Period during school waterbased residential plan!

[MercurysMeteor]

DD11 is set to go on a school residential next month. It is activity based, building rafts, canoeing, swimming.. and other fun outdoors activities. Unfortunately she’s due to start half way through. She’s still getting used to the whole concept of periods and just about managing with pads and period pants. But occasionally she leaks on to the sofa/bed sheets (she has the highest pad scale and length so I’m not sure why it’s happening) and I’m worried for her. Plus she’s not able to use tampons yet so I’m worried about how she’ll cope with anything water based.
I wish she didn’t have to deal with it whilst she’s there, such rubbish timing!
any advice on how I help her as I can see she’s already starting to fret about it.

Thank you for all of your suggestions, I’ll have a look at the swimsuits, I’ve sent the question to the gp to see what they advise and we’ll have another chat about tampons. No easy answer but a few more ideas-thanks

Agree with you OP, its tricky and stressful for young girls.

Dd has tried modibodi swim pants on a lighter day, in a swimming pool and been fine but hasn't tried them on a heavier day yet.
You could try doubling up maybe - modibodi swim pants under the swim costume? If they're wearing wetsuits that might help too.

And the 'I'm so brilliant I can use a tampon' approach doesn't really help. Simply shifts blame onto young girls.
Dd was 9 when she started her periods. Its not unreasonable for young girls to feel uncomfortable trying tampons or embarrassed to ask for help with them. They shouldn't feel their at fault or deficient in some way for not using them.

Dd was prescribed norethisterone with no problems at all, she's 11, same reason, water based residential trip.

Please check the side effects of norethisterone. I know that many people will say 'my child took it and was fine' but I had awful side effects and bled for 3 weeks solid after I took it so I'd be weary.

I would look into period pants, swimwear and possibly tampons. I'd also have a quiet word with the teacher.

Lil-lets do tampons in a "Teens" range which are very tiny - the smallest being 10mm diameter and 35 mm in length. Four types, regular, super, applicator, non-applicator. You will find these in larger branches of Boots and Superdrug. KY Jelly is definitely helpful in using internal aids for the first few times.
Something new is a starter pack containing everything a young girl might need when getting her period for the first time - except KY jelly -- the kit is made by femplete.com
It even includes two menstrual cups in teen and extra small size. It is available from Amazon at a discount.
Menstrual cups are widely used by young girls now -- I am told that they are considered essential by synchronised swimmers of all ages (or artistic swimmers as they call it now. They and other sanitary supplies can be obtained free from schools under a government-sponsored scheme, I am told.

Of course an 11 yr old can use tampons! She needs to understand the need for washing hands, changing at the right intervals, etc etc, and might need to be reminded, but millions of girls of 11 and younger already do. A little KY jelly for the first few times is certainly helpful. Lil-lets do a teens range which is for smaller bodies, although many girls of 11 are fine with the normal size.
I can well remember feeling very grown up using tampons for the first time at 11. It was a revelation!

Bit extrem beachcitygirl why should everyone miss out on the off-chance that one or two may have a period

My DD (11) wears her modibody swimsuit to school swimming lessons when she has her period. That’s exactly what it is designed for!