Help 10 DD started period

[snappybitch]

Evening. I'm looking for a bit of advice please. My 10 year old daughter (11 next month) began her first period this morning. She was a bit teary over it and quite worried but I've been fussing over her a lot today. I've helped her change her pads today and have done my best to make her think it's an exciting thing and she's turning into a woman etc.
I'm devastated on the inside. She seems so very young. I was 13 when mine started and I hated it. I feel sad that she's not even made it to 11 and she's got this annoying burden already.
Here's the thing, I use a moon cup and have done so for 13 years. I can't bear the feeling of sweaty, crunchy pads. Luckily I had found a few jumbo night sized ones In my drawer for her to use today. I'll be out tomorrow to get her some smaller ones, but can someone please recommend the latest in period comfort? I am not Squeamish so don't mind handling blood. I want her to be comfortable so what is best for a young girl to use nowadays?
When she's a bit older I'll get her a menstrual cup too, but for the next while what would be best for her?
Thanks

I got my daughter "red" by modibody - reusable period pants! Just like wearing a pair of undies - hold 2-3 tampons worth then just rinse out in cold water and pop in the washing without softener - she is so much happier using these and washing them herself then she was wearing 'crunchy pads' xx

If I was a teenager now, I think I'd want those period pants. I can't remember any brand names but they'd come up if you googled. Check if she needs pain relief and things of course. Aww she's so little

period pants. I use wuka. .They are so comfortable and do teen sizes I think. Not the cheapest .,sainsbury have cheaper ones.

Killers do a teen range of products which are smaller than the normal pads etc

My daughter has Modibodi and thinx. She is fine with them and doesn't touch pads any more.

Hi OP.
I'm not a mother so unfortunately can't sympathise, but I can share what my mum did when I hit mine when I was 13 ( I'm 31 now).

My mum was a teacher and talked it through with a book explaining the ins and outs of it all.
Pain wise...mine used to be REALLY bad - had to go home from school one time I remember (think it was my first actually). Eventually went on the pill because if the pain. Now they're not so bad (I'm off the pill now TTC), I use hot water bottles when I need them and just relax when I can. Paracetamol can help too if your DD needs them.
It sounds like you're doing all the right things in terms of comforting her, explaining that it is exciting etc. It can't be easy given she is a few years younger than you were when you got your first period...it might be helpful to tell her that, when her friends start going through this, she can tell them about her experience and comfort them if they need it. I remember being in a 'club' when I was about 10 or so talking about grown-up girl stuff. Just a group of about 5 of us talking in the playground etc.

Hope that helps in some way. All the best to you and your DD.

Sorry OP. I realise I didn't answer your question at all! Just threw in my wee bit of advice even though it wasn't asked for!

See what she wants. I was 9, started with normal pads and now use reusable
Give her a choice of ones with wings, without, explain reusable stuff... see what she wants

Thank you everyone! Really helpful. So the period pants, do you wear them with a pad or do they absorb the blood flow? Something like this would be ideal as She could manage these on her own.
She's a wee soul, keeps telling me she can't look as she hates it already. I've tried to tell her it's natural and not to be afraid, I'll help her for as long as she needs it. Definitely feel as she's a bit young it will take time to come to terms with it.
Really appreciate the recommendations, thanks again x

My dd started at 10, in year 5. Lillets do a teen range which are slimmer, unscented and fit in her underwear fine.
Be mindful that most pads are scented now which I've tried to avoid, don't want to cause irritation.

I bought my DD a few of everything o could think of so she had a choice. Lil-let’s do a teen pack so I got that. I got some disposable unscented towels. I’ve just bought a “selection” pack of teen pads at Eco Wise Girls. I’ll order a pair of Modibods too but I’m a bit wary of them as they’re expensive, she’ll need a few pairs, and she’ll grow out of them.
I also bought a waterproof mattress protector for the bed in case of leaks or coming on suddenly.
Almost 11 doesn’t seem that unusual these days.

another vote for period pants. I swapped to them a few years ago. Honestly, so easy. No leaks when a pad moves. I also have a swimming costume one as well.

@snappybitch

Thank you everyone! Really helpful. So the period pants, do you wear them with a pad or do they absorb the blood flow? Something like this would be ideal as She could manage these on her own. She's a wee soul, keeps telling me she can't look as she hates it already. I've tried to tell her it's natural and not to be afraid, I'll help her for as long as she needs it. Definitely feel as she's a bit young it will take time to come to terms with it. Really appreciate the recommendations, thanks again x

I haven't actually tried them but keep meaning to! From what I've read, you just wear them like normal underwear with no need for pads/tampons. They are supposed to be good enough to deal with a heavy flow, though if I ever do get them, I'd probably put a pad on too when leaving the house, just until I had a better idea of how well they absorb.

@BaggoMcoys no additional pad or tampon needed. They come in different levels of flows. I have days when my periods are really heavy. I wear pants for the heaviest flow and change them probably every 6 hours, which given I could go through a super tampon in one hour is amazing.

My DD has just turned 11 and I think will soon start too.
I was wondering about the period pants too but no idea on which brands (they are quite pricey so don't want to get it wrong). Also sizing as she's nearly 1.6m tall and can wear size 8 women's clothing. I bought some of the Lillets teen towels during lockdown 1 just in case!

My daughter has been using the teen range at lillets.

My DD started at 10.5, she was a little teary but OK. I explained you get a whole big bar of special period chocolate every month, that helped! Hers are quite painful, she usually asks for an ibuprofen. Pad wise, I got her a few different types and will be encouraging reausables once she's used to it. I stupidly assumed her flow would be light, as she's so young, but unfortunately not so she needs proper pads rather than panty liners which she had hoped she could get away with as the aren't so bulky.

I will discuss the pants, but not sure if they are okay to do a whole school day? I assume they would be? Size wise, she's quite curvy (not fat, actual boobs and bum curvy) so could wear adult size 6 or 8 I expect.

Oh poor kid. 10 is too little to have to deal with this nonsense 😢

I agree with the majority though. I'd go with some period pants, I'd get a few different ones. They're not cheap, but they should last her a while.

It sounds like she'd find them the easiest. They do have much better disposables for young girls now, better size and shape - not like a mattress!

Give her the options. She may not want pants (or a moon cup in the future). Let her try what she wants but give her the power to choose what she would like to use.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. My DD will be 10 this month. She is autistic and I really worry how she will cope with periods.
The pants could be a winner- do they smell, are they still comfy after an hour or so?
Can they be used on a school day? I genuinely am not sure if she will be able to cope with maintaining hygiene. She still wets the bed occasionally. Her body shape is clearly changing though and I feel it may not be long.
It is really hard and I totally sympathise.
This has inspired me to set up a pack of stuff for her to choose when the time is right.

Period pants have been a godsend for my teens, they find them so much more comfortable than pads.

My daughter is 12 1/2 and she started today. Seems like such a big step, it must be hard for the much younger girls at 9-10 ish :(

I hope your daughter copes ok op. Mine is a bit blood averse but I told her that for women, a period is a sign of health. It's linked to life, all of our lives, and that she is now a lunar goddess. She has a good guffaw over that and took the preferred chocolate and curled up to watch a movie with me.

I sympathise..... I started when I was 10 too (in the 1970’s 😮 no-one had even told me about periods so it was a total shock, and I had to have a belt and looped pads 😩). I remember thinking it was awful that I would have to endure this every month for years and years....a really overwhelming feeling. Of course I soon learned to deal with it.

I have washable pads which are great but if I wasn’t menopausal and not needing anything much now I’d definitely be looking at period pants. If you want to supplement with some pads, I find Tesco, Boots and Superdrug own brand better than most of the branded ones which I find plasticky and sweaty and itchy.

Another vote for the teen lilet range. I actually use them myself. They are much less bulky and being petite they fit better.

I started my period early (11, summer holidays before going to year 7) and as I did a lot of sport my mum taught me to use tampons almost straight away with a panty liner. I always found this much better than pads. Less bulky sweaty pad and it felt much less messy and cleaner.

www.boots.com/lil-lets-teens-starter-pack-10137050

My 11 yr old recently started. We ordered cheeky wipes period pants and reusable pads kit. I also got her some lilet teen range pads.
She cried with pads (spd) but the period pants seem to be a big hit. At the moment her periods aren’t really heavy, so she doesn’t use anything additional with the pants.