How do you talk to your daughters about periods? Share your tips with Lil-Lets for a chance to win a £300 gift voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at Lil-Lets would love to hear your tips on talking to your daughter(s) about growing up and preparing for their period. Or, how you faired having the same talk with your own mum.

Lil-Lets say "we are often asked by parents how best to approach that all important discussion with their daughters as they become a teen, grow up and start their periods. We know MN is a massive source of support for parents and different stages of the parenting journey and we'd love to hear your tips and experiences with this topic".

Please share your top tips on how to chat to your daughter(s) about growing up and preparing for their period. Lil-Lets also want to hear your tales of the same talk with your own mum.

Check out their video below:

Please add your comment or tip below and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 gift voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ
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i made my daughters aware of my period from an early age so that they saw it as a normal thing

DD is old enough to have been having hers for years, I was matter of fact with her

I have never hidden away sanitary products so as they were growing up they were always aware that it was an item they would use themselves which made it so much easier when I found out the school was about to start the topic. There was no shock or embarassment on either side - although they weren't too impressed that they'd be buying them each month til they were older than me! It was also important to have some of the general talk when dad was around to so they know it's not just a 'girl' thing but that they can talk to either of us about any questions or concerns they have.

Talk about it from a really early age.

Introduce the idea early on so they just know it is a part of growing up and its then seems natural to them.

I think the key to this is being open about menstruation whilst the children are tiny. I don't mean letting them know every detail too soon but not covering up and making sanitary protection a secret. I remember being really embarrassed about starting my periods and I don't want my girls to feel there is anything abnormal about it.

We've not had a chat about it yet, but I don't think it is far away and I will answer openly and honestly in an age-appropriate way.

I aim to make sure she knows where sanitary protection is kept for when it happens because my Mum wasn't home when I started and I didn't know where she kept supplies! I may get a book for her about puberty so that she can find information and refer back to it whenever she likes.

My mother's talk was 'I suppose you know about periods?' and there was never another word said apart from her supplying sanitary products. Schools usually cover the subject well so timing your talk with that is a good idea.

I always thought my mum didn't prepare me very well, I find it very difficult even now to discuss it with her, couldn't quite work out how her and my sister seemed much better with it. Now, having my own teenagers I do think it depends on their personality as to how easy it is. I have always been open about it but sat my eldest down when she was about 11 to discuss taking supplies to school etc and she was quite happy to discuss it. My youngest was completely different and looks absolutely mortified if I even broach the subject! It doesn't stop me, I just don't have big sit down conversations, I say things like I couldn't help but notice you have your period, are you feeling ok, do you need anything? It seems to work for them.

Little by little as she gets older, rather than one big scary talk

kind of difficult but talking helps

We have not got to that stage yet but i know there are plenty of good books around that i will pass to my daughter to read at the time, I imagine when she is about 8-10 years of age at the moment she is only 3.

I'm not at that stage yet as my little one is only 6 but I already have numerous pages of information ready to help try and explain.

I have never had a set talk - it is something that I am open about so my children learn about it as part of every day life. My mother had this approach and it was all very matter of fact.

I talked to my daughter opening about my periods at the appropriate moments so it wasn't a 'big thing' and she knew exactly what to expect.

My mother told me nothing. She produced a package of sanitary towels, and a belt with hooks which linked to loops at each end of the towel (no self-adhesive backing or wings in those days!), and told me to use them "when it started to become necessary". Anything would have to be better than that!

I bought my daughter sanitary towels and a make up bag to put them in and showed her how to use them, She now carries this around as periods are imminent. We first had the conversation when she was much younger and wanted to know what they were so now she is fully prepared. My mum also did the same with me and had a book explaining growing up which she gave me to read.

I'm a mum of 3 girls and I have had all the talks with them when they were about 10. With my oldest I just gradually started talking about what will happen to her body and she used to ask lots of questions. With my twins I did the same but they didn't seem to ask a lot of questions, I then realised they asked their older sister. My advise would be to start talking about these things fairly early on and then just be open and answer any questions they have. They are 12 now and both just started their period within the last few months but didn't seem fazed by it at all.

I just explained that we are different from boys & that when our body at a certain age starts to change to get prepared for women hood & i explained what comes along with it & that its nothing to be ashamed of & that we all go through the same thing in life it just makes us even more special.

I plan to be open and honest with my daughter, like my mum was with me.
Show that its not embarassing, and talk like its an every day thing! Which it is! Its a part of life, and if you show that you're there to talk to, or to give advice to, then daughters hopefully will feel like they can talk when they need to, and ask questions that probably won't go answered in schools.
Dont be so serious, explain the options, and to talk about the emotions as well as the practical things, oh and that chocolate helps ;)

Judy Bloom book helped me its called -Are you there God, it's me Margaret. I have one or two friends who kept it in readiness.

My daughter is 10 and last year at school, they had the periods chat and came home with sanitary protection, which prompted me to chat about it informally with no pressure.
She was embarrassed about coming home with the protection but i reassured her and i have always been open about my periods and if i have slight cramps and about the bleeding. I dont want her to be ashamed about it at all.

I dont really remember having a big chat with my mom, i just remember it happening and we just got on with it, it wasnt a big deal at all.

Really openly and honestly - there should be nothing that is a secret or anything she cannot ask you

I dont have any problems with talking to my daughter about periods or things relating to our bodies. My mum always got embarrassed discussing anything to do with periods which meant i had to learn from friends so I didnt want my daughters finding out incorrect stories from the play ground or feeling nervous to talk about body matters. being open and approachable is the best option

my children are too young yet to think about that