occur. It might be when she stands in front of a mirror putting on makeup, or delights to play with a briefcase, or it might be her graduation from kindergarten. Notice those junctures where, for a fleeting moment, she looks grown-up — and appreciate the brief double-exposure of the future and the past.
Resources and References
Karaayvaz S. Clinical Evaluation of Breast in Childhood. Eur J Breast Health. 2019;15(3):137-140.
Anonymous
So i have grown a breats bud but after a week of sore breast and backaches they disappeared. What happened??
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Kat
Hi I’m kat and I only have one breast bud I’ve only had one for the past 9 months is that normal
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Dr. Alan Greene
Hi Kat – You are not alone! Perhaps the most common question most pediatricians get about breast development is about one breast developing before the other. Usually the two end up growing to about the same size.
On average, the amount of time from the first breast bud to two mature breasts is a little over 4 years. Sometimes it is as quick as 18 months. Typically the second breast begins to grow by the time pubic hair is getting curly or the first breast has grown beyond a breast bud. If it works for your pediatrician to examine you along the way they can help make sure everything is on track and developing normally. Best – DrGreene
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Anonymous
Hi, I’m 15 and my breasts have been developing for a few years now and my breast buds still haven’t gone away, should I be worried? if not, when will they go away??
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Anonymous
I had a breast bud and about three months later I got it on my other breast. After two weeks, the first one disappeared but the other one is still there. I have also had inverted nipples all my life and my nipples are not becoming erect! Please help me!
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Cheryl Greene
Dear Anon,
As Dr. Greene says, this can be a normal part of puberty.
Best, @MsGreene
Note: I answer a lot of questions on DrGreene.com, I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, Dr. Greene’s business partner and wife, but I am a not doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.
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Bongekile Nhlumayo
My 6 months baby is having a small pea sized ball on her left breast. I’m so worried, what can I do to help her because the doctors said that they cannot figure out what it is.
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Miry
my eight month old baby has redness and swelling on one of her nipples and when i feel it i can feel a little pea sized ball. the skin is red all around. it only appears on one side. what could this be?
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Cheryl Greene
Miry,
Dr. Greene says, “Typically, the breast buds are the first to form and the last to go. Unless the breasts become red, hard, or warm (indicating possible mastitis, or breast infection), savor the weeks the firm lumps remain.”
It sounds like the skin around the swelling is hard and red. In this case, it’s wise to see her doctor to determine if it’s an infection that may need treatment.
Best, @MsGreene
Note: I answer a lot of questions on DrGreene.com, I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com and Dr. Greene’s business partner, but I am a not doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.
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juliet
My daughhhter is 18mos old and I noticed breast buds on both breasts. Should I be worried. When she was few weeks old she had vaginal discharge but it stopped later on its own. Is there anything I can do to get rid of d breast buds?
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christy haney
My 4 year old son has knot on his breast what can cause it
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Nichole
Thank you for the reassuring article.
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MILEY
HELLO
I HAVE HAD BREAST BUDS FOR 2 WEEKS NOW and no growth. I’m a little concerned. The adults in my family has big breast. What should I do any advice?
Plz reply ASAP
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leslie
The little girl I nanny for has suddenly developed a lump on her right breast (grape size and hard) her mother took her to the Dr. And he said it might be an allergic reaction to new food because she did develop a rash on the same side of her body when it appeared. He said to give her benadryl once a day and we did. Fast forward a month the rash is gone and the lump is still there should we be worried about this and take her back to the Dr.?
She’s developed a pea sized one on the other. Please help! She’s 20 months.
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Mrs chapman
Hi my 12 year old son has just been told by the doctor he has a breast bud. This may sound very silly, but are there any side effects? He has been eating poorly and can’t eat much (2-3 mouthfuls). I don’t know of this is just a coincidence?
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Donna
My two year old has so lump under her nipple since she was born it’s got smaller and bigger but it’s still there but I find it’s bigger than usual. I had mentioned to her doc before when she was months old but it’s still there and I find it little bigger so I am worried.
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Janet chantry
I think just give it a couple of days and if it is bigger see a doctor because it could be anything
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April Emily Smith
My baby is about a week over a year and she still has breast buds should I be worried.
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Janet ch
No don’t be worried my two week old baby has breast buds and it is normal. Babies are born with breast buds
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Alan Greene
Normal breast buds can be reddish – but it’s also important to know that babies can get mastitis (an infection of the breast buds) that may first show up with redness.
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