Tampons and 8 year olds?

[DontOpenDeadInside]

My dd has precocious puberty and started her periods 2 weeks before she was 8. She has since had 2 injections to stop it but the last one was really traumatic for her as she knew what to expect after the 1st time (large needle in bottom). I had to pin her down. So the nurse has said if she's going to be like that next time, it's probably not worth the stress for her. So if she no longer has these injections her period will come back and if she gets one while we are on holiday next year she won't be able to go in the pool/sea which will really upset her (her sisters and cousin will be going in)
So, do you think 8 (9 a few weeks after) is too young for tampons? Hopefully she will not get her period that week, but just trying to think of solutions now (I'm assuming the gp wouldn't prescribe her the period-delaying tablet)

Have you heard of buzzy? www.buzzy4shots.co.uk/ it's a device that is meant to distract from needle pain. I'm not sure how effective it would be with IM injections but it's worth a look at the website.

You and your DD have both been through a lot. I have lots of sympathy. Even though buzzy and/or numbing cream might not stop the pain, it might give her enough of a psychological boost to cope with it.

Sorry if it's already been suggested and a missed it, but now would be a good time to try to get her to be more hygenic with hand washing after the toilet, especially as periods can get messy and the smell of the blood is awful. Not to mention the germs are generally ba for you anyway, but handling a tampon with dirty hands and then putting it in could trap harmful bacteria.

Don't know if you've thought about some form of meditation to deal with the pain of the injection-like pregnant ladies do to prepare for childbirth, trying to get her mentally strong to get through the injection. If she can manage it herself by mantras & whatnot, it may be a big boost to her self confidence.

I remember being so scared of the dentist-I have scars on my hand from digging my nails into my hands trying to cope. Still don't like it but able to put on a happy face for dc & realise how much bigger we build things up to be when we're young. It may be worth a try. Good luck with it

As other posters have said, I'd be wary about tampons for an 8-y-o without a great understanding of hygiene - not just the risk of TSS but also of more common-or-garden infections that would make menstruation even more of an ordeal at that age.

Norethisterone is actually the mini-pill - it is regularly used as a one-off prescription to delay periods (eg. for exams, holidays etc.) by older girls and women - but it doesn't always work that well and can have other unwanted side-effects. I would not think a GP would like to prescribe it as an ongoing course for an 8yo.

I've taken that mini-pill myself as a contraceptive (have migraine so can't take combined pill), and it also comes with weight gain, breakthrough bleeding at times, and other side-effects I wasn't keen on (though it had the least side effects of all of the mini-pills for me). I also took it as a teenager over exams and so on, and as often as not it didn't work and I got my period anyway.

Have you considered a menstrual cup? They come quite small and soft and have a much lower risk of TSS if she tends to forget things, a small meluna is a nice small size. They're quite hands on so they might not be for her and I'd really recommend doing your own research but it's another option.

She's 8,a menstruations cup isn't suitable and I'm the biggest fan of them!

I would hold my child down for an injection if it was for the greater good. I'd also be doing lots of reassuring and praise, and making sure she got a nice treat afterwards. Try an ipad & headphones, sucking a lolly maybe? Is there somewhere special you could offer to take her afterwards. Lots of talking it through about why it would be better to have the injection, then it would be over with.

Massive sympathy, I have a dd a similar age and know she would freak out totally - they're just little kids still