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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you have a pre teen or teen

61 replies

Christmasfairy2020 · 07/02/2021 16:30

My dd is 11 and has lots of signs of puberty (bo. Hair, breast development) and it will not be long before she starts her periods. I've since heard about period pants and she finds pads irritating (previously practised) would I be unreasonable by just buying period pants and she has them for when she starts. Or should I not buy them and make her get used to pads first?

Yabu- she needs to learn how to use pads and get used to it.

Yanbu- buy the period pants and let her be comfortable and she will learn to use pads at some point.

OP posts:
CroutonsAvatar · 07/02/2021 22:36

I wish period pants were a around when I was young. Fantastic invention! Should be rolled out to all young women.

Disneyforever1974 · 08/02/2021 00:31

My DD started her periods at 10 and she didn’t get on with pads at all so l bought her some period pants she loves them and insists on wearing them all month because she says they are comfortable. With regards to periods at school my DD has horrendous periods and quite often floods so she now has a locker in the medical room where she keeps spare pants and leggings and also a towel so she can shower if she needs too, she also has a pass that allows her to go to the toilet whenever she needs to. Girls that are on the pill for their periods are also allowed to keep some in their locker so that if they forget to take it at home they can take it in school so they don’t muck up their cycle.

Original poster
Christmasfairy2020 · 08/02/2021 09:04

Thats good. Does she still flood with period pants? Xx

OP posts:
Disneyforever1974 · 08/02/2021 20:19

@Christmasfairy2020 unfortunately yes but she has extremely heavy periods. She has nightmare periods very heavy with lots of clots and extremely painful. Normally she can change them before she floods but sometimes she is so heavy it happens very quickly.

MissMarpleDarling · 08/02/2021 20:56

I was today years old when I found out period pants existed. Never heard of them before. My mum just left pads in the bathroom.

Disneyforever1974 · 08/02/2021 23:50

@MissMarpleDarling they are great I bought some to wear in bed and they are fab

Quaagars · 09/02/2021 00:33

I'm old enough to know better

but I have to ask

what are period pants (I thought they were Bridget Jones pants wore that went halfway up to her neck lol)

This is from someone who always wears pads!! Grin

Stinkywizzleteets · 09/02/2021 00:44

Period pants are fantastic. It’s a bit harder to gauge if she’s heavy and needs greater protection and from experiences they don’t like discussing periods so it’s always good to have everything in. We use reusable pads and my daughter has her own wee clean and dirty box. She was ten when she started her period and I worried about how she’d cope with pads but she’d seen me using pads all her life so it wasn’t a big deal.

Disneyforever1974 · 09/02/2021 01:03

@Quaagars period pants are pants that have in effect a built in sanitary pad in the gusset. They are more comfortable than pads and don’t move around so you don’t have side leakage issues.

Guineapigbridge · 09/02/2021 01:06

My DD is similar age and I bought her ModiBodi period pants. She was thrilled when she got them, actually happy.

ChestnutStuffing · 09/02/2021 01:07

There really is no need to practice. That seems like overkill.

The fact is you don't know what she will prefer until she has a chance to use them. You also don't know how heavy her periods will be - not everyone finds period pants enough on heavy days.

Have a few kinds of pads on hand and one or two pairs of period pants - they are expensive to buy many when you don't know if they will work well - and not all brands are the same, either.

Quaagars · 09/02/2021 01:13

[quote Disneyforever1974]@Quaagars period pants are pants that have in effect a built in sanitary pad in the gusset. They are more comfortable than pads and don’t move around so you don’t have side leakage issues.[/quote]
Ah, thank you Smile
Must be a more recent thing lol.
Sorry for the stupid question, but if they're built in, how do you remove them?! Grin
I'm assuming you have to replace them every few hours

Scarlettpixie · 09/02/2021 01:52

I think period pants are a great invention.

I would just get pads to start with (never heard of anyone practicing) and buy period pants once she has started if thats what she wants.

If you buy them to fit her now, she might not start her period for another 2-3 years and be a different size by then. Not all girls start at 11/12.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 09/02/2021 04:21

My DD 13 has period pants in case of an accident but still uses pads and tampons.

Original poster
Christmasfairy2020 · 09/02/2021 12:58

We practiced as her friend had a week of school as she didn't know how to use them Hmm and I send her to school regardless so I thought maybe make sure she knows how to use them. But then again I am pretty random. Grin

OP posts:
Disneyforever1974 · 09/02/2021 19:57

@Quaagars you don’t remove the “pad” you just change the pants and then you can just put them in the washing machine & then reuse them

christmasathomeagain · 09/02/2021 20:01

Dd same age, I've gone as far as buying pads but not getting her to practice- what practice is required for peeling and sticking?

I asked her if she wanted me to buy washable pads but she admitted she wouldn't bring them to be washed. She would be the same with period pants. I might get her some anyway.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/02/2021 20:05

I bought my dd a bundle of different things.

Pads, tampons, period pants.

She’s opted for pads, doesn’t like period pants and maybe a bit young for tampons.

Cornetttttto · 09/02/2021 20:09

Omg. I've read the full thread and my head can't compute period pants. So you... what, change it during the day and cart about a bloodied pair of pants? In your bag? How? What? Help me to understand.

Guineapigbridge · 09/02/2021 20:16

@cornetto, they don't get that bloody, it's all absorbed in the pants. Mine last all day. But if you have heavy flow you can change them in the day - alot of the vendors of these pants sell a little bag you can zip the used ones into. IME they don't stink as they have some sort of sphagnum or wool core that absorbs smell.

Cornetttttto · 09/02/2021 20:19

Blimey. I don't know what to think! My concern would be washing them as clearly can't go in a normal wash?

OnlyBejoking · 09/02/2021 20:24

I use Modibodi and don't change during the day, despite perimenopausal flooding. For most people they would be fine for a school day. DD 13 has Thinx and Modibodi. She much prefers them to pads and won't think about tampons or cups yet.

Shieldingending · 09/02/2021 20:25

@Cornetttttto

Blimey. I don't know what to think! My concern would be washing them as clearly can't go in a normal wash?
We just put a few pairs in a short cool wash and they dry overnight in the airing cupboard overnight. My teen likes them to wear with pads for extra reassurance that she won’t leak.

What brands to people advise for heavy flow? DD has cheeky wipes which seem better than the cheaper Sainsbury’s ones but could do with a couple of more absorbent pairs

Cornetttttto · 09/02/2021 20:40

I need a lie down. Periods PANTS???

Mellonsprite · 09/02/2021 20:46

I have a DD11 and have never heard of period pants. We have pads for her when the time comes. She doesn’t want to try tampons.
I would worry about period pants needing to be changed during the day and dirty ones being in her bag, and someone being a nob head if they see them / find out about them (memories of my tampons being thrown around by nob head boys in an art class)

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