To think the sample girls pack from the school nurse was totally inappropriate.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Dd wanted a private talk this morning. Turns out that in Friday they had the puberty talk and were given a pack. Except they ran out of time so no time to discuss how to use the products.

There were a couple of always panty liners, three Always towels a normal one, a night one and a "silk" one. They were huge. I can't see dd bring able to wear a leotard in one of those.

Then there were two Tampax Compact (the ones with plastic applicators) one Regular Yellow one & one green Super one. As if a year 6 child will be able to insert one if those. When I was at school we were given a same of the special lites ones. They could put her off for life.

Luckily I had anticipated this and a couple of months ago bought a lovely little make up style case by Lillets contains various if their teen products. Smaller child sized towels but that are supposed to be extra absorbent and small easier to insert tampons.

I know they were free samples but really!!'n

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

I don't understand why a mooncup would be any more inappropriate than a tampon

I suppose it's unlikely a mooncup would be given out as a free sample because of cost but I think it would be good if girls were at least introduced to the idea of reusable protection as an option from the start.

[NotYoMomma]

I started in year 7 and it was like niagra falls lol.

Teenage range? snort

Is that not a bit of a patronising way to charge parents more?

[nooka]

Sorry, that was an attempt at answering FiaGrace's question about discouraging tampon use.

[LIZS]

Our large Tesco had the Lillets Teens range at £1 per pack this week.

[NotYoMomma]

Oh AND I got put on the pill at a young age to help sort them out.

Catholic mother was horrified

[plainjaney]

My Mum was VERY anti Tampon back in the 80's, apparently I'd die from TSS if I ever used one
My first few periods were hell, the towels she gave me were enormous and I was so conscious over them I wouldn't leave the house wherever possible. In the end I took to buying my own tampons. Finally we had a discussion and reached a compromise that Tampons are fine for the day but towels overnight. I still follow that logic now, as does my DD.

I gave DD the choice. She chose tampons and as she's particularly heavy most months she also started on the Super ones. DD didn't have a 'pack' from school but I did give her a small makeup bag with clean knickers, tampons AND towels in to keep in her school bag from when she was about ten.

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

My first period was horrific. So much blood! And that was in the days of horrible thick Dr White's towels.

[valiumredhead]

My mum made me use the towels with an elastic belt! I used to use my pocket money to buy Vespre towels on the way too school. I would have loved some free samples!

[Franup]

Hollyberrybush I'm nearly 40 and started in first term of Y7. We also got the Y6 talk. But no samples.

You seem to think this is some novel approach to puberty?

[superbadspeller]

Can't believe they still do the always packs i got mine in second year aged 13 way back in 2001! Me and my mates loved them, i already used always so they came in handy, one mates mum was a prudish nutter and refused to buy pads 'just in case' so when my friend started they were a lifesaver to her.

Don't see anything wrong with the sizes, you get 'normal' or 'medium' in both pads and tampons until you figure out your flow.

[TheReverseStitch]

In the early nineties I was given what sounds like an identical sample kit when I was in year 6 primary school.

I started when I had just turned 11 and I have only ever used normal adult, non teenager products so tbh I can't see what the issue is really.

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

Why is a tampon ok for an 11 year old but not a moon cup? Serious question. If she is used to using tampons is there any reason she couldn't use a moon cup?

In theory, no reason at all. But at 11 I was so horrified about starting my periods and the prospect (a) of having to deal with it and (b) everyone knowing about it that I would have been totally horrified by a mooncup. There are plenty of adult MNers who are so put off by the potential for "gross" that they wouldn't try one, so I can't see your average 11 year old girl being very keen. Maybe some would, but I suspect most wouldn't.

Besides, at age 32 the smallest size sometimes feels a little uncomfortably ambitious shall we say. No doubt that will all change once this DC I am having has emerged

[Picturesinthefirelight]

The teen ones are supposed to be just as absorbent as the adult ones (though I can't personally testify to that)

[valiumredhead]

Suffolk-I had a version of that,I loved it

[1Catherine1]

To answer FiaGrace's question... My mother told me she preferred me not to use them as a child. I believe it was a health thing. I believe my mother didn't trust me to use them properly. Simply she thought I wouldn't change them often enough. That was when I was in year 7, by year 9 I was considered mature enough to understand the responsibility of of choosing the correct flow tampon and using it properly. I do understand her logic, even if others don't.

As for OP's post - when I was at school I think I got exactly the same pack as your DD. My mother confiscated them, reason above. But a few years later, I did buy these for myself - my mother used the non applicator ones and as a squeamish 13 year old I preferred the idea of an applicator. I think you'll find your DD manages fine with them.

[exexpat]

Hollyberrybush are you sure you had the puberty talk in year 8? I would have thought that would be the sex/babies talk. Year 8 is 12-13 year-olds, and by the end of that year I think at least 50 per cent of girls would have started their periods. Even year 6 is too late for some - it's not uncommon to start at age 9 or 10.

[sudointellectual]

Sorry, YABU, and a bit mystifying.

I had heavy flow at 11 and used super flow tampons at primary school. God, if anyone had suggested to me that that was abnormal or that I had a bucket fanny because of it I would have been scarred for life!

[livinginwonderland]

YABU. I've been using the normal ones since I got my period in year 7 (aged 12) and I never had any problems.

[AudrinaAdare]

I have Von Willebrands (undiagnosed then) and wasn't allowed tampax at all my Catholic mother (or to go on the pill early) but luckily a friend's mum helped and I was using the super-plus by twelve.

Always wanted the old-style type of pads I'd read about in Judy Blume books, with the belt. I was overjoyed when the hospital gave me some after having DD. They were every bit as good as I had expected - kept the pad next to your body and didn't shift around or move when your knickers moved. I'd glady have worn them as a kid, fashion / lycra be damned for the peace of mind

[valiumredhead]

Our games teacher used to tell it's there was no reason why we couldn't use tampons and used to dish them out and tell us not to come out of the loo until we had it in and could go swimming. She also used to write our dates down in a little red book in case we were trying to get out of showers after games.

Can you imagine that happening these days?

[nooka]

dd's 'slender' pads are just cut a little more narrowly than the standard Always towels. So she finds them a bit less bulky to wear. Different brands seem to come in slightly different shapes so I don't think that you have to have a teen branded one if you have a smaller frame. The one she liked the packaging of the best (comes in bright slightly wacky colours) was the widest so that was a bit disappointing to her.

[piratecat]

you are going to have a shock. my 9.5 yr old ended up having to use maxi towels for her flow right from the off.

[FiaGrace]

Thanks nooka and Catherine

[Tortington]

am i the only one who has a problem with Always promoting their 'brand' in schools?