Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Help-What is the smallest tampon for dd-12

38 replies

simplesusan · 30/09/2009 13:19

I am not sure where to post this but thought people who use this board are often very "in the know".
My dd who is 12 has recently started her periods.
Unfortunately her next one is due when she is to appear at a dance competition.

The problem is that she has to wear a very tight lycra leotard and is frightened of any pads showing.
I have told her that I think a tampon would be better -as to avoid her panicing about anyone being able to see the lines of the pad.
I have had a brief look in the supermarket but the smallest tampon I could find was a regular one. Is this the smallest? and also any thoughts as to whether she would be better with or without an applicator. So far she has only used pads and won't even use "winged" ones for fear of anyone noticing.

All replys very welcome.

OP posts:

theyoungvisiter · 30/09/2009 13:52

Don't panic susan - and don't let her see you panic!

If she can't manage with a tampon, what about a pantyliner, rather than a pad? They are so tiny they would barely cover the gusset of a leotard - I am SURE no-one would notice it.

And they will do fine for half an hour of light flow.

Anyway as Madre says, she may not be on, 2 periods is not a lot to go on - I think when I started I had two or 3 at 30 days apart and then the next two or three varied from 25-35 days apart.

MadreInglese · 30/09/2009 13:55

It's trauma enough starting your periods so young, you need to really downplay it and show her that periods do not need to embarrassingly disrupt your life

Give her some pads of different thickness and let her try with her leotard and leap around a bit and she can see and choose for herself

"tampons or nothing" is sure to just add extra pressure IMO

Crusher · 30/09/2009 13:57

I've been prescribed tablets by my doctor to delay my period by a few days (when I've being going on holiday) and you take them a 2-3 days before your period is due but you'd need to check it out with your GP. The next period you have is slightly heavier I really sympathize with your daughter.

ruddynorah · 30/09/2009 14:00

i couldn't have got by with a light panty liner at that age. mine were full on heavy periods from the word go.

regular swimming club meant it was pretty much straight to regular tampons from 11 or 12. applicator ones to start. i remember my dear old gran (who brought me up) thrusting the box and instructions at me. she was mortified, staunch catholic, totally embarrassed. she left me for a moment to try one then shuffled back to say 'you do know where they go don't you?' rather sheepishly.

theyoungvisiter · 30/09/2009 14:02

aren't they basically hormonal tablets fooling your body into thinking it's pregnant? I'm not sure I'd want my daughter taking them so young - I think it would be better to a) try tampons or sea-pearl thingies and b) accept that if they don't work, a teeny pad is not the end of the world.

Perhaps also worth pointing out to her that there must be other girls in her class who have started, and that she's never noticed their pads (presumably?)

Original poster

simplesusan · 30/09/2009 14:26

Yes you are probably right regarding other girls having periods Theyoungvisitor but tbh most of the girls her age are very small (she is quite tall and developed for her age as I was at that age). For example her friend the same age (12-year 8) is only a size 2 shoe!
I don't really want to give her tablets. Think I will buy a selection of thin pads/pantyliners and mini lilets/tampax and get her to experiment and see what she is happiest in.

OP posts:

PVish · 30/09/2009 16:45

you didnt knwo they did mini?
how odd

dexter73 · 30/09/2009 16:50

I think that it would be best to buy an assortment and see which ones she feels happy with. Could she ask the other girls what they use?
My dd(12) started her periods when she was 11 and they were a bit hit and miss with timing but also heavy so a small panty liner would have been no good!

bodeniites · 30/09/2009 17:05

what about an always elvive 12 times more absorbent than a panty liner so they say

brummiemummie · 30/09/2009 18:59

My 10yo DD used a tampon for her dance show a few months ago, and has now started using them a bit more regularly. She started off with the smallest Tampax Compak Lites (in a purple box, here) - I think the plastic applicators are easier when you first start, personally.

Original poster

simplesusan · 30/09/2009 19:46

Pvish no I didn't know there was anything smaller than regular as I have never been fortunate enough to need anything smaller/lighter. I am making sure that I don't repeat the mistakes my mother made who decided it would be best not to mention periods to me, even upto the point when I found blood trickling down my legs.
I had to experiment in secret with tampons when I was much older than my dd and I never want her to have to go through that.
brummiemummie and bodenitesthanks for your tips.

OP posts:

herethereandeverywhere · 01/10/2009 09:34

I started my periods at 12 and was always much more comfortable with tampons than pads. I never got to grips with Lilets as I couldn't judge whether they were "in enough" as they had no applicator. Tampax minis were what I used - if her periods are light I would recommend a bit of KY jelly to make application easier.

A word of warning about Lilets if that's the way you're going - MAKE SURE they are inserted the right way round (string at the bottom) it's an easy mistake to make when you're new to these things, esp. with no applicator to guide you! Friend made just such a mistake and it's AGONY to remove it by all accounts.

Also I think tampax do new plastic curved top applicator versions (not sure of their name)not great for the environment but for occasional use (like the competition), they could be ideal.

gagamama · 01/10/2009 10:28

I started at this age and used to do ballet every week - I used to find a pantyliner was fine for an hour lesson. The Tampax Compact are also very easy to use, she just has to be sure to pull the plastic casing out before using it. It'd be worth opening one with her and showing her how it works before she has a go, and remind her it's impossible for it to go too far in.

I still can't get to grips with Lil-Lets even now... they're very difficult to use when you have little fingers!

Flip

1 2