13 year old and periods

[Sunshineandflipflops]

Hi

There may be a better area for this but I have only ever posted on this one and divorce so hoping someone can help!
My dd is almost 13 and started her periods at 11. She is quite regular and I have worked out that it is likely she will be on her period when we go away for a week in May. This is our first holiday together since their dad and I separated a year ago. We are going abroad, it will be hot and there is a pool where we are staying that she will (understandably) want to be in with her brother.

She has only used pads up until now as she is young and also not great at taking responsibility for looking after herself (won't shower/bath for days if I didn't make her and has no interest in clothes/how she looks, etc).

My question is, what do you think are her best options to be able to enjoy her holiday the way a 13 year old should be able to? Do I suggest starting to try using tampons from now so that she might be able to use them safely and comfortably by May or do I take her to the doctors nearer the time to see if they can prescribe her something to delay her period until we go home (not my ideal option given her age)?
Her periods last about a week so likelihood is it will affect the whole week we're there
Thank you for any advice/help!

My dd is now 15 and started her periods at 11 and every year since then had had the tablets from the dr, northesterone (or something) every year as typically her period has been due when on holiday, she's been fine with it and will be using it again in April!

Oh, that's reassuring to hear, thank you. A friend recently took it for the same reason and said her cycle was quite messed up when she stopped taking it so wasn't keen on that option! I'd rather she didn't have to have her period at all while we're away though! Just typical that it's going to fall in that one week!

You can buy period proof swimming costumes. Would you consider that? I personally would rather that than pump a young girl with medication.

Just buy her some tampons. It’s not hard and she will manage. If you are worried about TSS then reminder her to change them.

I would consider period proof swimwear, as long as the cost isn't ridiculous!

I used tampons from quite an early age but I think I was a bit more mature and responsible for myself than my dd at her age.

I guess she'd only need to use them while she is swimming and there is enough time between now and then to try and get used to using them. I use a mooncup but I think that may be a step too far for her yet!

I asked this question a few years ago and was shot down so be warned🙄... my dd is 15 now and still doesn't want to try tampons . We log her monthly cycle in a calendar to try and work out which week would be good before I book . We have a villa so worst case I'll let her swim on the lighter days anyways 🤷‍♀️
Where does one get the swimwear from?

Shot down? For what reason? I thought it was a perfectly reasonable question to ask as I'm generally unsure what do to for the best for her! She would be heart broken if she couldn't swim the whole time we are there as that is gong to be the main activity!

It may be that I don't need to worry of course so I am going to keep track of her cycle over the next couple of months and see.

Both my DDs have taken the pills that delay the period. They have both been fine with it. They live in the pool when we go on holiday, and neither of them will try tampons.

My DD recently started her periods at 13 so quite late compared to her friends. She’s a swimmer so we had already had the conversation about using tampons if she wanted to continue training while on her period. She tried them from her first period and although she didn’t find it ‘easy’, she managed well.

Maybe buy her some tampons to try using in the next couple of months? At 13 she needs to start taking responsibility for her own health (obviously easier said than done ).

Buy her a Mooncup or similar now so she can learn to use it and be comfortable with before you go away. They are safer than tampons and less likely to cause infection if not changed for longer periods of time.

My DD is filthy forgetful and doesn’t care about personal hygeniene I would practice with tampons beforehand rather go for chemicals but remind her of timings to remove them etc

I can't believe people are giving tablets to children to stop their period so they can go swimming. It's shocking

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the advice/thoughts.

She's not actually 13 yet but will be by the time we go. I love my mooncup but I just don't think she would find one easy to use and having to rinse it at schools, etc just isn't practical. I'm happy to buy her one if she wants to try though.

I think i'll buy some of the smallest tampons and give them to her to try between now and then, even if she just uses them while in the pool. I remember it took me a few attempts to get it right when I was a similar age so don't want to leave it too close before we go. If it works out she's ok that week then I guess no harm done.

And yes, she should be taking responsibility for her own health so any tips on that one welcome too! She will change her pads without me reminding her but probably not as often as she should really. She's quite a young 12 compared to many of her peers, although she doesn't look it (she's about 5ft 7/8) so I think sometimes I expect more of her than I should of a 12 year old.

Lillets do tampons for teens, smaller but just as absorbant, more young girl friendly to use etc. My 12 year old niece asked my sister to try them so she could go to her friends swimming party and got on with them okay. Shes back to using pads mainly now but lives by the coast and is a keen swimmer so uses the teen range when swimming and her period coincide.

Oh, brilliant, thanks @Justanothernamechange2. I'll try and find some today.

You can buy neothisterone (sp?) online. I use it to delay my very heavy periods for holiday. Nothing dodgy about ordering online (boots, Lloyds etc offer it). It costs about £17.

If youre near one, all lil-lets teen are 2 for £2 at boots at the minute

That I was being silly and to tell her to use tampons 🙄..

I can't believe people are giving tablets to children to stop their period so they can go swimming. It's shocking**

Shocking if we are buying them on the black market and giving them with no instruction, they are prescribed from a gp who gives them a health check and informing them of the side effects!

I think tampons are the best, I struggled to adjust when I was younger but the easy application ones should be useful.

Reminder her to change them, I find them more hygiene than pads.

Nothing wrong with getting the medication it just may be a good time to get her used to tampons really.

Also will encourage her to have a healthy attitude towards periods & not having to resort to the hassle of getting meds to stop it. It may be a revelation to her when she tries them! x

Thanks, I’ve been to Boots and got the teen ones-one box of applicator and one without so will give them to her later and have a chat about trying them.