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Original poster

How do you explain to a 3.9 year old what a tampon is for?!

52 replies

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 09:07

DD1 just ran up to me with a tampax in her hand.
DD - what's this?
Me - it's something ladies use
DD - what's it called, though?
Me - a tampon
DD - What's it for?
Me - (crappy explanation about it helping a tummy ache)
DD - what do you do with it though?

Got a bit stuck at this point, tbh!

'Luckily' DD2 fell over at this point and all were distracted...

What do you say, though?!

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Roskva · 20/09/2007 23:12

I guess that is one advantage of a c-section: the doctor took you out just there and sewed Mummy up again ... but only doctors can do that

ChasingSquirrels · 20/09/2007 23:16

I would go for Franny's explanation, that's pretty much what I said to ds.
But am lol at some of the stories on this thread

stiefyloo · 20/09/2007 23:26

Discovered my 3yr old DD putting a panty-liner in her pull-up the other night. Oh so very funny.

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spiker · 20/09/2007 23:33

I'd keep it super simple and only supply more information if they ask for it.

DS1 has come into the bathroom a couple of times when I was mid-change and all I've said is that ladies bleed sometimes but it doesn't hurt (!) and they use 'little rolled up bandages' for the blood. He has been quite happy with that.

And I deliberately didn't use the word tampon cos I didn't want him to start discussing them in front of in-laws and the like.

oggsfrog · 20/09/2007 23:52

I've never used any euphamisms with dd (now 7).
She's always been told the truth in easy to understand language.
She just accepts now that women bleed every month - our bodies get ready a squishy lining in case a baby needs to grow. We've also explained about Mummy's egg and Daddy's seed needing to get together to make a baby.
I've never had any "embarassing moments" so far.
Give them credit. It's all just part of life. If you explain in a down to earth way then they and you will not have any "moments".

mummypig · 20/09/2007 23:53

I agree with keeping it super simple. My ds's know I bleed every now and then but I've told them it doesn't hurt. So when they asked about mooncups/sanitary towels I just told them they were for collecting the blood. No mention of eggs or babies, although if they thought about it they would probably realise the blood comes out of my 'baby hole' as ds2 calls it.

Lol at F&Z's "eggcup" and my dear sons would love the idea of a diaphragm being a shield, being very into Power Rangers at the moment

SlackSally · 21/09/2007 00:10

Perhaps I'm really stupid but I had no idea what a mooncup was until about 20 seconds ago when I researched them after seeing them mentioned here. Do they work?

spinspinsugar · 21/09/2007 00:14

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spinspinsugar · 21/09/2007 00:15

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pointydog · 21/09/2007 00:26

At that age I'd just have muttered something about a tissue and offered to tidy it away. I wouldn't bother trying to explain.

spinspinsugar · 21/09/2007 00:30

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Roskva · 21/09/2007 13:41

mooncups are great, SlackSally - much better than tampons or pads

the look on dh's face was a picture when I explained to him what a mooncup is, after he came across mine boiling in a pan on the hob to sterilise it, and he's (supposedly) an adult

Wisteria · 21/09/2007 13:44

Sorry for my ignorance but what is a mooncup?

Feeling very left out.

But agree with truth, always truth with toddlers at a level they can understand!

motherinferior · 21/09/2007 13:45

The Inferiorettes were quite thrilled to see me inserting my mooncup. I attained conjurer status.

MellowMa · 21/09/2007 13:47

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MellowMa · 21/09/2007 13:47

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motherinferior · 21/09/2007 13:54

Mooncups rock. I am really frightfully respectable these days but I use them.

biglips · 21/09/2007 13:57

YES i saw one on telly the other day about mooncups...i didnt have the foggiest what it was too!..

Tatties · 21/09/2007 13:59

Mooncups are indeed great.

Ds is only 2 so hasn't had any detailed explanations yet, but he knows what a Mooncup is ("something ladies use" is enough for him atm) and is very interested in seeing how it works. I just try to answer him simply and honestly if he asks me questions.

Wisteria · 21/09/2007 14:02

why? is it an eco friendly thing, or is there another reason for it - all sounds a bit eeewww to me. Does it not leak?

Tatties · 21/09/2007 14:10

Yes it is eco-friendly, not filling your bin with sanitary products, also saves money in the long run, some people report less discomfort and shorter periods using them. It's no more ewww than using pads or tampons (much less so IMO) More info here

Wisteria · 21/09/2007 14:18

Wow - sounds good, am going to try it - especially relate to the going to the loo and forgetting to take a tampax with me!

Had visions of Cameo style posing pouch for periods before!!

Tatties · 21/09/2007 14:25

Hooray! Another convert

smugmumofboys · 21/09/2007 14:29

Haven't had any questions from DSes yet but DS2 (3) put a piece of flattened blu-tac in his pants the other day. He said he wanted to put it on his winkie like mummy did! I am assuming he meant like a sanitary pad.

mustsleep · 21/09/2007 14:32

ace,

isn't it tricky to use have pound signs in my eyes i bought a pack of tampons last month and it cost me nearly a fiver

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