Child dealing with period on residential - Recommendations please!

[Peggy0907]

DD is 10 and is more than likely going to be on her period during her school residential. She's going for 4 nights. She already uses period knickers so I will make sure to send her with enough to get her through the whole time she's there. I'm looking for recommendations for a way for her to store the used knickers discreetly. Also looking for period swimwear, preferably bikini bottoms that she can wear under her usual costume.
Anything else I need to think about? School will administer pain relief if she needs it.

If the bottoms are to go under a swimsuit rather than replace a swimsuit then I'd be tempted to just use period pants, primark have a range which are very reasonably priced.

The only difference between period underwear and swimwear is an extra layer on the outside in waterproof Lycra/swimwear fabric. You will be adding a swimsuit over the top so will have that layer.

You can buy period swimwear at Wuka, Flux, Modibody, Amazon (cheapest options are on Amazon)

Zippy plastic bag! If you’ve ever ordered anything from Shein, their packaging is perfect for storing worn underwear while travelling.

I wouldn’t recommend asking your GP for norethisterone as it might make her next period heavier/less predictable so she may find that she is unprepared for it starting. She’ll be fine, it might be good for her to learn how to manage her periods whenever they turn up. How does she feel about tampons?

Honestly? I'd ask the GP for a prescription for norethisterone. It's hard enough being a 10-year-old girl.

When I was your DD's age, I was the only girl in my year group who had started menstruating, and it was so, so embarrassing. Toilets for girls didn't have sanitary disposal bins in them (because we were expected to be too young for all that), and my mum didn't show me how to use sanitary towels, so it took me a while to figure out how to position them, so I didn't bleed everywhere.

I frequently pretended to be taking a dump to explain why I was in the toilets for so long as I found that less embarrassing than admitting I was menstruating.

My mum didn't let me use tampons, but even if she had, I wouldn't have felt comfortable swimming whilst I was on my period. And I hated being singled out for skipping swimming almost as much.

Get the pills!

@hellodarknessmyoldfriend22

It doesn't come out! It's like a vacuum or negative pressure type thing, if it came out then you would expect it to go in too right? Can't say I've ever sprayed sea water out my floo after a swim...

I recommend the tablets to delay her period if DD is good at remembering to take medication? I’ve used them quite a few times as my periods are extremely heavy. However if DD forgets/misses to take the medication her period will arrive quickly. Also to whom ever said about water and periods stopping lol. My period definitely doesn’t stop when in the water. If I ever have a bath when on, which is hardly ever because my bath looks like a grisly crime scene.

Are women here actually advocating nothisterone for a 10 year old??? It's not licensed for use by children.

These are cheap and will do the job

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/femininecare-intimate-care/sainsburys-incontinence-disposal-bags-x50

Dryer sheets to go in the drawstring bag will help avoid smells, but i doubt it will be a big issue unless it's roasting.

I must be broken, i bleed in the bath and get water stuck in there .. my kids were delivered by c section so don't have a baggy floo 😂... sorry OP I don't mean to go off subject but I'm concerned 😅

Just here to say that yes, I have bled in the bath and sometimes after swimming (not on my period) I have had a water escape after! Just because it's not your experience doesn't make it a universal truth! (Never had kids so nothing to do with childbirth) Op, your teachers will have dealt with it all before and I would expect them to be kind and sympathetic if they know, so, with your daughter's permission of course, let them know. The tips here sound great and you sound like a very caring and thoughtful parent.

I think PP have had some great ideas and I would be looking at the swimwear options rather than norethisterone tablets. It would be worth letting the teachers know so they can help or understand if she's taking a while getting changed etc. if she would be happy with them knowing.

I used to have very heavy periods, the bath would look like a murder scene if I attempted a bath while menstruating. Even lifting a leg to get in would prompt flooding. I used to wear two super heavy tampons while swimming. And I've obviously got a cavernous vag as I frequently leak water out after a bath 😳 I thought this was common 😂. Felt like half the bath was swallowed up.

@Peggy0907 my DD went on her residential 4 months after starting her period so was still getting used to it - she was due to have another whilst there.
I spoke to the doctor who prescribed her tablets to stop her periods (can't remember the name). She had to take 3 a day so had a word with her teacher who said she would make sure they are taken. No issues at all with them - it might not be something you'd like for your daughter, just throwing it out there as an option x

I heard that myth - I say myth because every month I would end up with having a red bath or shower, several days in a row. Utterly grim. As I had very heavy periods with lots of clots, I wouldn’t have taken a chance swimming even with tampons let alone period pants.
It may be that a lighter flow is less likely to be seen.

I would ask your GP if Norethisterone is appropriate.

I got the midi nodi bikini bottoms for dd1. She wears them under her usual bikini they are well worth the cash and very nice quality. Ours are navy. She was really impressed.

We were worried she would gave her period on her residential. She uses period underwear but I gave her the choice and she took the pants and disposable pads too because we weren't sure about the set up when she got there and or the storing the pants. I felt that was a bit much for 12 year old to cope with. Also her residential was loads of activity's that involved getting wet.

Just my opinion but I think suggesting she has to rinse out pants in the sink for 4 days is too much at 10.

Funny joke about not out in water wtf....our girls hate period pants. They all wear what's used as incontinence pants, no leaks, no constant changing, comfy, can be thrown away...midwife told me years ago after I had twins try then as pads such and never looked back probably first time in my own adult life and since I've not been bothered about a period starting on with the pants and no more worrying

Wow thanks for all the comments and suggestions.
They will be doing lots of active watersports so she'll be in and out of the water and standing around for periods of time so definitely need some sort of protection. She is not comfortable using tampons although she has them available so may try again at some point. Her decision, I won't push it.

It's interesting to hear that normal period pants under the swimsuit could work, that would certainly make things easier!

I did look in to the pills but actually as long as she has the period knickers and swimwear I think she'll be absolutely fine, I'd be worried she'd forget to take a pill and have to deal with bleeding anyway or that it might affect her periods going forward which isn't ideal when she's just getting in to the swing of things. Completely understand how it's the best option for some people though.

wearemout.co.uk

"Wear 'em out" do good size wash bags for exactly this thing, also washable pads if that's what you need.

My 11 year old has very heavy periods and the modibodi swim suit works for her.

It's tough on them getting used to managing periods so young but it's important that they learn they don't have to avoid things!

I honestly feel disposable pads may be easier while she is away. I’m a teacher and have had children on their period on residential before, the place will definitely be set up with bins for pads in the loos, it is unlikely to be set up for rinsing our pants and leaving them to dry, and certainly not discretely (eg there’s a drying room for wet kit, but all the kids - male and female - will have access to it. 4 days worth of unrinsed pants in a bag for you to deal with when you get home doesn’t sound ideal, it may damage them if they aren’t rinsed?

please do warn the teachers in advance, it will make it much easier for your daughter to ask them for help if she knows they’re expecting it and they could even discreetly check in with her if necessary.

Our kids were told to take a bin bag for dirty clothes.
So I'd be tempted with some small sandwich / freezer bags that she can stuff each pair of period pants into, then into the bin bag.

More discreet for her than having one bag with multiple pairs. And less smelly as she won't be opening a bag with yesterday's pants in to.
Just means when she gets home and your sorting the washing you need to find the period pants and get them out the plastic bags before washing.

Following as my daughter is away in June on a school trip. She's just turned 11 but started at 9 and a half. Her periods are still very irregular so I don't know if the pill would work for her :/

please make sure the staff accompanying the trip know to check in with her. Starting/having periods on residentials is so rubbish and they will be understanding.

I love the idea that period blood conveniently stays in situ when in water. From day one my periods were like the chain saw massacre and flowed freely - too freely - where ever and whenever!

Well, yes.

If you're not a child and want to delay your period, you go on the combined pill.

For obvious reasons, many people feel uncomfortable putting a child on contraception, hence getting this period delay pill instead (which is only used temporarily). I wouldn't recommend it if I hadn't done it myself as a child.

I wasn't allowed to take the pills once the other girls in my year were old enough to mostly be menstruating and for me to no longer be the odd one out. Residentials weren't very common, and my periods were regular enough to make them easy to predict, so I think I only needed to take them once in the end.

Other posters have mentioned making sure the teachers know - I think this is a great shout because, as I stated before if the adults don't know that a child is menstruating, they may not make sure there are appropriate sanitary disposal options.

No, it doesn’t.