Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Has anyone ever suggested a menstrual cup to their dd from the start?

32 replies

Kubo · 26/07/2019 06:47

I have just been reading the thread about scented/unscented pads. I have used a menstrual cup for about ten years now and love them. I hated pads and tampons and it was a revelation to start using a cup. And scented pads sound even worse.

So, DD is ten, almost 11, and I have had a starter pack of pads/tampons on stand by for a while. I wondered whether anyone has ever included a menstrual cup as an option along with the usual stuff? I think they’re brilliant and I think I would have preferred them from the start. The ick factor seems to put off a lot of grown women and I can’t work out whether it would be worse for preteens/teenagers, or whether if they were just shown from the start maybe the ick factor wouldn’t develop?

OP posts:
healthylifestylee · 26/07/2019 06:52

I think they are a progression on from tampons which at a young age she may find daunting
If you're wanting a reusable option to give her there are re usable pads but as said this still has the ick factor.
Of course buy one and put it there for when she starts but it may be something she researches before getting one

Stargirl17 · 26/07/2019 07:01

I remember struggling with tampons at that age. I use a cup now but I’m not sure if I would have struggled with it as a young teenager- definitely worth offering it though and directing her to some YouTube videos on how to use it. I’m sure I’ve seen a teenager on YouTube talking about cups!
Period pants & reusable pads might be other options- they’re useful as back up even if not used on their own.

bellinisurge · 26/07/2019 07:07

My dd has only used reusable pads and period pants - her choice. She started a few months ago. She knows about cups but doesn't like the idea at the moment. Again -Her choice. If she changes her mind I'll help her.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
RunsForGummyBears · 26/07/2019 07:15

There are some tiny starter menstural cups out there now. Maybe get her one and she can experiment or not if she wants to?

YouJustDoYou · 26/07/2019 07:18

I wouldn't have wanted to use tampons at that age because it would've meant breaking my hymen. But she'll be old enough to obviously choose herself, and if she can deal with a cup then great. But I can't imagine every child would be able to do it as effectively as a pad etc.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 26/07/2019 07:21

Try modi bodis period pants?

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 26/07/2019 07:22

My 10 yr old DD has just started her periods. We've talked about what we could do if it comes back whilst we're on holiday next month. She was open, just about, to the idea of a lilet so she could carry on swimming so we'll play it by ear.

But there's no way she is ready for a moon cup or even washable pads yet.

She's using disposable pads and is just about coping with those but not ready for the whole storing them in a bag all day for washing later.

I get the environmental impact I do, but bloody hell the first yr of periods is hard enough surely?

What I'd like to do is buy her period pants from modibodi as I think that will be our disposable free way forward.

lastqueenofscotland · 26/07/2019 07:36

What does she WANT to do. That’s the main question. At that age it may be a bit much. When I started aged 11 it took me to about 16 to be comfortable with tampons

bellinisurge · 26/07/2019 07:48

I admit that I do the washing of pads stored in a wet bag by dd all week. I figured that it would be once less tricky thing to manage as her periods start and show her how easy they are to clean. She has a task next month to help me with one with a view to building it up to managing all of them. But I wanted to get her used to having periods first. She's two years younger than me when I started. She's enjoying customising pad design - I've learned how to make them and am copying the style of some of the Etsy bought favourites she has.

Lovestonap · 26/07/2019 07:51

You could get her to watch some videos on YouTube. Precious stars is fab and really helps normalise the whole reusable sanitary products thing (can't say sanpro, my whole being screams when I see that word!). I've been wondering the same for my daughter as I use a cup and washable pads, but my sister who is 40 completely freaked out when I told her about it. I think I will l include it as one of the options, pack the bathroom cupboard full of lots of different stuff, including a cup, and let her make her own mind up

MrsElizabethShelby · 26/07/2019 07:59

Using a cup requires fairly intimate knowledge of your own body. I remember trying tampons and struggling when young. Preferred disposable pads for years and then they made almost all of them scented 😠 I moved to a cup about a year ago and find it fantastic but I no longer have reservations about my 'bits' having pushed two children out of them so it's different for me now.

I don't think I would have liked a cup at all as a teenager.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/07/2019 08:00

I don’t think you’d get it in with a hymen intact tbh.

stucknoue · 26/07/2019 08:04

I would suggest the pants at first because periods can be tricky to deal with at first, then she can progress to the cup (with the pants as back up). The pants are handy for irregular cycles too.

Red by modibodi are what my DD's have

Blobby10 · 26/07/2019 08:05

I tried to persuade my daughter to try one but she's 19 now and won't even contemplate it! Like PP I since having children I've accepted all the 'yuk' factors that my body has so using a cup isn't an issue for me. However my sister who has also had children finds the mere thought of using a cup makes her feel sick!

Original poster
Kubo · 26/07/2019 08:18

The environmental factor is a happy side effect for me. I genuinely find using a cup easier and less icky (is there a grown up way to express that?!) than dealing with pads and tampons. But then I didn’t deal with starting my period very well at all. Lots of toilet paper shoved in my pants.

I’ll get one of the tiny ones and some modibodi pants in as well, so she has all the options. And I’ll have a look at some YouTube videos, thanks for that tip, wish they’d been around when I was 11!

OP posts:
Geraniumpink · 26/07/2019 10:41

My 14 year old has just started using one and was inspired by YouTube videos. She graduated quite fast from towels to tampons to a Mooncup. She says it feels cleaner.

legalseagull · 26/07/2019 12:33

I wouldn't have wanted to do it when I started. I had my period for maybe 2 years before having tampons. I also wouldn't have wanted to use a cup in school toilets. There's always girls loitering around and I wouldn't have dreamt of bringing a bloody cup out of the cubicle to clean it

IStillMissBlockbuster · 26/07/2019 17:46

I never got on with tampons and disliked the nappy feel of pads. I didn't know about cups until I was early twenties and haven't looked back since. I would give her the option.

JacquesHammer · 26/07/2019 17:50

YANBU to suggest it, but the choice must be hers

justasking111 · 26/07/2019 17:52

I tried tampons when I was 14 agony, took a few more years before I could manage to insert them.

Goforitgirl · 26/07/2019 17:54

My mum wouldn’t even let me use tampons Confused

Why didn’t I have one like you?!

Aquamarine1029 · 26/07/2019 17:57

My daughter is 19, started her period at 11, and was using tampons by 12. We've talked a lot about the moon cup, (I've never used one and don't need them now), but there's something about them she's not comfortable with. I told her it's her body and her choice. Whatever she feels most comfortable with is what she should use.

gotmychocolateimgood · 26/07/2019 18:01

Hmm, it's down to personal choice I think. I found tampons hard until I was about 17 as I have a tilted uterus. I use reusable pads now so will offer to buy some for DD when the time comes. They aren't icky really, I wrap my used ones and popper them like little envelopes, they sit in the washing basket until I put on a 60 degree wash. As long as they're not lying around, open, it's all fine! They are a lot less gross than disposable pads.

Hauskat · 26/07/2019 18:07

I started my periods quite late but I think I used tampons very early on - hated pads so they were a relief. Today is my second day using a mooncup and although I def haven’t got the hang of the positioning right I will def be getting one for my daughter when she is about to start. Obvs to use if she wants to but it strikes me as so much easier. Less leaks and not having to deal with your period at all during the school day. Ok you have to get close up an personal with yourself but why not understand your body if that option appeals?

Rainbowknickers · 26/07/2019 18:27

My daughter started at 11 and wanted to use pads
3/4 periods in she wanted tampons
I did say about a mooncup but she didn’t want to use one which is her choice
I’m open to mooncups if she changes her mind