Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Preparing for first period

16 replies

PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo · 04/01/2012 17:20

I want to put together a little box of supplies to keep in the bathroom cupboard ready for dd's first period. She's 9, but very 'young' IYSWIM, and although we've talked about it, she doesn't really want to know right now. So it's not something we can do together, really, not yet. But still, it's not too early to be prepared, is it?

What should I put in the box? I'm a bit out of touch with what's available. I thought to put in a selection of products from the Natracare range, purely because - when I used sanpro - I found it the most comfortable.

Any better suggestion? And maybe a way to make it special without being cheesy?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BertieBotts · 04/01/2012 17:30

I think those are good, or "Cottons" which you can buy from Boots. She will probably get a sample of Always & Tampax from school, which is then what most girls tend to go on to use. So I think offering an alternative which is less chemically is a good idea - I always hated having my period until I realised it was horrible plastic-backed, unbreathable pads which I hated.

She will not want to be different from her mates, so avoid any brands which are obviously "budget" or "hippyish" e.g. non-bleached pads. The individually wrapped ones are a must to begin with and offer her some with wings & some without. (Opinion seems divided on these!)

Don't forget pantyliners as emergency back up :)

I wouldn't try to make it special TBH - just be led by her reaction. If she's upset when she starts, offer tea & sympathy and a hot water bottle, and if she's happy then more of a celebratory approach, but anything which is not initiated by her will probably just be mega-embarrassing for her.

MardyBra · 04/01/2012 17:33

A pretty bag to go in the bottom of her school bag is handy. With a spare pair of knickers and a couple of towels.

Snorbs · 04/01/2012 17:44

I got my DD one of these. She was very chuffed.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General parenting

thegirlwithnoname · 04/01/2012 17:47

When DD started secondary school I brought her a little makeup bag (because that way it wouldn't look to obvious if a friend went through her bag) and in it I put some plasters, towels, (the ones with wings and a femiwipe attached) and some panty liners and a spare pair of knickers. Later we added some headache tablets (see below)

The tablets while not a good idea for a 9yr old, and not something I would recommend as a rule. Well frankly DD's school are really weird about handing out tablets, even those that were prescribed by the doctor and I took in my self with a note saying she should have them when she needed them.

Bunbaker · 04/01/2012 17:51

Bumping, because DD is 11. She is nowhere near puberty at the moment, but I will need to be prepared.

arfur · 04/01/2012 17:57

Lilets recently brought out a new range of pads and tampons specially for girls (sized to fit their undies) in discreet wraps in discreet drawstring bags. Bought some for dd (hasnt needed them yet)

EllenandBump · 04/01/2012 18:06

you might be a little early. I didnt start my periods until i was 15 andafter all the school education was fine about it. I had a little make up bag to put in my bag which had pads, deodrant wipes, hair bands, lip seal, mini impulse body spray and a pair of disposable knicks! Perfect. Luckily i nowe havent had a period for the l;ast 15 months since having a implant fitted!

BloooCowWonders · 04/01/2012 18:23

Good advice already but you might also try the 'pre-teens' section of mumsnet. Ive found it invaluable (dd is 10).

Original poster

PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo · 04/01/2012 20:34

Thanks, these are just the sort of suggestions I needed. I didn't even realise that there were 'pre-teen' san-pros. And a pre-teens topic on MN [gulp!]

I know it's a bit early, I started at 13 and didn't know anyone who started in primary.

OP posts:

cyb · 04/01/2012 20:38

I also think you might be about 4 years too early

Might make her fret about it if its all there waiting for her.....

Better to keep it low key and casual IME

cyb · 04/01/2012 20:39

What I meant to add was, its not somehting she needs to be thinking and worrying and checking for just yet

journoem · 04/01/2012 20:41

I started when I was 10 and the worst thing about it was being made to feel different - my teachers made a really big deal out of it and made me use the staff bathroom instead of the usual one my friends used, it was awful. I was very lucky that my mum was supportive and was ready with sanitary towels, a nice bag for me to put them in, and lots of hugs. I think it's really nice that you're starting to get prepared - it can be such a scary thing for a young girl!

Original poster

PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo · 04/01/2012 21:03

I'm not going to present it to her, it will just be there. TBH she probably won't even notice the box. We only have things like spare loo roll and handwash in that cupboard. And my few remaining pads. I'm not bothered how mine are stored, but if my feelings when I started are anything to go by, I'm sure dd will prefer a bit more discretion.

I sincerely hope 9 is too early, dd really is not emotionally ready for it. But I know of several girls who started age 10.

OP posts:

anonymosity · 05/01/2012 03:35

I think you're doing the right thing. I started my period 2 weeks after I turned 11 but I had a friend at school who started at 9. Everyone is different and being prepared is a good thing.

nooka · 05/01/2012 04:54

I've done quite a lot of preparation with my dd. She is now 11 and I think will probably start in the next six months or so as she is starting to get discharge on a fairly regular basis. I read somewhere that periods generally start about two years after beast bumps.

What I've done is talk (lots). We also went and chose lots of different towels, and I got dd to put them in my knickers when I had my period so she has more of an idea how they work, and what they feel like. That was quite useful as she initially liked the ones with the funkiest wrappings, but has realised that they were probably too big to be comfortable. She now has a little pack of pads, pantyliners and spare knickers which lives in her school bag and she takes on sleepovers.

We also talked about what she might like when she starts. I think we agreed on lots of chocolate cake

spiderslegs · 05/01/2012 05:03

No suggestions other than keep talking & doing what you're doing, I was nearly 16 when I started mine - I knew all the mechanics but wished my mother had actually spoken to me about it all, because I was pretty late with puberty I had to pretend to all my friends I knew what was going on & went in by myself with a tampon on my second period - got it stuck over my unbroken hymen & had to cut it with nail scissors.

I wish my mother had been with me through some of that.

Flip