First Period

[MrsPod]

My 10 year old started her periods today! Poor thing had a real shock and so did we. Seems way too young for periods. All my mum friends have kids little older and their girls haven’t had their periods yet. Is it normal for 10 and to start period? I was a very late starter at 14. Although at 45 I’m in perimenopause and on HRT.

Completely normal. She might need a bit of help and support with how to handle it when she's at school. I started 10 or 11 (I can't actually remember which!) but was definitely still in primary school. And I remember I was bad at changing pads etc as I was too embarrassed and sort of didn't get the need to do it so it wouldn't leak on my uniform etc. I was just immature. At least things have really improved when it comes to period pants etc now. Hope she's ok.

Loads of girls in DD's class have started (year 5). She's been asking lots of questions and they have also learnt about it in PSHE. I started around 13 so I don't think she'll start yet but who knows

It's funny isn't it- has the age of starting got lower or are we just more open about it? I definitely remember feeling very alone and like none of the other girls had started. @teaandtoastwithmarmite

Thank you! I have been helping her to
change and unfortunately we have had to change the bedding a few nights. She said the pad moves and ends up around her bum 😂 but she’s getting used to it more.

Yes it's normal from 10.years.

Good to hear it’s quite normal. She’s taken it in her stride since. She knew all about periods as she’s watched me on the toilet when she’s walked in on me changing and disgusted by the blood loss. I joked that she had all this to come…and now it has happened!

Normally happens approx 2 or more years into puberty so I don’t think it would usually come as a surprise! My 10yo started puberty at just turned 8 (which is just within normal for girls) but hasn’t started yet 2 years later, I’m fully expecting it this year though. I think there will always be several in y6 and the odd one in y5, and it was the same when I was in primary back in the 90s so I don’t think it’s noticeably earlier than it used to be?

It does start younger. I think looking from the 70s. Possibly due to estrogen in the water table from contraceptive pills. When I was at school it was as I turned 12. I was shocked though as I didn't have boobs or much pubic hair and we were taught in year 6 that those come first. My periods were very light and every 2 months for a year. Most friends were later. I knew one girl who started in year 5.

It's within the normal range. My dd is 11 and I'm expecting it soon, she has developed much quicker than I did. I was 15 before I started, which my doctor attributed to low body fat (NOT an issue now!) because I was very athletic.

Period pants are really useful for helping them manage.

No not one friend in her year 5/6 class has started their period apart from my daughter. In my own head, I expected it to be around 11/12. My nieces were all in high school when they started. So it was a surprise for us as mainly I didn’t want her to start her periods at age 10.

Yes I will suggest these and see if she wants to try them.

My daughter started her period at 10 . It was a bit of shock . But I bought her period pants and she's been fine . Needs paracentamol and a cuddle just before hand and is very emotional.

Also thought she would be sporadic at first with periods but she only missed one month and she's very regular . I have a period app so I can keep track of when she's coming on, and the a few days before she's due on she wears her period pants on a night time . To stop any mess! We have a good routine and she's happy and comfortable in them no leakage . I just wish I had them when I was her age .

I can definitely recommend period pants. DD was a couple of weeks away from her 13th birthday when she started and she's quite a panicker so period pants have helped her a lot. She started in Feb, had the next 2 months right on the expected date but not much each time. Missed may, had June and then July had been jer first proper one with leaking and cramps. She leaked on the first night when she used a pad instead of the period pants and it went a bit on her sheet and her PJ bottoms but she used the period pants after that and found it all loads easier. She had 3 nights where she needed a hot water bottle for her stomach and she took feminax a couple of times and found them helpful although they've totally changed them since I was her age and have removed the special ingredient that actually dealt with the cramps. They're just ibuprofen now.

My DD used period pants in the day, then the big honouryourflow night time pads for sleeping. The pads are really good so no leaks in the night :)

My DD turned 10 last month and has started her periods. I am so emotionally as I feel she is way too young to start periods and doesn’t really understand. It has come as a huge shock to us. I have another DD who is 13 and she hasn’t even started hers yet.

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