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Parenting

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Original poster

5 year old found sanpro

143 replies

Ilikecheeseontoast · 03/04/2022 19:47

So my just turned 5yo daughter found my sanpro in the bathroom. I don’t hide them away they were just in the cupboard. She asked me what they were… I just changed the subject and distracted her as I wasn’t sure what to say. I don’t want periods to be weird or taboo like they were with my mum growing up. My mum is such a prude that even as a 40 year old married woman I could never say words like period/tampons/sex/vagina etc in her presence. She just gets all embarrassed and weird. Periods are a normal human function and I want both my sons and daughters to view them that way. However, I’m thinking that too much info at a young age maybe isn’t appropriate?!! Gaaaa. How would you wise old mumsnetters handle such questions??

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Hoppinggreen · 03/04/2022 19:49

Those are for grownup ladies, you don’t need to worry about it for a while

Isthisjustnormal · 03/04/2022 19:50

It caught you by surprise but from now on just take a deep breath ( as it’s not part of your upbringing, it likely won’t be natural to you) and answer in an age appropriate way if anything period related comes up. You might want to source some age appropriate books to help you too - 5 is a perfect age IMO.

I’m amazed you’ve got to 5 without periods being mentioned tbh - does your dd not come into public loos with you?

adagio · 03/04/2022 19:51

My kids had the full kit and caboodle truthful explanation as soon as they asked (age 3 or 4 I think). As in - a womens body gets ready every month to prepare to have a baby in her tummy but if daddy doesn’t put I’ve there they have a period (blood in your pants). You’ll have them too when you are older.
I believe honesty is the best policy.

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5 year olds Behaviour & development General parenting

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 03/04/2022 19:52

Grown up ladies have something called a period when they havent got a baby in their tummy and we use these to keep ourselves clean and comfortable.

Your reaction of changing the subject is pretty much just history repeating itself on how your mum dealt with you growing up.

I have a 6yr old son and 4 and 5yr old daughters who all know what periods are we just keep conversations to their age and understanding level.

Lougle · 03/04/2022 19:52

Mine all knew about periods from a very young age. I always told them that every month my body made a special cushion in case I wanted a baby and when it knew that I didn't want a baby, it got rid of the cushion and I bleed.

There isn't any mystery to it. It's just a bodily function.

3WildOnes · 03/04/2022 19:54

I would just be honest. My children have all seen me changing pads since they were babies so know exactly what periods are. My mum was exactly the same with me. When I got my periods it meant that they weren’t weird or scary.

takingmytimeonmyride · 03/04/2022 19:54

I thought you were going to say she decorated the wall with them. Which was what my then 5 yo DS did when he found my pads - stuck them all over the bedroom wall

I have boys but they've known since young that I bleed, and it means I'm not having a baby, and that that's what happens to ladies. I've always been open with them about it, and now as teens they're not at all bothered.

Hillwalker1 · 03/04/2022 19:56

Mine asked at about the same age. I told them about periods and how babies are made in a way I thought they would understand.

Greensleeves · 03/04/2022 19:56

My son asked what Tampax were when he was 4. I just explained it all to him in a very simple and matter-of-fact way.

I disagree with the poster who thinks you should say "it's for grown-up ladies, you don't need to know". There's no reason for normal bodily functions to be shrouded in mystery. It's shame and hang-ups that destroy children's innocence, not harmless facts.

Bushkin · 03/04/2022 19:56

My kids always saw me use them when tiny. Mummy’s body gets ready to have a baby but mummy isn’t having another baby so once a month the bed my tummy made for the baby comes out and it looks like bloody. This catches it so it doesn’t get all messy.

Neither were traumatised

HellToTheNope · 03/04/2022 19:56

She asked me what they were… I just changed the subject and distracted her as I wasn’t sure what to say. I don’t want periods to be weird or taboo like they were with my mum growing up.

Well, you just did that, I'm afraid. You are quite literally behaving exactly as your mother would have. Tell her the truth, FGS. It's a normal part of being female and there's no reason on earth you can't talk to her about this.

ShowOfHands · 03/04/2022 19:58

My DD was 4yrs and 4 months when I gave birth to her brother. She started school 4 days later and the teacher told me that in the role play corner, she'd delivered a baby via CS, explained the function of the placenta (a plastic plate) and umbilical cord (a skipping rope) and then "mopped up" the amniotic fluid. She viewed reproduction the same as she did lung function and kidney function and digestion. It was just biology and interesting.

Be honest. A woman produces an egg once a month and if that egg isn't going to be a baby, it comes out with a bit of blood and we use sanpro to catch it/soak it up.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/04/2022 19:59

If you don’t want periods to be taboo, don’t change the subject on san pro!!

When DS was 6 he found a tampon in the glove compartment of my car. I told him that sometimes women leak blood, which is normal for adult women, and we need them to absorb the blood. I said it was all part of being an adult woman. He was happy with this, and checked it wasn’t going to happen to him. On the way home, he was rummaging again, and found the rest of the box, and came out with “Mummy, you’ve got a whole army of these little soldiers”.

User0ne · 03/04/2022 20:00

If you don't want her to think it's taboo you need to start talking about it like it's a normal part of everyday life - which it is.

My 4&5yr old boys have known about periods for a couple of years, know what sanpro is etc All in an age appropriate way.

It's no biggie

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 03/04/2022 20:00

What are these?
They're sanitary towels/tampax/mooncup.

What are they for?
For when I'm on my period.

What's a period?
It's our bodies practising being pregnant. When there's no baby, the blood comes out.

So this is to catch the blood. It's not bad 'injury' blood, it's healthy blood to show us our bodies are working.

Will I have them?
Yes when you're older.
When girls are between 9-14 we start periods. They happen every month until you're about 50. They're quite annoying sometimes but don't usually hurt too much. Hot water bottle and chocolate do the trick!
Periods are a great excuse to eat chocolate! Yummy.

Shall we go and play a game?

I can't believe you've got to 5 without her bursting in on you in the loo with a pantsfull of sanpro!!

purpleme12 · 03/04/2022 20:05

My child has known forever
We don't close the door when we go to the toilet 🤣
It's been pretty natural

Are we odd?

Ihaveoflate · 03/04/2022 20:06

My 2.5 year old knows plays with my tampons in the bathroom when she comes in the loo with me. She recently asked what they are so I just said tampons. She's seen me put one in and asked if it was going in my bottom, so I just said 'no, they go in my vagina'. She seemed happy with that and carried on playing.

I honestly just think it's best to be totally matter of fact about things (in an age appropriate way). Periods should not be a source of embarrassment for anyone.

Blackbirdflyintothelight · 03/04/2022 20:08

My DD5 has been in with me when I've been changing pads for years. She understands that once a month some women bleed and you wear a pad/tampon to catch the blood and be clean and that it's a good thing and a sign of being healthy. I can't understand why you'd change the subject.

Imsittinginthekitchensink · 03/04/2022 20:08

My then toddler used to offer everyone Tampax - green one or yellow one? - if they used the toilet while visiting. Took a while for it to be a women only offer. It was never a secret or hidden.

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/04/2022 20:12

Tell them early and matter of factly and they will just absorb it without thinking.

Then when it happens they wont freak out. Or, as in DD's case, they become the source of information and supplies for those girls whose parents didn't bloody bother Some of them start young.

Qwill · 03/04/2022 20:13

Maybe it’s because I’ve grown up with doctors, but I’ve never been told fibs or half truths about bodily functions. We poo, we urinate, some women bleed once a month (or more or less). Tampons, towels were just the same as loo roll in our house. It was never a big thing.

SierpinskiSquare · 03/04/2022 20:13

There are some brilliant age appropriate books on the body for kids. I'd get one in if not for this but for future reference. I had sex Ed books on my kids bookshelves for them to look at when they were ready when they were older.

PaddleAlongRiver · 03/04/2022 20:15

How does she not know? Does she not follow you into the toilet? Mine asked why I was wearing a nappy from around 2nd birthday! I explained they were period pads and I'm on my period, it is part of becoming a woman.
No need to over think it

Moppincraxy · 03/04/2022 20:17

@Imsittinginthekitchensink

My then toddler used to offer everyone Tampax - green one or yellow one? - if they used the toilet while visiting. Took a while for it to be a women only offer. It was never a secret or hidden.

Love this 😀

Aria2015 · 03/04/2022 20:18

My 6 year old recently asked, I just said that women bleed once a month if they don't have a baby in their tummy and it's nothing scary, it's just part of how our bodies work. We'd already talked about how babies are made as he has a baby sister. He seemed fine with it. I think it's important to be open. I try and explain things in a simple but accurate way.

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