Talk to me about period products for sporty pre-teens

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DD is 12, has been having regular periods for a bit over a year. She uses period knickers at the moment. They are fine day to day but frequently leak when she does sport. Inconveniently, she does a sport 3 times a week which requires wearing white trousers, so leaking really shows.

She hates pads, and I can’t see that they would be any better than knickers as the issue is movement rather than a super heavy flow. She’s tried putting fresh knickers on as she changes for the sport and still leaked so it’s not a problem with the knickers being too full, it’s purely down to the movement.

She’s not keen on tampons or a cup, but I’ve told her that her two options are something internal or something external, and since it seems like external isn’t working for sport then she might need to consider doubling up just while she’s exercising. I use both a cup and period knickers on my heaviest days, I was thinking that the same might work for her, just for the few hours when she needs it.

So I have two problems:

1. She’s embarrassed about her body and not comfortable with the idea of getting hands on with the period, especially putting anything inside herself (she washes the knickers herself fine but I found the cup quite messy when I was first getting used to it and I don’t think she’d persevere past that). She’s just generally very self-conscious around any puberty changes, I think maybe exacerbated by a lot of the girls her age in school (probably the vast majority) being later developers than she is. I don’t really know how to persuade her that this is the best way forward. I’m worried she’ll just give up the sport she used to love.

2. If we did get a cup, any ideas what style would be best for a pre-teen? I’ve done a couple of the quizzes and the age range they have is under 17/18 as all one group, so I’m not convinced the recommendations would be accurate because there’s a lot of difference between a 16 year old’s body and a 12 year old’s.

Any advice on either point would be welcome!

Has she tried period pants specifically made for sport? Try iceni silver, they were designed with sporty teenagers in mind

Do they still make applicator tampons? They were what I used the most as a teen. I use a cup now, but I don't think I could have handled that when I was a teen!

Modibodi do shorts in Heavy absorbency, could see if that works better? Should stay in place better, and the padded bit is bigger.

I've never had any problems rolling into all sorts of shapes at bjj, but then my gi is black... this is why no ladies like karate

I have bamboo type period pants that you use with pads. Nothing leaks out of these. I have worn them over the modibodi pants on really bad days.

Something like these so she can try using one at home to see if it works for her.

www.boots.com/tampax-compak-lites-tampons-applicator-18x-10245437-?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare--Toiletries_Personal_Care-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Toiletries_Personal_Care&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5oHF14XV9QIVArTtCh301wRtEAQYASABEgJymvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also, has she tried period shorts rather than pants? Ones that fit like cut off cycling shorts?

Oh, I didn't realise there were sports period knickers, that's a great shout, and the shorts. Thanks!

I'll have a look at tampons too, but I'm less sold on them because her self-organisation is quite poor and I think there's a fairly high chance she would forget and leave one in. Thanks for the suggestion though.

What about just having an applicator tampon for her sport and sticking with period pants rest of the time. They do have shorts type period pants though - worth exploring.

I agree a cup is too much at this age, I wouldn't have been comfortable rummaging up at this age though I find it great now.

How about period shorts with a sanitary towel put inside?

I remember someone posting a link to a YouTube channel where a teenager explained period products and she did a really good explanation of tampons using a teddy bear. It was so much better than it sounds, I wonder if someone knows what I mean….
I’d try her with tampax applicator tampons and remind her to remove them after sport!

Yes and iceni silver also do a blush colour that apparently doesn't show under whites. They have a couple of pairs which maybe suitable, warrior shorts or game changers.

I understand you’re worried about her forgetting about a tampon but if wants to try them (just for sports) you could always remind her to check when she comes home from school. If she likes swimming they would be handy for her. If she doesn’t like swimming, I ‘had my period’ for 90% of school swimming lessons as a teenager

I'd try different brands of period knickers with different shaped absorbent bits. Sweat will take up some of the absorbent capacity so definitely change as often as possible.

Pre period knickers I used to wear dark coloured cycling shorts under my white uniform - helped the pants/pad combination stay in the right place with a 1 sided sport which tends to shift pants around.

Leggings under whites is also a thing for fencers - the more protective layers the better. I've seen Facebook adverts for leggings/shorts with period protection but not tried them...

I've ordered a couple of pairs of the Iceni Silver in different styles, one like cycling shorts and the other like knickers. So we'll give those a try, I'm hopeful that if they've been specially designed for sport they might be good! Thanks for the suggestions.

As a similar teenager myself, applicator tampons doubled with pads. Non applicator tampons yuck. Now I double up with cup and period pants. I have 2 boys so no experience as a mother though.

My DD swims a lot. Day 1 of first period she got on with it and used a lilet teen applicator tampon. I do think tampons are a personal
Thing though.

I have a sporty dd and she took to tampons after a bit of reluctance, so much more reliable and discreet