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Original poster

Swimming lessons and periods

50 replies

Realitea · 14/09/2021 20:29

I’m not sure what happens in this situation
Dd is year 6 and doesn’t really want people to know she is getting periods now
She starts swimming lessons next week
She’s still very young for her age and it just feels a bit sad that she has to have periods already!
Do they sit out that week? What happens?

OP posts:
Emmelina · 14/09/2021 20:31

Period swimwear is what you can do for this :) it used to be tampons or sitting it out, but technology moves us on.
An example, though I doubt they’re the only ones doing this now.
www.modibodi.co.uk/collections/swim-red

Fivefourthreetwo · 14/09/2021 20:37

How can period swimwear work? I don't understand

Lookwhoseinsideagain · 14/09/2021 20:40

I'm sure the period swimwear must work to some degree, but I really don't know if could trust it!
Just get her used to using tampons, explain the different types and applicators (or applicator free) - no one needs to know

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General education
Hellocatshome · 14/09/2021 20:40

Honestly a lot of people seem keen on not allowing children to use tampons and I dont have girls but honestly as a girl who wasn't allowed to use tampons until I moved out and bought my own. They were a revelation, so many of my childhood/early teens would have been improved if I had had access to tampons.

MrsFin · 14/09/2021 20:45

@Fivefourthreetwo

How can period swimwear work? I don't understand

I don't understand how swim nappies work either.

But 6! Bless her.

Mol1628 · 14/09/2021 20:45

Menstrual cup or tampons. Definitely shouldn’t have to sit out on lessons.

Hellocatshome · 14/09/2021 20:46

But 6! Bless her. year 6 not age 6 so 10/11 years old.

Mol1628 · 14/09/2021 20:46

@MrsFin year 6 not 6! So she is 10 or 11 I think

Bananarama21 · 14/09/2021 20:49

I'm a swimming teacher and use tampons when teaching. It's a case they would miss a lesson if they didn't want to tend due to a period but wouldn't get refunded. I personally wouldn't use period wear when teaching incase I leaked.

MrsFin · 14/09/2021 20:52

Ah! Year 6 not so young. Still younger than the norm back in ye olden days though, when I was a lass.

JaninaDuszejko · 14/09/2021 21:08

So as far as the swimwear goes you tend not to get a lot of blood coming out when you are in the pool because of the water pressure, I suspect it's more for when you come out and it's probably just enough to hold the blood in until you change. Fine for swimming for fitness but probably not great for relaxing the pool on holiday. Maybe someone with more experience than me can answer though.

Swim nappies are for holding in poo only.

Menstrual cup or tampons. Definitely shouldn’t have to sit out on lessons.

My 13yo is freaked out by the idea of tampons (I used them from my second period aged 14 so was surprised by this) let alone menstrual cups so for a 10yo it must be even more scary.

Pokkadots · 14/09/2021 21:10

My daughter has a costume from Modibodi. Was even fine in a water park òn and off slides etc. Not sure how they work but they do.

SlipperyLizard · 14/09/2021 21:13

I started my periods at primary school many years ago. I used tampons so I could go swimming, although I think at that age my flow was so light that I probably didn’t need to worry.

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/09/2021 21:16

Dd has modi bodi swimwear. Idk how it works but she’s never had a problem. I’m sure she couldn’t go all day in them but are fine for the pool. The body bleeds far less in water.

WellTidy · 14/09/2021 21:23

I know she is young, but I used tampons from my second period (13yo) and haven’t used pads, save for maternity pads after having the DV, since.

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 14/09/2021 21:30

I used tampons from my first period. Dd doesn’t want to and has a modibodi cossie. It does work and her periods are fairly heavy.

Kudos100 · 14/09/2021 21:31

I'm going against the grain and saying that I was unable to use tampons until I'd had sex and my hymen had broken. I tried for bloody years to get on with them including using various lubes (god that was embarrassing when my Mum gave me that) but it just was really painful. I was jealous of girls who could and seemed to do it easily. Once I'd had sex I tried again and it was obviously fine and easy.
My periods were really heavy (bleeding through black jeans with two pairs of knickers on within an hour) so for me there's no way I'd have swum. Even now just moving about in the bath (I have a special deep bath) can cause a gush so the whole "water pressure keeps things in" is not something Ive found.

Original poster
Realitea · 14/09/2021 21:37

@Kudos100udos I’m the same! I still never wear tampons I just don’t like it. Probably due to my early years of struggling with them. I’ll check out the modibodi- sounds like it might be the answer

OP posts:
Naughty1205 · 14/09/2021 21:45

Same as Kudos, and I'm in my 40s. I can count on one hand the times I've used tampons. Just couldn't get used to them and couldn't get them in as a teen anyway, no matter what I tried.

Thoughtcontagion · 14/09/2021 21:46

@Realitea my DD is also year 6 and almost 11 she just started too

My 13 year old and almost 11 year old wear those modibod red swimsuits and they are brilliant. My 13 year old felt so confident. They had no leaks or anything. They change at the pool, both have worn with no issues, I have washed them following instructions and no issues. DD13 has heavy flow and they both use period pants too.

BashfulClam · 14/09/2021 21:50

Tampons don’t suit everyone. I have a tilt to my cervix (smear tests are fun as they can’t always see my cervix easily) and can always feel them no matter how far up I push them. The swimsuit sounds really good.

Original poster
Realitea · 14/09/2021 22:02

The swimsuit looks great! They have kids sizes and not too expensive. What a relief. Glad I posted here tonight - thanks everyone!

OP posts:
fruitpastille · 14/09/2021 22:20

I would just tell the teacher she had an ear ache so she didn't have to join in or tell anyone. I guess it depends how she feels.

00100001 · 14/09/2021 22:25

@MrsFin

Ah! Year 6 not so young. Still younger than the norm back in ye olden days though, when I was a lass.
Fairly common now for girls to start in Year 6.

Improved diets and all that

NiceGerbil · 14/09/2021 22:29

I let mine have the week off.

Period swimmers sound cool but weren't a thing I knew about back then. Do they handle even if heavy?

Gave her some tampons but said have a go if you want but don't if not and if you have a go and dont get on with them then leave it no probs.

She started just before year 6.

It's such a shitty thing to get to grips with imo. Esp if they're younger. I don't think pushing tampons is a good idea when young/ or only just started. I know that's not what everyone thinks.