My 11. 5 year old just got her period, swimming tomorrow evening. What can we do?

[Pumpkinspawn]

Dd Just got her period she has swimming tomorrow evening & I wasn't prepared. She won't wear tampons. What can I get her, I don't want her missing it as I don't want her to see her period as a huge event just something we get on with with a few adjustments. Tia

Period swimming pants?

Do you mean it's her first ever period?

I understand your thinking OP but also, it's okay if she doesn't feel up to it, or want to do it. It's no good pretending periods don't happen or shouldn't affect her at all.

I appreciate your general principle but I think for her first period I would let swimming go, unless she’s really keen.

Yes she's really keen as she has a gala in a couple of days. Where can I get period swimming pants? Yes it's her first ever one.

Period swimming costumes are good but first period is really unpredictable. Tell her you'll get her sorted with the kit for next time which might not be for months. Period pants can be worn with pads during the da6 for a bit extra security, helps stop leaks.

You'll get the costumes etc on Amazon I think but not by tomorrow. M and s sells the pants in ladies sizes so get an 8 or 10 but not sure you can get a costume on the high street

For her first ever period I would most certainly let it go. I've never been comfortable with tampons, even after having 2 babies. I think you can get period swimwear nowadays so I would get her some of those for when she feels ready to use them. Reassure her that periods shouldn't stop swimming if she feels like it.

Agree with other posters about skipping it and getting her ready for next time... not sure I would risk period pants at that age and might take her a few goes to get used to tampons of she wants to try them. I get the whole not wanting periods to be a big thing but as an 11yr old leaking pool side/the potential mess before and after would probably have been worse for me than missing a few sessions (and I swam competitively at that age so I get it's a big thing!)

I though swimming period pants only work for the lighter days (start /end) of the cycle. .......
Modi body uk do them

Period bikini bottoms under her usual costume could be fine too. Join us on the poolside chat thread if you haven't found it already

Thanks everyone, it's very light just spotting but I'm sure the flow will increase over the next few days..

I can’t imagine an 11 year old would fit a women’s bikini bottoms .
I would just miss it and give yourselves sometime to prepare for next time. Bless her that’s so young.

Ive just looked on modi body. They have increased the range for heavier days now it seems.....

I use there period pant range and recommend them. So i imagine swimwear are good too

My daughter has Modibodi period pants and they have been pretty good although she supplements with a pad on heavy days. They do need to be a good snug fit though, and Modibodi have a good range of child/teen sizes.

If you're wanting to try tampons, then I found the plastic applicator Tampax ones were easier to insert than the cardboard applicators.

If her period is very light I would just let her go in if she wants to. It's really just slightly coloured discharge at that point. I've always swam in the last/first days of my period and the flow does appear to stop. I think it's the water pressure. And realistically period swimwear is ust normal swimwear with a slightly thicker crotch. It doesn't actually have a magic period catching fabric.

Amazon is showing delivery available for tomorrow in my area (rural north) for period swimwear from modi body for teens if ordered in the next 2 hrs.

Does she wear a leg suit or a normal 'knicker' cut suit?
If she doesn't already I'd get her some black legsuits from Maru. Gives her a bit more coverage and can wear period pants under them, but she'll have to get used to internal san pro at some stage if she's comp swimming.

I'm not convinced period swimwear is actually for swimming, once it's saturated there cant be anywhere for the blood to go, surely it's more for lazing at the beach or by a pool.

Modi body pants are ideal especially to wear under a racesuit. Get two so she can change in the morning and then on the afternoon.

Why on earth not? Almost without exception you need to weigh 7.5 stone to start your periods, so an 8 (or 6) would fit most girls that size just fine.

All those saying ‘miss it’ - perhaps she doesn’t want to miss it and that is why they are trying to find a solution. Competitive swimming is a world in itself - it’s not a trip to the cinema for the athletes.
Try the period swimsuits OP but as a fellow gala swimmer - getting used to tampons is pretty much going to be a must moving forwards, especially when she starts wearing compression fastskin suits (you can’t really wear anything under them for the layman)

Is that true about being 7.5 stones?

I don't know about that, although DD got used to wearing tampons for swimming her cousin only wears period swimming wear as she can't cope with tampons. They are both competitive swimmers (now both 17), so it works for her not to wear tampons. I don't think her periods are particularly light either after talking to my sister.

So it ovously can work to wear the period swim wear. Op I would get some ordered and see how your DD gets on with it, worry about trying tampons later on.

@Alpolonia yes more or less, it's the weight you would need to be to healthily sustain a pregnancy and why gymnasts / ballet dancers periods are often delayed, or disappear if you have an ED.

No it’s a long standing myth.