App advice for 11yo just started periods

[domestichiefofstaff]

Any tips for a good period app so DD can make sure she's got all her kit each month? All the recording apps she has found seem to relate to ovulation and conception so NOT what we are after! I'm also surprised by how heavy her first period is - extra load of washing req (sorry TMI!) - is this "normal"?

Why would u need an app? They most likely won't be regular for some time yet perhaps. My daughter started at 11 in sept (day before starting high school, how convenient). She had a normal ish one for the first one then another 2 months later but it lasted weeks. That one stopped then another a cpl of weeks later. Takes a while to settle into once a month tbh. Can't imagine an app would be helpful at all??

Wouldn't bother with an app. She could mark on a calendar if she needed to keep track. I would just encourage her to always have a supply of pads/tampons in her bag.

If she's leaking through clothes try a more absorbent pad or tampon, or maybe she just needs more practice at how to place them and how often to change.

Get her to mark it in her diary/calendar, whether that's phone or paper. I used to do a little exclamation mark in my school planner (we weren't actually allowed to use it for anything personal but I had to look at that every day so it was useful) when I'd had it and when it was expected. I know a 13 year old though whose periods have been irregular for over a year, can be one month or 4 between them!

Might be good to buy a little cosmetics bag and put pads, spare pants, mini wipes (Lil lets have a teen range with mini packs of flushable wipes, can get from Poundland) in it to keep in her school bag. Also if it's that heavy I'd be thinking about tampons, whilst I was 12 when I started I used tampons from my second period as pads couldn't keep up. The mini tampax are good to learn with.

She needs to bring a little kit around - just in case (or keep some in her locker).
Newly started girls aren't often regular from the beginning.

You can track in apple health app if she has an iPhone. Quite simple and easy to use and you can ignore the ovulation stuff.

Just keep a "kit" in a zipped up pencil case or something like that in her bag all the time. With spare pants in it.

Keep track on a calendar- ask her if she'd like you to help with that at first.

Buy her enough black pants for her to wear in the days before she's expecting a period and during it.

Give her permission to throw away any pants she gets blood on if it happens when she's away from home.

I have searched high and low for black pants for my slim just turned 11yo and can't find them anywhere. I think even the smallest adult sizes would be too big.

Try supermarket xs- they do come up very small.

An app likely won't be much use as periods are rarely regular when you first start. Better to teach her to be prepared and carry a make up bag with pads or tampons, a spare pair of knickers and a travel pack of baby wipes in it in her bag.

Diary Doll pants are often recommended on threads like these and my DD is as happy about hers as anyone can be about pants designed to not stain or leak...

diarydoll.com/about-us/

DD (12) has the Period Tracker app and finds it helpful. It does have features for estimating fertility windows and recording sexual activity, but she just ignores those.

I looke at Diary doll pants but they are only in adult sizes, I suppose we could get a pair of the smallest to try.

Sorry, derailed thread. I have put a tracker app on my phone to use on behalf of DD as it's early days and she wants to keep everything very private at the moment, Period Tracker Lite. Very irregular so far though.

Oh and thanks Bernard, I'll look in Sainsburys later.

Just to clarify, that's a general screenshot from google images, not from her phone.

I've suggested marking a calendar but old fashioned mummy clearly doesn't realise that kids do everything on their phones! She does have my old IPhone (reward for passing big exam). The management of this all rather complicated by her having atypical high functioning autism and ADHD. Black pants -great idea... I'll look online. I just don't recall my first periods being much to write home about so I do feel sorry for her that she's having to manage a shocker first time. She has pads in a pretty bag for her school bag so we are on top of things but all further advice much much appreciated. I think she's a bit young for tampons but am I wrong?

Tampons are for periods, she is having periods. Why would she be too young? Start with mini ones, Lillets have a teen range.

My first period was hellish. And my mum actually told me off for using too many pads!

Dd15 doesn't use any tracker apps as far as I know but I use Hormonology. That's specifically for periods and gives a little bit of information about what your body is doing during each phase.

Oh dd isn't confident yet about using tampons!

I just felt she was a bit immature to deal with tampons but I've had a chat with her and I'll get some 'starter tampons' - she's got extra challenges with the autism and ADHD so I was hoping it would be more of a 'gentle start' ... but we will deal with it!

That's my concern, Diana. I think she'll find tampons a bit tricky and won't be ready for them
She's quite emotionally immature.

Tampons are so much better than pads if you can get the hang of them for your first periods - they don't feel like you have a massive nappy shoved in your knickers, they are way more discreet if you need to change one, and they run less risk of leaks. I would definitely get some for her to try.

DD also has some additional needs. Her brother has ASD & ADHD and she has similar traits but masks better. To help her cope more easily, I typed up a list of "what to do if..." questions and answers for her:

What if I run out of pads?
What if my period starts at school and I don't have anything with me?
What if I get cramps?

That sort of thing.

She also carries a kit (pads, spare knickers etc) in her bag all the time, just in case.

If your DD is anything like mine, an app might help her to feel more aware and in control of what is happening.

My dd1 started at 10yo I put a little make up bag in her school bag and another in or kit and another in her handbag, black knickers pads and paracetamol with written instructions on taking two only and telling me ! Tampons were a tricky one, I explained the use of them and bought the pearl applicator Ines as easier to use but she couldn't get to grips with them until she was 12 I was sat with friends having a drink in the garden when I received a whatsapp saying " mum I've done it I'm wearing a tampon " so I think she was pleased.
Something's to bear in mind: disposal a lidded bin in her room was a must and didn't think for a second she will tell you when it needs emptying ( I do it daily )
Tell her where to dispose of things her first pad got chucked in the loo
Phone calendar is good but we put x's on the calendar in the kitchen so I can make sure she's stocked up.
Wheaty bags are brilliant and heat pads for school if she suffers period pain.
The first few I had to keep reminding her to change pads and then eventually tampons as concentration is poor and we nearly ended up in hospital with the tampons as she forgot about the last one of the month and got septic shock. Good luck it's very hard when they are this young

DD liked having an app to track hers. Just ignore all the ovulation stuff (as a PP said). I also did what others have about a pencil case with supplies and pants in. Not too obvious then if it's spotted in her bag.

M&S have black pants in the older girls range but I've never seen them in store, have always ordered them online.

Second - a list is a great idea. We have bought new bathroom bins and talked to her about discretion as she left a pad by the loo. She now also has a lidded bin in her room. Great advice everyone! I think she's more ready for this than I am! Suspect she may be milking it a bit today though!!!!