Sanitary towels for first period

[user1474926891]

DD is just starting puberty, so I'd like to have some sanitary towels in stock.

Which brand is recommended for smaller knickers and are not overly-chemically?

Thank you.

I don't use towels so unable to help with brands etc but have you considered reusable ones? They come in all sorts of pretty designs, obviously good for the environment and as far as I'm aware they're chemical free!

Lilets do a teen range, you can even get a trial pack that comes with a make up type purse to keep them in

I'm a Mooncupper, so I don't know about them either.

I'd be wary about DD managing washable pads at school though.

My dd is 11, she started her periods 2 months ago. Shes using the lilets (sp?) range. To be honest im not sure what the difference is between those and other brands but they seem to be ok.

By difference i mean what it is about them that makes them for teens.

The Lil-ets pads are nice and soft and don't make your foof itch. I use their night time pads for myself (all day, for the coverage!) - they sell them in places like poundland and savers, though I haven't seen the teen ones there - though I think Sainsburys and Boots sell those..

Such an improvement from the roof tiles of my childhood.

I'm a mooncup'er too but I've bought Dd bodyform pads for when she starts as they're not scented.

Lillets teen ones were a bit small for dd so she used a mixture of body form, own brand and kotex. We avoid Always as a lot of theirs are scented

Found a link to the lil lets starter pack.
m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?unCountry=uk&path=%2Fen%2FLil-Lets-teens-Starter-Pack_1250611%3FCA_6C15C%3D1180392498

I'd be wary about DD managing washable pads at school though.

You can get wee pretty waterproof bags for them, just roll them up, blood inside and stick them in. Advantage of reusable pads (apart from the fact they are so much nicer to wear) is that you don't get the plastic rustle when you open a new one, or that loud rrriiiip when you pull them off your knickers. I was so paranoid about that at school, knowing that those sounds !want that anyone else in the toilets would know why I was doing

Thanks all for your advice. I'll check them all out.

I hope she will eventually use a Mooncup or similar, but don't want her attempting to insert anything for a few years yet.

There would be no reason to avoid tampons if that's what she wanted to use. They are suitable for children as well as adults.

DD is only 8, and I'm not sure she'll be able to manage tampons.

She's started puberty, but not periods yet. By the time they come along tampons may be a viable option, I suppose.

Definitely don't get washable ones. I can't imagine many teens wanting that.

I used always ultra from a young age they're very thin and discreet.

What stage is she at puberty wise? It could be a year or more before they actually start. Dd had breast buds and pubic hair before hers started age 11

She's just got a very small amount of armpit hair. Early days. I'd just like to be prepared.

Natracare!

Check out sillypanda on fb or their website. They do fab starter packs of cloth towels for young girls. They really are super easy to care for and you can get lovely little bags to keep them in.

I appreciate the benefits of reusable, but I anticipate problems for a self-conscious child carrying dirty pads around. Ok for an adult, but not a child at school.

Natracare - of course! Thanks.

I bought dd a variety of non scented pads, all with wings, some leak resistant pants and some paracetamol and chocolate and wrapped it up as a wee gift with a letter about growing up.
She had a favourite type sussed out quite quickly.

As a side note there were signs of puberty with her from age 7 but she didn't start periods til she was 13.5.

The Lilets pads from the pound shop can be weird and plasticy. I've got one if the bastards annoying me right now. if you are buying a pack you might want to open one and check before they're needed.

I think it's very unlikely a teen will want to use a reusable pad. I bought lilets pads from the teen range for my dds. They are pretty good, slightly smaller so better for young teens than always etc. They also do tampons for teens if they want to try that.

I also think it extremely unlikely a teen will want to use reusable pads as well. I know DD would absolutely refuse.

Do the posters who have suggested this actually have teenagers who use them?

No I don't have any teenagers but perhaps you're right... I can see why a teenager might not like the idea of a reusable pad... come to think of it I probably wouldn't have either at that age.

I would go straight to tampons-I used pads for one day when I started my period and felt dirty with them on ( only other time I've used them is post dc birth and I felt the same! ) There is no reason not to just start with tampons, they are much cleaner and you can basically forget you have your period using them. They do teen versions and the applicator ones are easy to use when starting. I use a mooncup now and love it but think tampons are easier at first!