Period products for preteens

[grey12]

Hi!
I thought I should start researching these things because they seem to have changed since my time 😅 I started using my mooncup about 10 years ago so have completely checked out of all the new stuff!
I don't really know the deal with period pants (how do they work, how do you change them during the day??!!!) or whether cups are ok for young girls. (For context I had my period at 9.5yo so quite young....) Also, if you prefer pads, are there good reusable ones?

On a different, but related, subject my oldest daughTer started getting some breast buds ( it's starting!!!!😬😬). How long before your daughters started their periods? I don't remember how it was for me.

Thank you!! ❤️

First of all thank you for all the replies to this post ❤️

Someone mentioned scented bags to keep the period pants? I have a good trick for those 😅 for poopy diapers I use the scented dog bags! Mint. They are fantastic! I can find them on promotion at HomeSense or something. Also they tend to be good quality, biodegradable and neatly rolled

DD us turning 12 next month. The breast buds and hair has started in last few months so lurking here.

Following this, dd is 11 year 6, hasn’t started yet.. I don’t believe any of her friends have either. I was a little late to the party and started at 14, one of the last in my year. I use pads, wasn’t comfortable using tampons. Not sure what size to get etc as I’ve been buying the same ones once I was 18.

DD just 10 started Christmas eve.

She uses the tween lilette pads and has the pouches to keep them in.
She has period pants but hasn't tried them yet.

I bought a small square pencil case for pads to go in jersey school bag incase it begins while out and about.
The school provides pads and tampons.
Our workplace now provides sanitary items which is great.
All the embarrassing old days should be long gone.
Also I got my daughter a puberty book and she has enjoyed that.

My dd started when she was just 11 still in y6. At first she bled for 3 days at the time and used Lilets teen pads but now her periods are really heavy and we're just trialling period pants. She got body hair a good year before her periods started so we've had plenty of time to prepare. We tried tampons in the summer but she just couldn't get it in (we looked at videos and I encouraged her to explore her body to familiarise herself with her anatomy), it was painful. Pads wise she likes pink Bodyform best (we tried many). My main issue atm is secondary school toilet access policy; I'd be contacting school about it soon. Toilets are locked between breaks and they can only use them during morning break and lunch. She has to choose to either use the toilet or eat, no time to do both. I was horrified to learn when she's not on her period she doesn't use the toilet at all at school! She's supposed to brush her teeth after lunch or rinse her mouth at the very least (braces) and there's no chance to even do that. Last month she had to jump in the shower as soon as she came home as she leaked so bad she had dried blood on her legs. When she does manage to access toilets in breaks she's having to rush because there's constant banging on the doors.

@alizee21g 😱😱 I can't believe a school would do that!!!! That is insane!! Is it not illegal somehow?..... for people not to have access to toilets?...

A lot of schools do this. There was a thread about it not so long ago. It is because of what goes on in the toilets: vandalism, bullying, vaping, sexual assault etc. There aren't enough staff to monitor the toilets so they are locked.

@grey12 sadly toilet thing in secondaries is pretty common - plenty of posts on here! Whilst I understand the reasons for having restricted access due to safeguarding etc when you look at the numbers of pupils on breaks and number of toilets available it just doesn't add up. I will be taking her to GP over half term and asking school for toilet pass. I am not one of "those" parents usually but this hill I am prepared to die on!

I wasn't aware. My kids are still little.

It just sounds insane to me! And makes me think twice to bringing my kids back to school. I'm currently homeschooling but I had every intention to return them to school later on. Now maybe not so much..... I'm learning about too many problems!