Getting ready for first period, pads or tampons?

[Karen333]

Hi,

My daughter is 9 and I thought I would get prepared for her first period.

I would prefer her to start off with natural pads or tampons but have read that young girls should not use tampons. I hated pads. My daughter swims a lot and I'm also thinking of PE at school but I'm not sure whether she should use them or not.

It may not happen for a long time yet but I want to be prepared (we have nothing in the house because I had a hysterectomy so don't have to worry about periods anymore, thank god!)

Any advice about tampons please?

Thanks

It's a very personal choice and it will be HER choice whatever you suggest.

My dds both use pads, I've suggested tampons and bought some to keep in the bathroom but right now they don't want to. Pads these days are much better than they were, thinner and more absorbent and can't be seen under tight clothing (dd1 is a dancer).

Definitely get a selection of both. Then she can use the pads, and practise with the tampons (because they do take a bit of getting used to). Pads nowadays are far more discreet than they were in my young days. We had Dr White's which had to be strapped to a belt. Totally Yucky, and completely indiscreet - it was like wearing a duvet between your legs !

Pads now are thin and absorbent, and for a young girl just getting used to the new changes her body is making, I would suggest pads initially (but get the tampons so she can choose when she's ready).

For those of you who used tampons from day 1, how old were you?

I used pads for the first few years and managed tampons at around 17!

Didn't help that my mother was so anti-tampon as she is convinced they cause cervical cancer ....