Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

258 replies

Picturesinthefirelight · 16/06/2013 17:45

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

OP posts:
LegoAcupuncture · 16/06/2013 19:25

I would have loved to have been told about sanitary wear when I was given the talk at school. I didn't have a clue, and my mam was the sort of person who expected the school to teach me about sex ed and periods. I wrote her a note the day I started my period as I was so scared.

So glad I've only got boys.

Jinty64 · 16/06/2013 19:27

I had a sanitary belt. My mother wouldn't let me use tampax because "they could get lost". Mmmmmm!

bryonywhisker · 16/06/2013 19:33

yabu I had a belt too that I had to hook 2 pads onto because I was so heavy. I could always smell it and was sure everyone else must have done. Leaking onto your school uniform was a regular occurence Sad hurrah for sample packs and openess

dorothyelmhirst · 16/06/2013 19:39

So what should be in the perfect start up pack?

What should you avoid and what should you get?

ravenAK · 16/06/2013 19:40

We have a HUGE box of free san pro stuff in the teachers' loo at work.

The PSHCE Dept. offer them to the year 7 girls, who have generally got all this sorted & politely decline.

So I'm not sure the marketing strategy is that effective in this instance; apart from anything, I've been using them for months & honestly couldn't tell you what brand they are...

beachesandbuckets · 16/06/2013 19:40

I was given tampon samples at 11/12 at one of these school talks with no explanation on how to use them, I was too embarrassed to ask my mum, tried myself and it really hurt as I was probably not doing it properly, never have used them since (I am now 36)

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 16/06/2013 19:40

No, that link was nothing like the pack.

Sorry plentyofpube what do you mean about not wanting to wear a leotard every day. She won't have a choice.

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 16/06/2013 19:46

I think it is brilliant that girls are given these packs so they can see the choice that is out there.

My periods started when I turned 11 and I also had an incredibly controlling mother and was not allowed to even try tampons until I left home at 17yrs.

Dackyduddles · 16/06/2013 19:46

Well bully for u op that u were so light and dainty. Some of us weren't. We needed adult products.

LIZS · 16/06/2013 19:47

Definite trend to wear jazz pants, long t shirts or shorts over leotards at dd's dance school.

ComtessedeFrouFrou · 16/06/2013 19:50

I think what plenty is saying is that your DD may well not feel that she wants to dance, either because she's in pain and generally feeling like crap or because she's embarrassed and convinced everyone can tell she's on get period.

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 16/06/2013 19:51

The uniform list says not to purchase warm up/cover up clothes. Year 7 is Leo & socks for ballet & Leo & footless tights for other styles. There is a school track suit.

OP posts:
FryOneFatManic · 16/06/2013 19:52

Oh, Yes, be prepared for your DD to have heavy periods from the off. I remember my teenage periods being a bloody nightmare in every sense of the word. And DD began her periods halfway through Year 7, well before her 12th birthday, and as heavy as I remember mine.

As I still use tampons/towels/whatever, I've long had a mixed supply in the bathroom, and she's tried various towels and settled on a supermarket brand she feels comfortable with. She's not yet happy at the idea of tampons/mooncups. I'm going to get a mooncup, but it's up to her what she chooses.

I began using tampons aged 13, straight onto regular/super as required.

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 16/06/2013 19:52

Sorry I mustn't have made it clear earlier on. When I said she's going to dance school in September I meant full time dance school.

OP posts:
SuffolkNWhat · 16/06/2013 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 16/06/2013 19:56

Even dance school must be used to this, or if they do so much maybe periods stop like many gymnasts and swimmers. I'm sure she'll fit in with the the norm and many towels are pretty discreet anyway compared to 20 years ago.

FryOneFatManic · 16/06/2013 19:58

DD has just told me that she and her peers have never been offered sample packs at school. She's near the end of year 8 and is now feeling a little miffed that she's missed out on something Grin

exexpat · 16/06/2013 19:58

I can see why people are comparing this to Bounty, but as far as I can tell the big difference is that to get them you don't have to agree to be put on a mailing list for endless marketing in future - they are just one-off free samples, and I don't have a problem with that. And as others have said, it could be hugely useful for girls whose families don't prepare them or don't approve of tampons.

Jan49 · 16/06/2013 20:02

I think the advice when I was a teenager (late 70s/early 80s) was that tampons weren't suitable for young girls, not til you were about 16 or so, maybe not when you were a virgin(?) so maybe that's why some people have experienced parents thinking they're unsuitable. My mum prepared me for periods with towels with loops and special pants (one pair!) that the loops linked to. I don't actually think she would have known what a tampon was. I switched fairly quickly to towels with an adhesive strip.

We didn't get any freebies at school (stamps foot) but when I was at uni aged 19, a friend and I decided to try tampons for the first time and wrote to one of the big companies for advice as we couldn't get them in. Cringe.Blush They advised to put Vaseline on the tip of the tampon. It worked.

McNewPants2013 · 16/06/2013 20:06

Of corse she will have the choice, I didn't do swimming in school and to save the embarrassment I skipped this lesson.

Op I do wonder if you are finding period talk a bit difficult to you daughter.

primallass · 16/06/2013 20:07

I started my period in P7 (was maybe 11). I had one day of towels and went off to the local shop and bought tampons without telling my mum. (We were between houses and I was staying with my gran.) Sorted.

MummytoKatie · 16/06/2013 20:08

I remember filling out a form in Mizz magazine for a box of 8 free tampax when I was 13. It was pretty effective marketing - I'm now 33 and have never used anything else!

Allthingspretty · 16/06/2013 20:09

Your dd is lucky all I eber got was the tampax and the container. I would have preferred the Always

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 16/06/2013 20:10

I didn't find it difficult at all. I just thought she would find those products difficult to begin with. We talked about the fact that her dancing would probably mean she needed to try and get on with tamping as soon as possible when the time comes.

She will absolutely not be allowed to skip dance classes once a month. If any if them tried it they'd soon be kicked out!

OP posts:
McNewPants2013 · 16/06/2013 20:12

I never got on well with tampons, a mooncup is far better.