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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teens and Tampons!

33 replies

purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 18:41

Hello ladies! Just a bit of advise really!

My daughter has just turned 14 years old and so far had 3 periods. She is managing fine with them, and I was wondering how soon to try her with tampons?

She prefers to use towels without wings (getting changed for PE when wearing a towel with wings is too embarrasing! When I was her age winged towels didn't exist!) Used to get them from Wilkinsons but they don't seem to have them any more, not looked at Boots yet

I had a chat with her earlier and I think she would like to try, I have said it may take a few attempts, I think I first tried when I was about 16 or 17 and on about my third attempt I got the hang of it

Thanks!

OP posts:
FreudianSlippery · 29/01/2011 19:05

I've heard you can use a bit of KY or lube stuff to help. Definitely try the applicator ones.

A key thing is to remember to start with the smallest size and only to use them during heavy flow (which she may not have yet?) - removing a dryish tampon is painful.

She may not get on with them yet, and what's the hurry? Worth a try but (and this probably isn't what you want to hear) I wasn't able to use them until I'd lost my virginity Blush

dexter73 · 29/01/2011 19:09

My dd has been using tampons since she was 12 and is very happy with them.She started off using the smallest ones (tampax with applicator in a purple wrapper) and then moved up to regular and super sometimes. She didn't need to use any lube. She just read the instructions and I left her to it!

solo · 29/01/2011 19:13

Mooncup? would she be up for trying one of those instead? much cheaper, cleaner, safer etc.

MotherMountainGoat · 29/01/2011 19:16

Do you know of a young teen being able to use a Mooncup, solo? We have a similar problem to the OP's daughter, but DD is only 12. The towels are proving problematic for her heaviest day, but the small tampons are just not working. I'll suggest lube, with only a twinge of embarrassment if she asks what the stuff is normally for. Blush

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 19:18

I had a terrible time when I started trying to use them and I was about 13-14. I couldn't get them in at all, I remember getting really frustrated!! I think the angle can be difficult to get right, even now I need to do it in a certain way. Howver, I think the biggest problem was being too dry and not using any/enough lube. Also, they were 'regular' ones, not the lovely little mini ones they do now.

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 19:19

solo, I am a Mooncup user and during our discussion she said she doesn't feel ready to just go straight to them

FreudianSlippery, Oh god yes the agony of a dry tampon!!

I had said we can try with the smallest ones, and do it when she is at home feeling 'safe' I was telling her a bit about the different sizes for the mooncup and said something like 'after you've had a baby everything changes in there!'

One of her friends in the same year uses tammpons as she does a lot of swimming

When I remember the thickness of the towels I used to use, felt like I was waddling!

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 19:20

Yes, hadn't thought of lube!

OP posts:
herbietea · 29/01/2011 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 19:52

Last month I think I did end up getting an packet of Always without wings, but Wilko's own brand was 3 packs for £2 bargain!

I stocked up on night time ones

Thanks for the opinions!

OP posts:
solo · 29/01/2011 20:29

I don't know of any I'm afraid, but I'm trying to convert my friend who has Dd's that are interested. The youngest teen is 14.

I started using tampons at age 14 with no problems, but I do wish I'd known about menstrual cups back then! I was a late starter with Mooncups and have been using one for 20 months, but now going into menopause I think.
I'm definitely going to be introducing the idea to my Dd early on when she's old enough (4 atm, so not yet ready for the chat).
Hope you find a solution for them. I remember the house bricks we wore in the 70's...ugh!

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 20:36

I've taken a look at Boots online and they have some without wings so may get some tomrrow and a small packet of slim/mini tampons for her to try when she is feeling brave

solo, mooncups are FAB aren't they?! Wish I had found out about them years ago, been using one for coming up for 4 years now

OP posts:
maryz · 29/01/2011 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PigTail · 29/01/2011 20:40

maryz..in one way that is sooo sweet, in another it's horrendous! Grin

maryz · 29/01/2011 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 20:41

LOL at them shouting instructions through the cubicle!

I have told her there are diagrams for her and it can be fiddly!

OP posts:
WimpleOfTheBallet · 29/01/2011 20:43

Why would you decide anything about her choice of protection? It's her choice...not yours...I dont mean to be rude but a 14 year old should decide when it's time.

Tampons are crap and risky with regards to infections and they leave masses of microsopic threads behind...don't encourage her to use them if she's not asking!

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 20:56

I'm not forcing her to try them, she has been asking

OP posts:
cardibach · 29/01/2011 21:23

My daughter started her periods at 10 but didn't want to try tampons until she was about 13. SHe couldn't manage it then, but at 14 came out of the bathroom all proud one day having managed it! She rarely uses one, but is pleased to know how. Just have the conversation and make them available without the need to ask again.

As regards teenage openness these days, I agree it is amazing (and heart warming). THey have no unnecessary embarrasment about their bodies!

cyrilsneer · 29/01/2011 22:13

Both of my daughters had one period with pads to see what happened and then got straight onto Tampax on their second period (age 12 and age 14).

We all use with Tampax Compact which has a plastic applicator so quite smooth and slidey to make insertion easier. They both started with the Minis (purple) and have never looked back.

By the second or third period they were ready to have a go with Regular (yellow) and soon after that to try Super ( green) on the heaviest days.

With both of my daughters, we squirrelled ourselves away in a locked bathroom with plenty of time and Mini Tampax and I demonstrated what to do and they had a go. I gave them both lots of encouragement and support and love and they both cracked it quite quickly.

Original poster
purpleknittingmum · 29/01/2011 22:20

oh cyrilsneer, I had forgotten that Tampax compact had the little plastic applicators, before I used the mooncup I ended up using store own brand non applicator ones!

OP posts:
wubblybubbly · 29/01/2011 22:30

I agree that the compact ones are so much easier to use than the old cardboard spiky ones - ouch!

cyril, what a fabulous Mum you are! My mother couldn't bring herself to even talk to me about periods. Still hasn't and I'm 42 Grin

cyrilsneer · 29/01/2011 22:53

(blush)

Thank you...

My Mum was pretty Victorian when it came to talking about anything personal. It wasn't her fault, she was just from another world really... she used those hideous house-brick pads (which she called "STs" (whispered) with loops attached to a stretchy belt before I persuaded her to get the ones with the sticky strips... She never used a tampon in her life - I think she actually thought that it was tantamount to being a prostitute.

So, I also learned how to use Tampax with two friends outside the door of the school loo cubicle urging me to "Aim backwards to your bottom, not up to your chin!".

I guess I try to make everything seem normal, positive and healthy as possible and the girls so far seem to have fallen in with this sort of attitude/ approach.

wubblybubbly · 29/01/2011 23:07

Grin @ "tantamount to being a prostitute".

When my friend tried to use tampons she fainted the first few times, bless her. It's wonderful that you can be so open with your daughters.

manicbmc · 29/01/2011 23:11

I got my dd - aged 16, some of the smallest ones but she just doesn't like them at all. Her choice. They are there if she changes her mind.

maryz · 29/01/2011 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.