First period at 10 - advice please?

[JoannieJones]

My 10 year old daughter has just started her first period - has anyone got any advice, warnings etc? She's still at primary school - they don't have sanitary bins, her uniform doesn't have pockets - how does she get a new pad into the loo to change it and what does she do with old one? Too young for tampons?
she's still very much a little girl so i feel really sorry for her. She's very self-conscious about her new boobs and pubic hair already and made me swear not to tell anyone that she had started her periods (including her Dad). fortunately we had already had The Talk, but she doesn't like talking about it to me. I have got her a couple of books. Her teacher, although lovely, is male, and she would die if I told him!

I meant to add - are first periods lighter - do they sort of build up to normal adult periods. It was a long time ago for me, I can't remember!

Is there a female TA in her class? Would be v surprised if your dd is the only one for very long. Maybe you could have a word (without dd knowing?) with another teacher/ the head etc. definitely think you should warn some one at the school.

they really ought to have bins in the toilets, thats actually quite a big issue i think (could you talk to the head about that privately, just have a quick word?). also, i do think the teacher should be aware.
Could she have a little make up bag to take towels to the toilets with her?

I was 9 and had to use the teachers toilet Cos they had the bins etc..

She won't be the only one at all. Much hugs to her and sorry she is so self conscious. My girls both started he summer between primary and secondary.

Tips - asda teen towels are bril- bit smaller and all the instructions on the pack. Small make up bag to take to the loo with spare pants ( cheapest you can find and black- try primark smallest adult size. Chuck leaked on knicker in the hand towel bin wrapped in a towel.

Somebody at school needs to be her confidante though so if she needs emergency towels or has a tummy ache.

Also what happens re pe? I guess they change girls a d boys separately? Shell probably still not confident though shorts changed under a skirt is easy. I would assume if you let school know they could find a " special job" that someone needed to borrow her for during the pe lesson.

If she can use the teachers loo then she can leave her bag of stuff in there?

Yes you do need to tell someone at school or she risks embarrassment/ being refused to take her bag to the loo. Hope it works out ok.

My dd used the teachers loo and had a make up bag in there with pads in. I did tell the ladies in the office and they were lovely, there's always at least 1 in every year 6

Poor little things aye

Agree regarding at least one in every Y6 class. DD is one of on 12 girls in her Y6.
Two of them have started their periods much to DDs dismay. She is desperate to be a grown up lady .
YY to telling the teacher. My DH is a teacher, he also knows about periods.

Thanks very much all, very useful - thanks for teen towels tip, I didn't realise there were such things. I phoned the school (I was panicking yesterdaY!)and apparently there are bins in the Year 6 loos tho dd didn't know what they were! they haven't had their lesson about periods yet which seems to be leaving it a bit late. I have told her that even though her teacher is a man he will be aware and completely blase about periods as his wife and all women have them! She is still very very self concious though and does the "muuuum!" if I try and talk about it.

It's not actually that unusual; dd started at 10 and I don't think she was the first in her class. Strange that the school haven't done the period lesson yet.

My dd started and then stopped she had one period and then non for quite a few months. Quite a few of her friends who also started their periods also only had one before having a break for a few months. My dd did get period pains though but this was easier for her to handle than having a heavy period. She took in a little pencil case with pads. Hopefully this will be the same for your dd.

You could put her pads into a pencil case so that it doesn't stand out in her hand or bag. I also give my daughter nappy sacks so she can put either pads or leaked on pants in these and then chuck away!