10 year old - periods

[chakku]

My 10 year old had her first period in April. It has been irregular but I understand this is normal initially.

She is so upset and anxious of going to school with it as she is a very sporty girl. Specially her swimming session. I have never used a tampoon myself and think it might be too much for my daughter.

Pease could you share how do teens manage with their periods initially, particularly if any of you have kids who got it this young. Are tampoons a good idea to get started with at this age?

Thanks,

[PerspicaciaTick]

You can get tampons aims at teens and slender versions too. I think it is up to your DD if she want to try them, or even just have box n her drawer to look at and get used to without actually trying them. Have you talked about her options to her?

[LockedOutOfMN]

My kids aren't teenage yet but I teach in a secondary school and would say that sanitary towels seem to be more popular especially with the year 7, 8 and 9 girls. Our school nurse hands out sanpro students (and staff) who get caught short. When I was getting a first aid kit from the nurse for a residential trip, she told me that students almost exclusively ask for sanitary towels. And this has also been the case on all the trips I've been on.

I would tell your daughter's PE/swimming teacher and tutor that she has started to have periods so if she's on she will not be able to swim. If she comes on at home, then write her a note she can show the teacher on that particular day.

[Sgtmajormummy]

DD is 11 and started real periods 3 months ago. She finds towels, even ultra thin but always with wings, very uncomfortable but when her period coincided with swimming I tried showing her how an applicator tampon works and a few YouTube videos.
She was not impressed at all and refused to try them.

I can understand it- you're having to perform an intimate procedure and really need to know your own anatomy, even the correct angle can be difficult and uncomfortable. It's much easier to use a towel and in the early days you're still understanding how to deal with heavy or light flow. With a tampon it's not so easy to manage and you might even forget it or leave it in too long.... I don't want to lose my daughter to Toxic Shock Syndrome!
So we've given up on that idea for the time being. She knows the option is there. She has a drawer in the bathroom with a wide variety of sanpro to choose from. I'd expect her to have more confidence at 13+ (I was 16 and It took me at least 3 attempts the first time).

Fortunately the swimming was on a very light day, she wore a small pantyliner and a long-leg swimsuit. Not the best solution but she didn't want to miss out. For regular swimmers I think a teenage style tampon like Pearl would be the only real solution.

Some people say the cold water stops their flow but I wouldn't like to risk it.

[Twunk]

I think I was 15 before I tried tampons. My mum just left a packet for me to find. I used tampax as applicator ones are easier (even now!). I can understand why she is reticent but maybe buy her a pack of the easy ones, and just leave them if she wants to try them. She is a bit young though.

[yourerubberimglue]

I started using tampons at 11 ...didn't tel mum until I was 17 and she still thought I was too young 🙄 it's all individual ... get her some small teen ones to try?

[coffeecoffee14]

I started my periods at 12 and didn't start using tampons until I was 14, as I was, and still am, a regular swimmer. What my mum did was she talked to me at age 14 about possibly trying them, but it was up to me what I did and she let me know that the option was always there. Maybe you could to the same, talk to your DD and let her know the option is there and see what she thinks?

[dementedpixie]

Dd started hers at 11. She first used tampons on holiday last year age 12. I got her the Tampax lites which are the purple ones and are thinner. She has her period this year on holiday again and is using them to go in the pool. She uses towels the rest of the time

[mathanxiety]

One of my DDs had heavy, regular periods from the start at age 10 and used Super or Super Plus tampons from then on. Lite tampons would have soaked through in minutes on heavy days. I got her tampons with plastic applicators, gave her some tips on relaxing, and after a while spent in the bathroom figuring it all out she was good to go.

[dancemom]

Dd started at 9 and uses tampons on Swimming and Dancing days (skimpy leotards / costumes). She just practiced a few times and uses a small teen tampon.

[DD0314]

My DD has really heavy periods and is quite active. She's just had to learn to work around it. She uses the thickest pads and wears hot pants under her skirt at school. She wouldn't go swimming while she's bleeding, things get arranged around it. To be female 😆

[booellesmum]

DD1 started at 11 and DD2 at 12.
Both used tampons from day 1.
They both seem fine with the Sainsburys non applicator ones, and a panty liner when needed.
Definitely worth your DD trying them if swims/sporty.

[coffeecoffee14]

Teenage periods can be awful, anyone with heavy periods has my complete sympathy.