Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

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

Original poster

Can anyone suggest the best tampon for a young girl?

30 replies

EddieMonsoon · 01/07/2008 18:46

My dd is 12 and has started her period about 6 months ago. She feels hard done-by when she cant swim etc and finds it very embarrassing to talk to teachers etc. I am considering teaching her to use tampons for such occasions and for going on holiday so she can go into the sea. I remember how nervous I was when I started my periods (100 years ago) and wonder if anyone can recommend a brand or if there are any products around now especially for very young girls.

OP posts:
llareggub · 01/07/2008 18:49

I've no idea if there are any marketed specifically for younger girls. I always used tampons, right from my first period as I was a serious swimmer when younger. My mother bought me the really tiny lil-lets. Recently I've seen some unbleached tampons in boots that are pretty small. Perhaps look for those?

motherinferior · 01/07/2008 18:51

I believe that the advice is not to use them when you're very young, as your body is still growing and changing...but frankly I am not sure I'd go along with that, especially for swimming and so on.

motherinferior · 01/07/2008 18:51

I believe that the advice is not to use them when you're very young, as your body is still growing and changing...but frankly I am not sure I'd go along with that, especially for swimming and so on.

motherinferior · 01/07/2008 18:51

Sorry!

Spagblog · 01/07/2008 18:52

Always found tampax was easiest when I was young.

Ecmo · 01/07/2008 18:54

my dd is the same. she is 14 but due to go on holiday with a friend and is worried that she won't be able to swim etc. I have bought some of the smallest size tampax for her to try but she's all worried about it.

MindingMum · 01/07/2008 19:01

I have read too that until 14 or 15 girls immune system is unable to cope with having bacteria inside them from a tampon.

It was in 'take a break' magazine, the girl in the article died of toxic shock syndrome and had only had the tampon in for 2 and a half hours

Sanitary towels are a complete pain in the arse for children so young - my eldest DD's were only 9 and 10 when they started their periods and although the eldest is nearly 14 now, I'm putting off letting her use tampons for as long as possible.

Original poster
EddieMonsoon · 01/07/2008 20:22

The toxic shock argument is very scary but I think such a rare thing that its probably worth going ahead. thanks for all the tips. Ecmo, perhaps its worth practising the next time she has a period before she goes away? Thats what I think I'll do and I'll try mini Tampax and the unbleached ones from Boots and see which suits her. There are actually a few web-sites which help with the anxiety and give tips for young girls trying them for the first time and I'll get my dd to have a look.

OP posts:
mindalina · 01/07/2008 20:25

I used Tampax from my second period, have never been able to get on with towels. Mini tampax sounds like a good idea or failing that the Compact ones? They are plastic so not exactly eco-friendly but v easy to insert imo, so might be a good way to start at least. Plus they are very small so easily hidden in your hand to go to the loo at school or whatever.

littleboyblue · 01/07/2008 20:27

Hi. I remember when I started my periods, they were so heavy that I had to use a huge towel and thought people could see the outline through my school skirt.
So, at about 12, I wanted to use tampons so me and my friend went to buy some, got home, and OH.MY.GOD. the pain of trying to get it in!! Still having my hymen in tact, I couldn't get it in properly but I didn't want to tell my friend that so I walked around with half in, half out
I know it's horrible, but it only lasts a week.

morningpaper · 01/07/2008 20:29

Mindingmum: I am a bit sceptical about that story... is it online?

callmeovercautious · 01/07/2008 20:33

I used small Tampax from the first time as there were no Shops open and that was all there was in the house. My Mum stood outside and shouted encouragement

IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast · 01/07/2008 20:37

Tampax Compact are my recommendation - really, really easy to insert.

expatinscotland · 01/07/2008 20:40

I used Tampax, the smallest size, from my first period at 11. I was in ballet everyday and towels were just NOT going to go along with lots of ballet.

I never had any problems at all from using them.

PinkPurple · 01/07/2008 20:41

Have you thought about natracare
They are made from organic cotton, are not bleached and dont contain plastic or rayon.
You can get them in health stores, although mainstream supermarkets might now sell them as well.

MindingMum · 02/07/2008 07:53

morningpaper - it was in the magazine about 2 years ago I've no idea if it was online.

Scared the hell out of me though because my father is a retired consultant and used to warn me about the dangers in my teens but like others I thought the risk was minimal. When I read the recommendations in the magazine from the resident GP, my Dad's words came flooding back.

My DC can't be trusted to brush her teeth without me standing over her so changing a tampon regulary is probably out of the question

minster · 02/07/2008 18:29

I used tampons right from the start (well until I changed to the mooncup), I was only 10 when I started my periods (I was dancing in a show the day I started & there was no way I was going to miss it). I think applicator tampons are easier for young girls.

If you're worried she needn't use them all the time only for sport/swimming etc. I think it's really sad when girls are excluded from PE because they've got their period - exercise is fantastic for raising self esteem as well as improving period pain.

CrushWithEyeliner · 02/07/2008 18:31

I would not advise tampons for a young girl tbh

ShowOfHands · 02/07/2008 18:34

I used Tampax Minis for swimming from about aged 14.

unfitmother · 02/07/2008 18:36

CWE - Why not?

CrushWithEyeliner · 03/07/2008 07:29

i read that they can be too young to handle the build up of toxins held in the body from tampons. My sis has problemss with them and the doctor also advised to hold off until she was older..

SarahB100 · 18/01/2020 10:54

I've seen "Lil-lets teens smartfit" for young girls, Boots sell them for £1. Worth checking out.

Rollergirl11 · 18/01/2020 13:01

DD is 13 and she has been using tampons since the summer when she had her period on holiday. She uses Tampax Compact and finds them really easy to use. She was really squeamish about using them to begin with but she practised a little bit before the holiday as we guessed she was going to get it. I bought her a selection to try with, the smaller ones like Tampax Compact and Tampax Pearl. She initially was just going to use them for the holiday and for when she dances but I think she pretty much uses them all the time now.

reallifegetsintheway2 · 18/01/2020 15:23

DD is a club swimmer so has to use them. All the girls at the club do from thier first or second period. They can't miss a week's training every month! Lil-lets non applicator ones - the blue and yellow boxes are the ones to start with.

EMacCoffee · 19/01/2020 14:45

Oh my goodness everyone, this is a very very old thread😱