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Teenagers

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

Original poster

DD (12), periods & pool holidays!

74 replies

FunkyPeacock · 01/05/2015 08:56

Not strictly teens as my DD is 12.5 years

She started her periods a week ago and working on the basis of a 28 day cycle her next period is due as we arrive in on holiday for some half term sun :-(

We have hired a villa with a pool and it is the first time we have been on that type of holiday for quite a few years so we are all really excited - especially about the pool (me & both DC love swimming)

I'm now really stressing that DD's holiday will be somewhat spoilt by her period

Any advice? (I would prefer not to suggest tampons due to her age and it will only be her 2nd period - I didn't start using tampons til I was 16/17)

OP posts:
DustBunnyFarmer · 05/05/2015 00:17

A question here because I have no idea, but can you swim with a mooncup, or are tampons the only option?

DustBunnyFarmer · 05/05/2015 00:18

Although I'd assume that a 12 year old who struggles with tampons will hardly want to try a mooncup.

Fattycow · 05/05/2015 00:18

You can swim with a mooncup.

cogitosum · 05/05/2015 00:20

Genuinely quite shocked that someone would prefer medication to mess with hormones at 12 than tampons.

Mutley77 · 05/05/2015 00:23

Glad to see that Tampax use is so normal early on. My mum didn't encourage their use til I was older (late teens) and I had a question in my mind about dd as she swims competitively and I wondered how she would manage that Smile

mathanxiety · 05/05/2015 06:40

My DDs swam as a sport and used tampons from the getgo.

Use the right tampon for level of bleeding -- the lite or regular ones may not be adequate for heavier days. Get plastic applicator ones with a rounded tip for easiest insertion.

Gymbob · 05/05/2015 20:27

what is a mooncup? Blush

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/05/2015 20:35

I was regular as clockwork from first period.

Let her try tampons, I couldn't use them for a year or so though even though I was desperate!

Hulababy · 05/05/2015 20:37

DD has used tampons occasionally from age 10y. She is now just turned 13. She doesn't really like them, but will use them if she needs o - primarily if she wants to go in a pool on holidays.

First time was tricky but she got there with some guidance and gentle talking!

lincolnshirelassy · 07/05/2015 13:54

Encourage to use tampons. My 13 year-old finally tried them last summer on hols as she didn't want to miss swimming. My 16 year old step daughter on the other hand was taken to the Doctor by her mum and prescribed hormonal pills to stop her period- completely ridiculous I think why not use tampons? I'm sure your dd will be fine x

lincolnshirelassy · 07/05/2015 13:55

P.s my dd finds Tampax pearl compact best, they're expensive but worth it

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 13:56

Lots of girls aren't developed enough to use tampons from early one even if they try. It's not a case of just using them.

lincolnshirelassy · 07/05/2015 13:57

Mutley my dd swims competitively too, she is fine on tampons, worth reminding her you don't bleed when you're actually in the water, my dd used to worry she would suddenly get her period during training

TwelveLeggedWalk · 07/05/2015 14:03

Is it a private villa/pool? I doubt her periods would be heavy at 12, and presumably the water is on the chilly side, so can't she just swim a bit - maybe just sitting out one or two days? As another poster pointed out, you rarely bleed in the water anyhow, and if it's just your family there she can discreetly grab a dark towel when she gets out.

Dancergirl · 07/05/2015 14:06

OP, have you broached the subject of tampons with your dd? You can encourage her to try them but ultimately it will be up to her. It's a personal choice. Is she actually bothered by the potential prospect of missing swimming? Sometimes we worry more about this than our dds!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 14:07

You can bleed in the water, there was a looooooong thread a while back on this very subjectGrin

TwelveLeggedWalk · 07/05/2015 14:07

I missed that gem Dame Grin

SunnyBaudelaire · 07/05/2015 14:09

"I doubt her periods would be heavy at 12 "

whyever not? I bled like a pig at that age.

addstudentdinners2 · 07/05/2015 14:10

The tampons thing is very personal, I hated them at 12 but I still hate them and I never use them. You could always ask her if she wants to try them. Put a bit of KY Jelly or similar on them and they're not difficult to insert.

At 12 her periods may not be regular just yet anyway.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 14:11

My nieces have dreadfully heavy periods, poor things. Same as adults, some are heavier than others.

scribblescrabble · 07/05/2015 14:12

I'm in my 40's and was always told as a teen that you couldn't use a tampon until you had lost your virginity ... I know it's duff info now but I would still have to think twice before suggesting a tampon for a 12 year old.

SunnyBaudelaire · 07/05/2015 14:14

yes but you know that advice was duff right? so.....

Aquilla · 07/05/2015 14:15

Another seconding tampax pearl here. Or anything with an applicator at the very least. I didn't use them either until I left school but only because they were too expensive.

mychildrenarebarmy · 07/05/2015 14:17

Give her the option of tampons if it's necessary but make sure she knows you are just suggesting it as an option not as compulsory. My Mum assumed I'd want to use them and I really didn't want to. It is, as others have said, unlikely that she will settle straight into 28 day cycle.

she's going to want them for school, they'll all know who is on a period if someone is wearing big knickers in the changing rooms.

WTF?! I don't know what I find worse about this, the fact there is an assumption that girls will be that bothered, or the fact that at that age girls apparently (who knew?!) will already have 'period knickers'.

fanofpeamum · 07/05/2015 14:17

Can I ask PPs, just out of curiosity and bewilderment, why exactly if a girl has started menstruating she would be "too young" for tampons?