12 year old and period on holiday

[SquirrelRed]

Hi, My 12 year old has just started her periods last week. We are due to go holiday in May but I am worried about her getting her period while we are away.
She would want to be in the pool all day every day and there wouldn't be much else for her to do.
I don't think there's any chance she will use tampons by then, and there's not an awful amount of time between now and then for us to track/predict when her period will be.
Any advice on how I can best manage this so she can still have an enjoyable holiday please?

Because everyone is different. I used tampons as a teen for swimming but wasn’t keen on them and preferred to use pads. I have an 11 year old who is likely to start her periods soon. We have had a lot of talks about what she would like to try and she doesn’t like the idea of tampons at the moment so would like to try period pants and swimwear. I’ll get some tampons for the bathroom that she can try if she wishes to- but I think with something so intimate it’s so important to use what you personally feel comfortable with.

OP ignore the ‘she’s a wimp if she can’t use tampons at 12’ brigade. It’s not some badge of honour.
Dd is 13 - not one of her friends her age use tampons, many have had periods for years. All were offered them, understand what they are and how to use them but don’t feel comfortable. The ‘I did it so whats the big deal’ approach might not be best…..there’s a lot more awareness and support for girls around periods now and that’s a good thing. It’s not making a big deal of it.

Modibodi do teen size period swimwear. Dd has used the swimwear briefs under a normal swim costume. I’d suggest maybe don’t try it on her heaviest day. And take a couple of pairs - best if she comes out of the pool every couple of hours and changes them. The swimwear briefs dry quickly after washing.

I would definitely recommend period swimwear and not norethisterone, it causes your next period to be horribly painful and heavy. Alternatively I have had success with using natural remedies (parsley tea and raspberry leaf tea) to induce my period early before holidays.

Good point!

What if she doesn’t want to? Times change, products evolve and there is now more choice. I would have loved to have used period pants and swimwear in the 90s and I used period pants for the last few years of my periods and loved them.

It’s great there is more choice for girls now.

My teen won’t use tampons she just can’t be comfortable with them. Not everyone can or even wants to.

Most doctors now and I think really rightly so won’t prescribe drugs to stop young girls periods.

I was just having a google and came across this saying organic tampons had higher concentrations of arsenic than non organic…I know some will dismiss findings like this but makes me wary.

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/factor/2024/8/feature/3-feature-metals-in-tampons#:~:text=Their%20analysis%20revealed%20detectable%20concentrations,was%20higher%20in%20organic%20tampons.

I’d get her to try and get used to tampons between now and then. My first period was the only time I used pads, I couldn’t wait to move onto tampons.

Period pants and swim wear would not work for me. I have a mirena now, but when I tried period pants, they couldn’t hold my flow at all.

My DD never really used towels except at night sometimes. She just preferred using tampons. She started using the smaller self inserting Lilets rather than applicator tampons.

Of course some young girls and grown women can’t or don’t want to use tampons. But lots of us can and do find them the best option for us, even from a young age, so we’re just suggesting the child be given the option. The internet didn’t exist when I was 12 and I’d never heard of lube but I managed fine with the smallest type of tampax plus the instructions that come in every box. I’ve also always found cardboard tubes easier than plastic ones; I seem to be unusual. They feel gentler.

I’ve never managed to get on with a period cup, though, and find them painful and uncomfortable. So it really is a very personal choice.

One of my daughters took a very long time to get to grips with tampons, and we had some tricky holidays (pre-period swimwear) as a result. I would say if she's not happy with tampons yet, you'll only stress her out by suggesting them too repeatedly - but pack some in case. I have some WUKA bikini pants that do a pretty good job as long as the flow isn't too heavy, but you can't fully go a whole day in them on the beach: you and she will both need to be mindful.

We bought period swimwear from superdrug. Game changer for my teen. I was wary of any medication as id heard about side effects. She tried tampons but found them hard to get on with. Bought these period swimwear knickers from superdrug and it was 💯 the best choice. She lived in the pool on holiday and felt comfortable and confident

While I agree it’s fine if she doesn’t want to use tampons how on earth do you know what your daughters friends are using on their genitals? My own mother didn’t know I used tampons let alone my friends’ mums.

Yes because contraception has the added health benefit of preventing pregnancy which is a more dangerous health status for a teen than being on contraception.

Delaying a period has 0 health benefits… so the pros and cons are pretty obvious.

Period swimwear and a few.
encourage her to use daily liners for the trip and on holiday so she won’t be catch short.
Take a lot of knickers and shorts (preferably darker) with you just in case. I throw used away when it happened on a holiday.
Take pads with you again so they are easily available. Lillets teens are narrower pads if size is an issue. Have enough paracetamol with you again just in case.
And have a plan for this “ rainy day”
First year is always so unpredictable so no way you can track anything. It happened with us a few times until DD was put on pills and it’s not fun. Depends on your set up, of course, we were ok just 3 of us (DD is the only child) so we used some time for walking around, buying presents, doing photos. When we were visiting relatives and it happened it was much worse as everyone had ideas/ expectations for activities and DD had awful heavy and painful period but didn’t allow me to tell anyone.

My daughter is 11 and many of them are really open about periods. One friend chooses not to talk about it (interestingly the one with an emotionally abusive dad- which could be linked). The others all talk about what period products they use or plan to use and talk about leaking, which teachers are kind and can be approached if issues etc. It’s lovely to see as my teenage friends and I didn’t ever talk about it and I don’t think I have had more than 5 conversations ever with my mum about periods.

I’ve found the same with my older girl. They are all very open about it and share advice and tips.

My younger one is still more embarrassed by it but she’s primary age so not something she would share with her friends. Very open in the house and with family however 😅

I can remember my friend and I bought a box of lil-lets before we’d even started our periods and then spent ages practicing with them! We were extremely open with each other.

Interesting isn't it. Used them fine as a teenager. But not from the start of periods. Can not use them at since having a baby, who is 6 now. Even though I didn't have a vaginal birth, they just don't sit right. They're not for everyone.

"I think it is unnecessary to give a child perception that periods are inconvenient, shameful or restricting in any way."

They are not shameful, but they ARE inconvenient and restricting actually.

That pp is not an exception. Plenty of us on here have said they couldn't use tampons at that age. It's not about 'drama' as you put it.

"My daughter is 11 and many of them are really open about periods. "

It's almost 40 years since I was that age and we all spoke openly about periods too, at least when no boys were around. It wasn't something you could speak about with older men at all, but in all-female company, never a problem.

My dd is also very open with her friends about this and vice versa.

I was very annoyed when they were in year 6 and a female teacher overheard them talking about period (her and her small group of girlfriends) and told them off, saying it was inappropriate to discuss it when boys are around....arggghhhhh

I bought some black period swimming bottoms on Amazon and also Primark. Get black bikini top or tankini top and then she can swap the bottoms whenever she likes. This has worked well for both DDs over a couple of beach holidays.

Hi OP what did you decide to do in the end?
Im in the same situation, DD is 11, started her period in November and although she totally missed one, the rest have come ‘on time’ on a 30 day cycle.
Then her last one (April) came a week earlier than we expected! Not sure if I got the date wrong or if it actually was a week but hey ho.

She won’t entertain the idea of using a tampon and is a bit creeped out about something being inside her.
The first 2-3 days of her periods are heavy.So she’s not keen on period swimwear as she’s scared it’ll leak.
The doctor has prescribed Norethisterone to start taking a couple of days before her period is due.
I probably shouldn’t have read this thread as it’s made me a little nervous now! The doctor had no problem prescribing it though?

For anyone whose daughter has taken it recently - how was it? Did she suffer with her period once she stopped taking it?