Periods - what age is best to explain to child

[2kidswelshmum]

What age is appropriate to explain periods/menstrual cycle to daughter?

I have a 7 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. In the swimming pool changing room bathroom today they saw the free period products on the sink and asked what they are.

I gave a non committal answer in that moment because I wanted more time to think how I respond, and also we were running a bit late for their lesson.

I figure there’s no reason why I can’t tell them - it’s part of life etc. I’m just not sure of the best way to phrase it.

And I’m leaning towards tailoring the answer per child, giving my seven year old daughter a bit more info…?

I didn't say I was happy about it! 😂 It never bothered me though. My kids are older now so they understand about privacy (and I can poo in peace again!) but I never tried to keep them out as toddlers when they were going through the separation anxiety phase. Privacy from a toddler isn't worth upsetting them for in my opinion.

Fortunately, I have never experienced a screaming toddler banging on the door!

Well no, they were probably screaming in their play pen so couldn’t get to the door

My DD saw me changing a tampon under 2 so I explained that women’s bodies get ready to have a baby every month and if you decide not to, it sends out the extra tissue. DD was a bit precocious though (I got stuck explaining heart surgery and ventilators to her when she was 3). DC didn’t care at all or ask any follow up questions. I always stick to the answer the question they ask. It’s easier to get carried away and lots of times one sentence answers it! There is a great book “it’s not the stork” aimed at that age group.

I tell them to wait outside the cubicle (and not move) or just strap them in and park the buggy directly outside the cubicle... Did used to pee with the sling on when they were teeny tiny though. Wondering if I'm not safety conscious enough in public loos now!!

I feel like those are separate things - your sons can know about periods without watching you change a tampon.

As I said, if you're happy to have your kids in the bathroom with you fair enough - for me, it's just not for me.

You seem very... aggressive about this? I don't get it.
It's fine not to take a child into the toilet with you.
Would you want your child watching their childminder change her tampon?
None of mine really had mad separation anxiety at home. Even my clingiest one was fine playing for a few minutes while I peed.

Not aggressive. Just don’t understand parents who were born in the 80s/90s not telling their children about basic normal bodily functions and instead making it into a big chat. How did 80s/90s kids become so prudish in adulthood?

This ^^

My daughters knew through me. Which was great because my eldest started her period at 10 years old and was as cool as a cucumber about it.

You can tell your children about basic bodily functions without demonstrating them. My kids all knew how babies were made by about aged 4 but I never demonstrated that either!
It's ok to have some privacy in the bathroom.

So then your dc knew all about periods from at least 4 onwards yes? In which case fair enough.

And no, nobody is suggesting having sex in front of their children - bit strange you think that.

Don’t leave it too long OP.

I was 10 when I started my first period. I was in the changing room at the swimming pool, getting ready to go swimming with my friends. We’d been dropped off there, so there were no adults I knew around. Luckily my Mum had told me all about periods, otherwise I’d have been absolutely petrified seeing blood in my pants.

I can't imagine anyone haranguing dads about using the bathroom alone...

What's wrong with a play pen?

You are the one that seems to think it's awful that I use the bathroom alone and my children must be left crying?

I imagine stay at home dads or those dads who take their kids out regularly would be absolutely blasted if they admitted locking out their toddlers so they could ‘poop’ in peace

So your dc knew about periods from age 4 when they knew about sex? In which case we are both in agreement about teaching children normal bodily functions from an early age

Honestly I find it so bizarre that you characterise using the bathroom alone in such emotive terms.

Would you also find it appalling if a childminder didn't take everyone's kids with her to change a tampon?

Absolutely nothing. Just haven’t heard that word for a few decades!

You have small children and you haven't heard the word playpen 🤔

I bought this book for my eldest when she was 7 as she had questions.
I did my research on age appropriate books first as a lot of the puberty books that are aimed at 9-12 year olds included quite a lot of sex talk which I think should be discussed when they’re much older.
This one talks periods, body changes, emotional changes etc without anything about sex.

I would prefer it to her leaving my child (a baby or a toddler) outside the public toilet.
We see it differently and that’s ok. I just never thought I would see my generation so prudish about natural things. I thought we had grown and learnt from previous generations.

Public toilet? We're talking about at home.

Apparently the image of the book is under review so the book is called Just Starting Puberty For Girls by Rebecca Whitlock

I have children 26yrs to 12yrs and I have only heard the word play pen from people in their 60s+ 🤣 Nobody I know has ever used one