to ask if you use period products in other people's bathrooms?

[YayChristmas2019]

Just that, really.

I am torn about whether I should continue the long-lived tradition of having some tampons and pads visible and accessible in the bathroom so guests can grab one if needed or if I just shouldn't bother.

Last box was gifted away prior to us moving and I have not used disposable period products in ages, so no urgent need to buy any.

I know people do grab them occasionally but the last box lasted ~5 years and was still half full.

I wonder whether it would make a difference if I put it in a pretty box with a lid and a sign with something like "Period stuff, grab what you need :)" so it is less noticable for other guests if someone took something?

We are hosting people quite frequently, it makes a difference.

YANBU - Put a box of stuff in the bathroom again
YABU - Don't bother

(I know, I know, first world problems - mostly asking out of curiosity!)

I have a teenage dd, and I am aware that she has friends who might not want to ask, so there are usually towels visible in the bathroom. I buy the same ones for dd and I, and try to make sure we never run out and there are spares. Neither of us use tampons, but we do have some somewhere that came in a little teen period trial pack I bought her.

I think just having some easily visible in a cupboard is sufficient.

A basket with a little sign is twee AF but I do think it's a good idea to have some in the bathroom somewhere, and not hidden away, especially to show your own DC that sanitary products are as necessary as loo roll and nothing to be embarrassed about.

I can be difficult to catch on my own what does this mean?

I think just having some easily visible in a cupboard is sufficient.

As a guest, I'd still have asked, I think, before helping myself. Purely based on my own experience of not wanting to run out of them unexpectedly.

@YayChristmas2019 Smashing idea IMO.

I am surprised to see that slightly more people think no than yes!

GaryWilmottsTeeth your mum and mine would get on . It's weird because she isn't particularly prudish in general but for some reason it's not ok in her world for sanitary products to be visible in the downstairs loo. God forbid, a visitor might realise that the adult woman living in the house (with her three kids) has periods, which would obviously be a nasty shock.

I have clear plastic storage in my bathroom, with sanpro, deodorant/ body spray, hair brush and hair bobbles in the top drawer. If anyone had a rummage they would easily find them. All my friends and family would know to help themselves.

Just bung some in a cupboard? This all sounds a bit 80’s twee

We have a few different types in the bathroom for DD and me, and the females who come to our home either know they can use them, or in the case od DD's friend's, DD will tell them to help themselves.

You're in your late 20s OP? . I had you down as at least my age (late 50s). It was the idea of a little sign, that smacks of middle-aged guest house landlady to me. Sorry, but you're massively over thinking this.
This thread reminds me of the one a while back where the OP's DD had had a fit when visiting the home of a single male relative there were no sanitary items available for her to use. The OP iirc felt that this was rude, poor hosting and unkind. Others felt that perhaps expecting a single man living alone to add sanpro to his shopping list was perhaps going a bit too far...

I've never displayed them in my bathroom, or taken them from anyone else's...

This has just reminded me of my mother, who to the end of her life at 93 still had some pads and tampons in her bathroom cupboard. When anyone new came to visit her and asked to use her loo, she used to say “You’ll find anything you might need in the cupboard”

I have never been to anyone's house that had period products visible so on that basis YABU.
But then I've never been anywhere without carrying my own and don't understand anyone that would.

@BertrandRussell I do similar, cupboard under in the bathroom has sanpro, toilet rolls, toothbrushes etc, so I just direct guests that any spares are in there.

I suppose it depends on who will be visiting?

I don't have any on display - they are kept in a bathroom cabinet in a make up bag which moves to the windowsill next to the loo when I have my period.

When I was a teenager living at home my mum put a vanity vase thing full of all different ones out in the bathroom and I know a few friends who were grateful not to have to ask when they were caught short and a few friends parents who had done the same thing (at 14 asking someone else's mum would have been mortifying).

Don't use a sign though, there isn't a need for that.

You're in your late 20s OP? shock. I had you down as at least my age (late 50s). It was the idea of a little sign, that smacks of middle-aged guest house landlady to me.

Compared to most women my age, I am not even that keen on putting signs on everything. Have you seen some people's kitchens, with jars and jars with various signs and labels?

But I'd happily turn into a middle-aged guest house lady

If you don't need them, why buy them? I'm assuming you use menstrual cups or reusable pads. Therefore the idea of keeping disposable items in 'just in case' seems a bit futile.

I do use disposable and would just ask a friend if caught short, or if in a situation where I knew nobody well enough, do what I suspect many people would and probably did in their early years which is produce a makeshift pad from a wad of tissue paper, maybe making excuses to leave early or pop out and grab what I needed from a shop.

Personally I do leave menstrual products in a basket in the downstairs toilet, but that's because I leave what I use in there. Guests are more than welcome to help themselves if they need to and I have a bin by both toilets for sanitary waste disposal.

There is absolutely no need for a sign though. It's a bit twee and I'd be even more embarrassed because I'd think the host would definitely notice if I took something.

But then I've never been anywhere without carrying my own and don't understand anyone that would.
Of course people bring their own - I don't think anyone rocks up at someone's house expecting there to be sanitary products on tap. But I generally only carry sanpro when I am on my period or if I still have some in my bag from last time - if I started unexpectedly, or had got through more than I anticipated while I was out, I would be happy to have the chance to use one. I don't have them with me at all times.

Twee sign is totally unnecessary. You don't offer toilet roll via a sign, do you? If something is caught short, they'll find one in your bathroom or ask you for one.

My cousin stayed at my house this weekend and came on her period during the night, I heard her rummaging in the bathroom but didn’t think anything of it. She asked in the morning if I could get her to get some pads. I felt so guilty I didn’t have any on display for her to borrow as I keep them in my underwear draw

I wouldn't worry about it, no-one expects you to provide sanpro. I alway have a handful of tampons in my handbag in case my period starts unexpectedly. I might not have my hand bag in the bathroom but I would be able to pop and get it easily if needed.

I use a mooncup and even before then have never needed to borrow. If caught short a wodge of loo paper always sufficed. I wouldn't go out of your way!

Missing the point, but what's with all this grabbing?

Is giving, taking, using, asking for etc old-fashioned?

I've been caught out and had to rummage through someone's bathroom cupboard. They were fine about it when I told them but an obvious stash would have been great.

Everyone we have over uses the downstairs toilet (just a toilet and sink, no cupboards) and I keep pads & tampons in an obvious and easily reached place there.

You don't need to worry about a sign but a few supplies left out in a nice basket is a lovely idea