Daft question about period pants for teen.

[maldivemoment]

Bought a few pairs for my daughter, who’s 13. Perhaps a stupid question but do you just wear them all day and change/wash them in the evening? Is it the same during the night?

All very new to me so feel a bit clueless!

Thank you.

I think it depends on the flow. Lots of people wear them at the beginning and end of a period so wear one pair all day. Others who don't have a massive flow wear them all day. I've read that some women take a spare pair and a plastic bag and change half way through the day.

I feel like even if I was not flooding I wouldn't want to wear them all day as 10 hours of blood sitting out of my body would probably start to smell a little unfresh. Also sometimes I have little clots. I don't want them globbing up on my pants. But I think lighter flow is maybe fine.

If i'm out all day I tend to use pads. I generally switch the pants a few times during the day so they work better when at home.

Sometimes I pop a pad in the period pants and then when I dispose of the pad if it's just a couple of hours till I will be home then I just rely on the pants.

Overnight I would change if they need changing. If my flow is really heavy I might use a pad and pants.

It doesn't have to be an "all or nothing" approach, they can be one of the tools in the armoury.

For heavy flow days, I would wear period pants and tampon, pants mainly for security/flooding. But would always have a spare set to change into. Light flow days I just use pants.

As above, when I had heavier periods I wore tampons if if was out all day for ease, the pants were back up. Now they are fine all day as I'm perimenopausal and very light

I use a pad in them and then remove pad to sort of extend the time I can wear them. Lighter days I just wear the pants on their own and change morning and evening.

My DD wears hers all day at school then changes them when she comes home. She also wears them overnight but her periods aren’t practically heavy. I rinse them out in cold water until the water runs clear then put them in the wash with everything else. I don’t use fabric softener. You may need a few more pairs if she going to use them regularly.

There are also special bags you can put the used ones in, same as nappy bags for reusable nappies. Remember if they are wearing trousers or tights they will need to strip those off to change the knickers unless you get the ones with a fastener at each side.

They are only in school for around 6 hours so I would test them out before they wear them in school to see if they feel comfortable after that long. I wear mine overnight so that is more 8-9 hours. It honestly depends on flow, sometimes I have changed mine half way through the night.

They can wear a combination of pad, or tampon as well as the knickers. In terms of washing, I stuff all of mine in a nappy bag thing until I have finished my period. I put them on a cold rinse in the washing machine but do a rinse hold so they sit in the cold water until I drain the water. I then add bathroom towels and then wash them as normal on a 40 degree wash with Dettol laundry to remove any bacteria. Yes you can rinse them by hand but having used reusable pads and now knickers I cannot be arsed, the washing machine does it for me.

Depends on flow. For heavy flow I would change once or twice during the day (I have a wet bag for this, similar to what you might get for reusable nappies), but would wear all night. Also depends on how absorbent the pants you have bought are.

I've worn them for years and my dd wears them. We wear them from the morning until night shower then change, so prob about 14 hours. Never leaked and they're very reliable.

Enormously helpful. Thanks all!

I use a cup most of the time because I'm too disorganised to remember to make sure I have enough clean ready for my period (I sometimes wear them not on period) but I can get away with wearing them from morning to night because mine are light

My daughter does this. Pants plus reusable pad in the morning, takes the pad out at lunchtime and then repeat with fresh ones when she gets home.

Would you mind sharing which brand you use please?

My DD with heavy periods finds modibody the best -pricey initially but have lasted for years. She often wore them with a pad for school, then removed the pad at midday

This is exactly what my daughter, also 13, does, she removes the pad at lunchtime. Saves her having to change the pants in the day

She does also have a spare pair in a waterproof makeup bag with some wipes in her school bag, mainly in case she starts her period unexpectedly.

I also use the pants, my DD and I both use modibodi. I’ve tried a few brands, we find those the best. I generally buy them when there is a sale on, often 50% off. My daughter has the have the 24hr ones and the shorts.

DD is very very heavy so she uses the most absorbent modibody with one or two pads so for her the pants are a belt and braces back up rather than the main protection. Without them she wouldn't be able to leave the house.

Thanks to each & every one of you.

i had purchased a few pairs for her. A pack from M&S and x2 modibodi ones. She tried the M&S ones to school but reported that towards the end of the school day they felt a bit damp. Really doesn’t sound very pleasant! Used regular pads for the next few days.

Next month I’ll suggest she tries the modibodi ones.

I’m getting the impression they’re not the game-changer I was led to believe. By the sounds of things most people use pp plus a pad. Looks like that’s the way to go.

You have all been enormously helpful. Thank you.

My DD wears one pair for school and changes them when she gets home. I have to say they smell awful. Whatever you do make sure you wash them according to the instructions and rinse them out first. It’s no good just throwing them in the washing machine with something like modibodi.

I found the period pants I used were good at absorbing the blood, but I'm not certain they didn't start to smell a bit after a while. For that reason, I wouldn't wear the same pair all day if I was out of the house at work or socialising. I'd take a pair to change at lunch and a small wet bag to contain the used ones.

I usually used one or two pairs during the day (depending if I was leaving the house or not) and a new pair overnight. Using a pad in them for half the day is a great idea, I'll definitely try that in future!

Just seen this thread and just purchased some Wuka for my DD. Is it ok using pads with wings in pants? As I see the material seems quite delicate and because they are expensive, I am concerned with damaging them with the sticky bits from the pads.

First time using them for DD and she doesn’t seem keen on just relying on the pants as she is scared of leaking, so wants to continue using pads in the pants.

Also, I read the washing instructions. After getting the blood out with cold water, am I meant to wash them straight away in washing machine? Or can they be saved for next morning when I do the usual wash?

Thanks

Sorry if my questions seem daft! Just a bit clueless too

My DD and her friends don't like period pants

Their periods are too heavy and it's not reliable during school unlike tampons

Too bulky and not reliable

Ok to wear at night

Ok to wear with tampons obviously

Bit pointless with pads however it will catch small leaks

And a complete pfaff to rinse and wash and dry during a period

And the smell