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Preteens

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Original poster

What signs did your dd have before she started her period?

32 replies

Proudtocare · 05/08/2020 13:57

My dd is 10 years old. She has changes in her body, I have tried to talk to her about carrying a pad with her to school etc.. but she gets so upset and refused to. I'm just interested to hear what signs did your children have before or did it just suddenly happen. Tia.

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 05/08/2020 14:01

My DDs got them between 1st and 2nd year so age 12ish, interestingly DD2 got hers only 3 months after DD1 (they are 18 months apart), DD3 has just turned 12 and I reckon won’t be long but she’s very skinny, she has vaginal discharge and asked for panty liners.

I was very open and honest with them we talked about their bodies changing and why they got periods, what they would do when they started. Showed them pads and tampons and put one in a zipped part of their school bags. DD1 was a keen gymnast so very quickly learned to use tampons (leotards).

reluctantbrit · 05/08/2020 21:20

DD had a couple of times “tummy aches” around the same time of the months and checking where exactly it wasn’t a stomach issue.

Also her mood swings got regular plus more spots came out.

They had a talk in Y6 with a female teacher and DD actually came to me and asked how to prepare. She already had a good idea as I have very heavy periods and frequently bleed through pants and sheets.

She had pads and a spare pair of knickers with a nappy bag in a small cosmetic bag in her school bag and when the period came she moved to period pants after just 3 months and she never looked back.

Original poster
Proudtocare · 06/08/2020 07:41

Thank you ladies! X

OP posts:
Galvia · 06/08/2020 07:49

I'm waiting for my 12 year old to start hers - moods, spots, developing buds - I have a feeling it could be any day now. Love the idea of period pants but what sanitary towels are out there now to have in her "just in case" bag to begin with? I always needed extra long, extra absorbent but I hope she will have an easier time of it than I did!

Fanthorpe · 06/08/2020 07:54

Weight is also a factor, 45kg is the tipping point.

Keep talking though, offering reassurance.

Thesuzle · 06/08/2020 07:58

I had noticed the flare of her hips, but was caught out on holiday in a remote location with nothing to buy for her.
Agree weight is part of it, but my daughter was light i would have said.
Didn’t have period pants in those days, wish we had.

IdblowJonSnow · 06/08/2020 08:01

'Nappy bags'?! HmmConfused

My dd is getting spots and oily hair but only weighs between 4 and 5 stone so I hope it'll be a way off yet.

dementedpixie · 06/08/2020 08:05

Nappy bag is for bagging and binning the sanitary towel as they are not supposed to be flushed. Actual weight is not the trigger, it is more to do with fat percentage.

Horses4 · 06/08/2020 08:08

I think my 10.5 year old is not far off, although she is way off the 45kg weight. Shape changed, starting to get cramps and mood swings, some hormonal skin changes. I will talk to her about having a pad in her school bag, stupidly I hadn’t thought that far ahead, although we have teen pads in readiness.

dementedpixie · 06/08/2020 08:11

45kg is not the weight at which periods start it is body fat percentage that is more important

Pipandmum · 06/08/2020 08:12

I got mine at 11 and as soon as my daughter got to that age I kept an eye out. She is very private but she got a bit moody, hair got dirtier sooner and she just got a more womanly shape. It's also a kind of sixth sense. She had a pack of some stuff from school from sex ed when she was in Y6 and I had also bought a few things for her and we discussed it.
A classmate of hers got it at 9 - she was more developed and tall.

BronzeSilverGold13 · 06/08/2020 08:17

I don't have a DD but I got mine at 11 the summer before high school, no warning was given it just happened during the night, me and my mum had gone camping so that was fun for me!! I'd say personally don't try to force the issue just let her come to you...

also maybe let her address that time of the month however she wants... my mum used to call it being 'ill' it really started to anger me at 11 as I used to think "I've not got the flu, I'm bleeding" 😁

Fanthorpe · 06/08/2020 09:39

Don’t the two factors have to be in place dementedpixie?

dementedpixie · 06/08/2020 09:48

I dont think there is a minimum weight. Very slim women can get periods without being a specific weight. It's body fat that is a larger factor

SistemaAddict · 06/08/2020 09:58

The moods! Christ, they were bad. 45kg is not correct as dd2 is only 34kg and dd1 39kg. Dd2 has just started at 11.5 and dd1 was 12. The moods are horrendous with both of them.

Fanthorpe · 06/08/2020 10:02

I apologise for posting wrong info, I’m out of date, clearly.

AltheaThoon · 08/08/2020 08:16

What's the deal with period pants? Would a heavy flow require several changes a day? My dad is 12, breast buds are just starting to be noticeable through clothes and skin changes are occurring. I think it will certainly be this year. She was hoping she'd start during lockdown as she's concerned about starting at school.

AltheaThoon · 08/08/2020 08:17

My dd! Not my dad, obviously!

Darbs76 · 19/08/2020 10:00

My DD started hers last month. We are the exception to the rule I’m sure and had a nightmare experience - never ending period and a blood transfusion, resulting in meds to stop it and referral to gynaecologist. Poor DD (12) is scared for life.

Anyway signs were - a good year after beginning of breast development, and 6 months or so after the start of acne. Tummy aches but that was up to a year before

Darbs76 · 19/08/2020 10:06

Also my DD is around 35kg, I didn’t think she would start being so light. But she did. That contributed to her needing a blood transfusion as she was so petite and lost an awful lot of blood (was for low iron the transfusion)

Sambucca86 · 31/08/2020 15:57

Hi do any of your daughters experience sickness/nausea a lot before they had their first period? Mines is always feeling sick its worrying but I put it down to hormones as she has little breasts now and spots she is almost 11.

Bingowin · 09/09/2020 13:08

I used to get sick with my periods but I think that’s because they were so painful.
I imagine it could well be a symptom to be nauseous,caused by surging hormones?

Whatwouldscullydo · 09/09/2020 13:39

My dds been getting a bit spotty lately and seemingly easy to upset/anger

Shes 9 so I'm sure its nothing...Hmm

SpringSunshineandTulips · 09/09/2020 13:52

Not good. My 8 year old is displaying a lot of these signs with hips appearing, hair dirtier after a shorter time etc. The moods are bad but then she’s always been moody 😂. I really hope she’s not about to start.

funtimefrank · 09/09/2020 23:54

My two are 10 and a half. One (the skinner one) has caught up with her sister height wise, very much has breast buds and pubic hair plus spots and is a moody so and so.

However she's pretty light and very skinny/muscly so I don't see where the body fat is. She does have hips now though. She has some reusable pads but I may pop some disposables and a spare pair of knickers in her school bag.

Other one had always been tall but no major spurt just general growing. Breast buds starting and some hair, greasy hair and the odd spot but I'd say she's 6 months behind her sister. She's also skinny but not as muscly.

I think both will start this year - I started at 10 but I was a much bigger kid.