Tampons - what age?

[mumyes]

My dad's is 10. Not yet started period but I'm keen to encourage her to use tampons asap so she's no r so restricted in what she can do.

We've not talked about tampons (we have pads)...anyone with similar aged dd with experience of this? How / when to introduce / discuss.
Any advice on this welcome...thanks

Dad's = DD's!!

I was older than 10 but I used tampons right from the very first time. Have the discussion with her and let her decide.

I used tampons right from the start. It was just what my mum had the house and I found them pretty straightforward.

Just explain the options to her now, factually.

Get some light flow pads and some mini tampons in for her. Don't tell her which to use or that you can't be active without using tampons - one of mine did gymnastics and always preferred pads. It wasn't a problem. I'd say typically girls start with pads or sometimes period pants these days and may want to try tampons once their menstrual flow is a bit more predictable and they are a little more confident.

Just make sure she knows the options ahead of time, supplies are ready and once her periods start you just ask what she prefers and keep getting that in. She'll tell you what she likes but it's definitely her choice to make.

DD started using them fairly quickly after starting her periods. So probably around 12, because she is a serious swimmer and it made it easier for swimming. She doesn't like them and only uses them for swimming. Her cousin, same age and also a swimmer uses period swimwear instead. So there are other options avaible, period pants as well if her periods aren't to heavy.

I used tampons from the start but I wasn’t ten! Period swimwear is great though!

Don't encourage her to use anything - give her them along with pads and period pants and see if she wants to use them.

I found tampons really painful for the first few years but I was only just 9 when I started.
Just from my own experience I would wait until DD decides she wants to use them.

so she's no r so restricted in what she can do

Like what?

I used tampons from my first period (aged 13). I came on at school, played a netball match in the massive pad the PE teacher gave me and thought "never again". I'd had a freebie box of tampax mini and worked it out myself from there.

I used tampons from the start aged 12. Mum had bought pads but I thought they were very old fashioned so went straight out and bought tampons. Read the instructions and good to go. What does your dd want to do?

DD was 12 when her period started and she found it the easiest to practice when her flow was heavy. Otherwise, it is quite dry and the skin can pull and it's really uncomfortable, even with good applicators.

She uses them only for swimming and prefers period swimwear.

Changing tampons in school was a disaster so period pants all the way for her.

Don't have girls but have nieces and know they haven't tried tampons yet not keen on the idea. They are 12 and 14 now and use the period underwear.

Why not put together a collection of everything and let her work out what works for her.

I didn't fine tampons comfortable until I was older so that may be a consideration. Is there sample packs from the companies like there used to be.

Best ever typo! 🙌