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Original poster

To be completely unprepared for my daughter's first period

136 replies

newmum0808 · 04/08/2019 21:13

So, in real life I'm intelligent. Honestly I am.
But this will make you shake your head it me.
My ten year old daughter started developing pubic hair a few months ago and has started budding. I read on a post here that girls only grew 2 inches after they started their period. She's only 5'4" and will be about 5'9" (according to her red book and my Mum's belief that if you measure your child at 2 and double it you'll get her full grown height....). So this evening she called me in to the restaurant loos to show me that she'd started..... My first reaction is "you're too short!!!" (As in she's got another 5 inches to grow). Anyway, that's not the point...
Luckily I had a spare sanitary towel with me. We are away for the weekend and it was 7pm on a Sunday. I popped into a petrol station - it didn't have supplies but an amazing lady gave me a few towels from her stash...
So, other than the fact I'm an idiot, what supplies are best for a ten year old? How do they start - presumably there is no pattern. Towels with wings? When do they settle down..... All advice gratefully received as it's been 29 years since my first period! Apologies for the gibberish, I'm not allowed to tell anyone (I'm assuming you don't count)... She's ten. Ten......
Thank you!

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 04/08/2019 21:34

Period sacks!Grin

Zaphodsotherhead · 04/08/2019 21:36

Two of my daughters were fifteen when they started - pretty certain they didn't grow two more inches.

Third daughter was thirteen and pretty much hasn't grown an inch since!

CroqueMademoiselle · 04/08/2019 21:36

I think this is why it's really important to talk about periods from a very early age. Toddler years. As soon as your child starts asking questions. There doesn't need to be a big talk and then both parent and child are prepared and feel more comfortable with the whole concept of menstruation.

Original poster
newmum0808 · 04/08/2019 21:37

I didn't say it out loud!

I'm really not heightist 😳

Just trying to mock myself for being naive....

OP posts:
MrsGarethSouthgate · 04/08/2019 21:37

lavenderbluedilly "You're too short" i.e. you can't be starting your period yet because you're not tall enough (going by what she believed to be true).

OP could have easily substituted 'You're too young".

pikapikachu · 04/08/2019 21:40

I heard that girls stop growing in height 2 years after their period start.

Dd likes the Lilets teen range.

itscallednickingbentcoppers · 04/08/2019 21:40

I think my periods were pretty regular straight away! Period pants are a really good idea, wish they'd had them when I was at school!

KnifeAngel · 04/08/2019 21:41

My Dd's like the Always Sensitive towels in the pink packet. Not with wings they hate them.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 04/08/2019 21:43

The height thing is nonsense. I started my periods at 10 and have definitely grown significantly since!
I started with towels but moved to tampons fairly quickly once my periods evened out as I was sporty and they were far easier. I used non-applicator tiny compact ones at first. I'm sure there was like a starter kit you could send away for that my mum did for me.
My eldest is ten in a couple of months and given some physical changes I expect her to start her periods in the next 12 months. I've put together a little pack in a zip purse to keep in her school bag but your post has prompted me to carry one in my handbag too. My periods are so hideous so my grenade launcher tampons wi be of no use if she starts while we're out and about!

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 04/08/2019 21:44

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usersouthcoast · 04/08/2019 21:44

Speak to school to see what they would advise!? Are you joking PP!?

Go to a supermarket tomorrow (without her) and get her a selection of things to try in her own time. Panty liners with wings, towels (heavy and light) with wings, and tampons and just ask her to try and see which she prefers.

AngelasAshes · 04/08/2019 21:47

We use plastic free products by natracare which biodegrade.
My family are late bloomers. So one DD started at 16 the other at 15. They just told me one day all nonchalant...”mum, just so you know my period started so I took some of your pads so just order extra stuff.” The shock to me was they had no questions and did not want a talk or a fuss. So many of their friends had had periods for years that they must have satisfied their curiosity with them.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 04/08/2019 21:47

I’m 5’1 - what is the problem? I didn’t get my period until I was 14. I remember being 4’10 aged 15. I’m great. Used to get asked out ten times a night when I was younger. Had loads of marriage proposals. Now married to someone who is 6’2 and have a 13 year old taller than me...

Skinnychip · 04/08/2019 21:47

I bought some bodyform (with wings) and night time ones when i suspected she might start. They came with a little tin to keep a few pads in and i advised putting in her school bag in case she started at school and she would be prepared . That was about 6 months ago and she started a month ago , a month before she was 13. She seems to have had a quite long (about 3 weeks!) but "lite" period and has been using panty liners. I'm worried it will be a bit of a shock when she gets a more full-on period!! I think lot of the things about height and weight are old wives tales. I read somewhere that you didn't start periods til you were 7st but both my dd and me were 6st when we started.

Haggisfish · 04/08/2019 21:48

No I’m not joking, I mean for what they advise in school time, and to let them know! Not in general ie talking about tampons/towels/pants etc.

yesthatstheone · 04/08/2019 21:48

Prepare for blood all over her hands at school as per one of my fave Mumsnet posts 🤣

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 04/08/2019 21:49

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Sgtmajormummy · 04/08/2019 21:52

DD has black knickers for period time. Leaks are not so noticeable in school changing rooms etc.
After about 6 months of towels we watched some YouTube videos on how to use tampons and they’re in the Sanpro drawer for when she decides to start using them. Applicator ones are best for beginners, I think.
A cute pencil case with wipes, spare towels and knickers to keep in her school bag is a good idea.

usersouthcoast · 04/08/2019 21:52

@Haggisfish I'm afraid I still just cannot see how school would need to be informed? I'm not sure a certain type of sanitary product will be part of their uniform policy! 😂

If OPs daughter has a problem at school, I'm sure then would be the time to HAVE to speak to a teacher or the school nurse/office. However as the daughter has already started her period, she can have a couple of products in the bottom of her bag.

I'm beyond bewildered at your suggestion!

Lazydaisies · 04/08/2019 21:54

DD used tampons from her second period on and has not looked back. She hates towels.

AlexaAmbidextra · 04/08/2019 21:55

Also paracetamol and a hot water bottle and plenty of hugs.

Oh for goodness sake. Don’t start mollycoddling her as if she’s ill. It’s a period, not bubonic plague.

HubbabubbaT · 04/08/2019 21:58

When I started age 12 I didn't know what was happening really.. lived a very sheltered life before that and thought I was dying when I saw blood in my knickers. One of my friends gave me all the info I needed... But I think the best thing you can do is tell her outright what happens/different options for towels/tampons etc.. used to be able to get a little booklet from the library in 'teen talk' that explained it all.. and then buy her a nice little case/box she can store them in for school or whatever. I think Always used to do a little tin box attached to a packet you could store a few pads in... Definitely the more informed they are the better! And it should be easy to be down to earth about it when you've been having them for 29 yrs Smile

azulmariposa · 04/08/2019 21:58

Lilets do a teen range of pads and tampons. They also do a nice little starter kit with a few different products to try out in a makeup bag.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 04/08/2019 21:58

THE OP ISN’T SAYING THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH SHORTER PEOPLE!

She had a weird idea that girls will only grow a further two inches after they start their periods, and that her daughter would be 5’9” at full height. She admits this is strange.

She therefore expected her daughter to start her periods when she was 5’7”. Her exclamation therefore was “You’re too short [to have started your periods].

She says her idea was weird. Who hasn’t grown up holding on to funny ideas you believe to be true but, in he cold light of day, are totally bonkers?

Shorter people - stand down. (Even more than you already do... 😈)

mineofuselessinformation · 04/08/2019 21:59

If you can get her a selection pack, do that and see what she prefers. Go with towels for now, but talk to her about it she wants to try tampons (e.g. if she is a regular swimmer).
You could also make her an emergency bag (use a makeup bag so it doesn't stick out) with spare knickers and towels in it so she doesn't get caught out - some girls start their periods and are fairly regular from the beginning, others aren't, so it's best that she is prepared.
As a mum of girls, (yes I know it will make me sound weird) I demonstrated to them how to put a towel in my knickers (knickers over my clothes so they didn't feel creeped out by it) and that really seemed to help.
I also talked to them about how often they should change the towel, and how to dispose of it (scented nappy sacks that went back in the makeup bag if there wasn't a suitable bin).
Put a discreet box with sanitary supplies in your bathroom and loo, along with bins if you don't have them already.
If she's a bit embarrassed to talk about it, I found speaking when you are in a car alone was good as you couldn't make eye contact.
Sorry that's long, but I hope it helps.

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