Advice -- How can you swim when you have your period?

[longerdays]

Hi just checking as I have been asked by a friend on behalf of his 11 year old daughter and I am not 100% on the answer. They are going away tomorrow and she has got her period. She has only used a pad to date and not tampax or similar. Can anyone please suggest what can be used so that she can be round pool and swim? I am pretty sure there is no pad which allows you to swim (I may be wrong - have things moved on?) so does anyone have any suggestions? I am not sure she is going to get the hang of tampax or tampons in 24 hours and there is no one to show her. Is there a particularly easy version of these? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

There are little booklets in packs of tampons showing how to insert. I know a friends DD used them as soon as she started for swimming - if the girl would like to go swimming then she can give it a go?

Unfortunately I think it will be very difficult for one so young to feel confident swimming with tampons. She may have to just sit by the pool which sucks. In the early day or light days she could take a quick dip as the flow often stops in the pool or is barely noticeable. Or she could wear a swimming skirt for extra confidence. Swimming sanitary towels don't exist . I swim all the time with my period but would never have done so when young or with other people around.

My DD is 14 and I can't get her to use tampons. I tried recently due to a similar issue, but she just had to wait til her period had tapered off. She said she was light enough to swim for a bit on the last couple of days of period so I let her. Obviously when full-on bleeding there is no way!

I had my first period when I was 12 and used tampons from the start, always went swimming a lot. My mum presented it as a solution not a problem so I just got on with it.

I have never used pads. I got my first ever period when we were on holiday and I started straight off with tampax and never looked back. I never thought of it as a big deal.

I used tampons from my second period as my flow was so heavy that pads were a disaster from the start. It's a bit of trial and error (occasionally I could feel it as it wasn't quite in properly) the leaflets in the tampon box are useful though and even if she can only deal with it in for an hour or so then that's enough to swim. Get the plastic applicator ones as they're the easiest to use. As others have said though, it was a very matter of fact "this is what I use" from mum and a look at the leaflet!

Dd 16yo competitive swimmer. Tampons. Not a big deal.

I think there are mini tampons for young girls, but 11 is very young

Like the others have said, applicator tampons are the best bet, in the smallest size you can get. I can't remember how old I was when I first tried them (14? 15?) but I loved them immediately - so much more discrete.

I know it's a bit late now but before future holidays your friend could take his DD to the GP who can prescribe tablets to prevent the period starting until after the holiday.
Hopefully though she will get the hang of tampons.
My friend works in the medical office of a secondary school and given the choice, the girls always choose Compax Pearl tampons.

Definitely get applicator tampons. The pearl tampax do seem much easier to use than other versions.

Some lubrication or Vaseline on the tip helps.

Dd has used a tampon twice on holiday when she was 12. You get Tampax lites that are thinner than normal ones that should be easier to insert. I demonstrated (fully clothed!) the angle to put it in at I.e. Any,e it rather than push straight up. Also said she could try lying on the bed if she found that easier. She managed in the bathroom and seemed to find it ok

Lillets also do a teen range of towels/tampons

I second tampax pearl, they are much smoother than their cardboard counterparts. Start off with light/regular and change more often.

I started my periods when I was 13 and I think I used a pad for just one day . I remember thinking how awful it was and used tampax the next day.
It was a struggle at first but I didn't come out of the bathroom till I succeeded .
Never looked back.

but 11 is very young

If she's old enough to have a period... she's old enough for tampons!

I used tampons from my first period, never pads. Now on a mooncup. Like a pp suggested, present it as a solution rather than a problem...

With 35 years of periods, might as well get the idea of tampons.

And in case any of her mates dont listen in school - no, she cannot use the pool without internal protection. She will bleed into it when she stands up to get out, if not before.

( some on mn also believe that water pressure stops menstrual bleeding)

Oh dear , just spotted it on this thread.. gravity 101.

Dd has never risked it as she has such heavy periods she's on medication for it but she's used tampons from day 1. I think if a teen wants something enough (in dds case it was dancing in her cousins case it was competitive swimming) she will use them.

I've never been able to use tampons so I used to take norethisterone to delay periods if going on a beach holiday.

I've swum in the sea in a black bikini when flow was very light at the end of my period and I after I got changed back into clothes (knickers with a clean pad already stuck on). I wouldn't risk it in a pool or on heavier days

The sea is big enough to dilute most liquids. A pool is not.