To be completely unprepared for my daughter's first period

[newmum0808]

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!

I had just turned 11 when I started mine. I knew what was happening and had been prepared by my mother, but I'm afraid I wouldn't have called it an exciting time. I wished they would never start, although of course I accepted it and dealt with them. I'm now 53 and really looking forward to them ending sometime in the next few years.

Your DD is 10. Does she still have a year of primary school left, or is she an August born like me, turning 11 during the school summer holidays and just about to start secondary school?

If she will still be at primary school then I would consider having a discreet word with the class teacher or school admin to satisfy yourself about what support and sanitary disposal facilities are provided.

If she is going to secondary school then there is probably no need to speak to anyone. They are much more set up for it than some primary schools because it is a daily thing there.

Other than that, you have all the advice about a selection of sanpro for her to try out and to have in her school bag.

I'm sure she will be fine. At least she has the school holidays to get used to it. I was the very first week of starting secondary school.

Dd was ten and regular from day one. Quite a few of her classmates had already started before she did and because she started growing pubic hair at eight I made sure she knew and was prepared and knew how to apply to a towel and she's watched menstrual cup and tampon vids. My nieces were all ten apart from one who was eight.

Tampons and menstrual cups are fine for young girls if they want to try them. There's a couple of brand new cups and a variety of tampons there for dd if she ever wants to try them buy so far she's happy with long pads.

Dd was fed up of periods from her very first one. Exciting isn't a word she'd have used, an annoying inconvenience is how she describes them.

My DD (also 10) started recently and I do wonder how much more she would grow, she's about 5ft now. She does well with just pads with wings, she's not experienced any cramps yet so doesn't need much else. I would say just be calm and relaxed about it, if you panic then she probably will too. 10 isn't super young to start and 5'4 is really tall for a 10 year old, at least to me, that's about average height for a fully grown woman isn't it? So if she stopped growing today she wouldn't be considered very short

I started at 10, was around 5'2 (which was super tall for a 10 yo back in 1987) and I'm now 5'8. So don't panic!

@Yeahnahmum

If that was aimed at me, I completely agree we should normalise it. Hence why didn’t think DD should feel she had to announce it to DH. I just said to her “do you want me to mention it to dad so he won’t moan if you take ages in the toilet” and she said yes so I did. Actually I was amazed at how much she just took it in her stride and got on with it.

DN even more relaxed about it - she started hers when spending day with her GM. They sorted her out and when her mum got home, GM suggested she told her mum and DN was surprised her mum would be interested as DN saw it as a non-event.

AWw, she’s young at 10! DD started at 13, it was obvious for ages so I was prepared w towels as I only use tampons. She had one period but then not another for 6 months. She had more or less grown to her adult height by then though.
I buy dd Always w wings. She’d like to try period knickers/washable pads - still doesn’t like idea of tampons at age 17 though.
Leaks are a pain - get a mattress protector.

When you least expect it, it happens!
For experience, yes you could start with tampons but that's not what is best, better to use them occasionally for special event (sport/swimming) and mainly use pads in the first years. When teens start, time and heaviness of periods are often unpredictable, they need time to let the changes every few hours become a routine and they are totally worried about visible accidents. The overnight maxi-pads works the best for them, letting them feel more confident. I would buy different ones with maximum absorbency and let her finds out which one works the best, especially for the school months.

I started at 9 and I'm 4ft 11. My dd started at 9 is nearly 16 and still growing just slower than before and is 5ft 6. She has grown at least 6 inches since she started.
As for settling down, it might not do for a long time, mine has dysmenorrhea as did I, so she gets quite ill for the first day and then is fine.

Thank you for the reassurance and helpful replies.
DD turned 11 today and has taken it all in her stride. I've taken on board many of your comments and emptied a cupboard in the bathroom for her filled with a selection of towels. She's already decided she prefers towels with wings. I briefly mentioned tampons and she looked horrified! We'll talk about it again when it starts impacting her swimming lessons. I like the idea of only using them occasionally for that reason.
Next time we're shopping together I'll let her her see what's available in Boots. I've also just put an order in for some black pants (m&s 20% off at the mo). Love the idea of the subtle bag in her school bag - I'll get that sorted for September. I've downloaded an app for her which I'll go through with her soon (one I've figured it out).
I'll also look into period pants and more environmentally friendly things as she gets more comfortable (I put both my DDs in washable nappies, but I still use tampons! I will try some alternatives now - thank you for the suggestion).
Basically - you've given me such great tips and information.
A few people asked about her weight - she's about 8 stone, which is in the healthy range and she looks slim.
I think I've covered everything. Thank you x

I didn't get periods til age 15.The GP said it was bodyweight that kicks off the hormones: & I was very, very skinny compared to all my friends who were a size 14 by age 12. Start her off with pads & let her decide when to graduate to tampons. My DM was weird about me using them ('because you're a virgin!) so my sister didn't tell her she'd bought some. I resentedDM attitude for ages as it delayed me thinking sod it & ditching bulky pads for another year.