12 year old and period on holiday

DD will have 40 or so years of navigating holiday time and periods so best start as she means to go on. Taking whatever protection works best for her and also suitable clothing for whatever she decides to do, and accepting that sometimes you can't do exactly what you want during a period, is a better option than starting strong medication which messes with hormones.

I was about her age when I started my periods. My mum just gave me a box of tampons and left me to it, I've used them ever since. Why would she not use them? It's shit that women have to go through it but it is what it is so just tell her that's what we do and move on. It's no biggie so son't make it one.

My dd swims 5 times a week and has never had to miss it for this reason due to period swimwear - excellent invention!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C857QLYB?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MEILONGER-Shorts-Compression-Cycling-Running/dp/B0FJDMS7Z5/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=BLDAKGW13YPQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mGHIghrTs5pxrWZ8k5KaSJ0mhZF7KlbdOqcT5o2rKEhIi7eLw64VfU_c7Iez03j060M1IR_NW6PQ-NCozSx4e0qYdZETWui7lurcQbBpIB4ushs_cY8ywQ9oGdQ6jZehO8tPgRXtuBhzRVbO_UK_v6KY0C21EpY3Q3Vhq8_xu9wLu0c6Zfi8bcqp70J91OqekwSSMR_WI3ZGc_ZD7QfWMHK8iX6oTVkawY2cgf64gJIQb88B2YZLbmzqb9vr16GO3vGM-5JM1N2xB8L43f3lDLfcY6-HqZKHzGJ1Ziz-5fo.fV2P_9bfzQFcUeUYX0B2JynrkC_9tMaH5OqA2jpSsH0&dib_tag=se&keywords=swim%2Bshorts%2Bgirls&qid=1768772712&sprefix=swim%2Bshorts%2Bgirls%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1-spons&aref=4C0LExi7LG&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1

@SquirrelRed we had this with dd in the summer and used these, worked v well, only thing is you need more than one set unless you have access to a washing machine everyday! i think she wore washable sanitary towels as well, can't remember. but there were no leaks, no issues, she was v comfortable and enjoyed her holiday

At her age, definitely period swimwear. DD has modibody, they've got various nice styles. The period knickers are good too.

The lubricant helps with the tampon and I guess we are all a bit different but the instructions in the pack are pretty good.

I'd introduce her to tampons. I used them straight away when I started my periods.

Get some period swimwear too.

I'm not sure how confident I'd be using period swimwear. I'd constantly be panicking that it wasn't working! But to be honest I've never used it, so what do I know?! I started using tampons at 13 or 14, but unlike other suggestions here, I could only use the non applicator ones at the time. Maybe get both applicator and non applicator and see if she's willing to give it a go. Just remind her, no one gets it right first time, it takes practice. Have a great hollibobs!

contraceptive pill. You can start a cycle 3 weeks after the April’s period is over. It’ll delay it for as long as she keeps taking the pill. As soon as she stops, period will come by day 3 afterwards.

For those saying they can’t see why not use tampons, I couldn’t use them at all when I was a teen - not at all until I was sexually active, and I couldn’t use them easily until after I’d had a baby. Some people just can’t I think.

It was incredibly painful to try to use a tampon for me when I was a teenager so wouldn’t recommend.

I would also want to avoid medication for a 12 yo whose periods are still settling.

Period swimwear is the best bet as others have said. I got it for dd when she was younger and it is great.

Swimming is about the best thing possible for period cramps, I think, so I would really want to encourage this. Also, for me being in water tends to stem the flow of blood a bit too, although I don’t think that’s the same for everyone.

" they are really easy to use once you get the hang of it."

Yes, but how long it takes you to get the hang of it varies. I'm almost at the end of having to use them now and they still go wrong a lot of the time. I still prefer them to pads of course.

Ha. There was no internet when I was that age. Also I suppose some negative ideas about pre teens and early teens using an internal method.

Yes but she can pack them easily and use as needed. I grew up in another country and find the attitude in the UK very weird they are really easy to use once you get the hang of it. But there was a lot of swimming where I grew up and nobody ever missed out because of their period so maybe it was more normalised.

And really easy for others. I was using them at 12, mum didn’t know and nobody had to teach me how to use one. That was what the internet was for!

Yeah… messing with a 12 year olds hormones so they can go swimming is not a good idea.

Also they can't be used in anticipation of a period so if OP's DD thinks she will come on during the holiday, but hasn't yet, she can't use them.

For pp suggesting the moon cup, I'd argue that's even more difficult to use as is the disc.

As well as period swimwear, you could buy period pants. She could wear these under swim shorts, with a bikini top. She could change the pants frequently, so that should give her security.

They're difficult to learn to use for some girls.

Plastic applicators are also easier than cardboard ones.
Having said that, not everyone can get on with tampons so easily at that age.

I just never understand the resistance to tampons, so weird.

Please do not start fucking with your 12 year olds hormones. Period swim wear will be just fine.

There's no way in hell I'd be giving a young child a pill strong enough to delay her period (and I say this as someone who was on the pill for 15 years). Goodness only knows what it does to your balance of the rest of your hormones. Period swimwear or giving her some extra TLC and trips out if shes not able to swim

My DD started her period at 12 too, she tried period pants once and hated them so she moved straight to tampons on her first period, I bought her some lubricant and a box if applicator tampons and told her to read the instructions. She has been fine.

We don't have the sort of relationship where she discusses these things with me as she is a very private person but she did say the lubricant helped.

The only challenge was finding a lubricant in packaging appropriate for a 12 year old.

Re the medication….my DD had her first period the month before we were due to go on our annual hol last year. Obviously we didn’t really know when her next one would be so we had to guess. Her period came earlier than expected so we started the tablets in the hope it would work (wasn’t really expecting it to) but it did. Hopefully by May she will be in some sort of routine with it.
we also used the modibodi bikini bottoms which she found comfortable