How to coach my DD in the use of tampons.

[mrsbadcrumble66]

Ok shes not a teenager in years # shes 12 but in every other way she is. She has been having her period for 18 months now and wants to start using tampons as we are going on holiday in August and by my calculations will start in the 2nd week. She has tried a few times before now and failed so I said to leave it for a bit.
Now today she started her period and wanted to try again, we read the leaflet, I explained that she needs to follow the curve of her body and not to point straight up as it will not happen. So I left her to it and 10 minutes later she came out, all upset and said she couldn't do it and she didn't even know where to put it. The last bit surprised me as we have discussed it, looked at diagrams and I have given her a mirror and told her to go explore.
So, where do I go from here? She desperately wants to try again this time but I have told her to leave it for today. Do any of you wise women have advice for when she wants to give it another go?

Cheers in advance.

ju

blimey i remember it taking me lots of practise! just keep trying

i was so happy when i managed it, but didn't tell anyone

those diagrams in the packet are usually very difficult I think..I illustrated how to insert a tampon for the book 'Have you started yet' and showed a kind of undercarriage view,showing which ,how to put it delicately ? - hole - to put it in...it is tricky if she's nervous too - she will tense up...you could suggest a dab of vaseline and use the plastic applicator ones...

Would suggest she leaves it until a heavier day rather than day 1, as it will help it go in a bit more easily. HAven't looked at the instructions for ages, but remember one foot propped up on the loo seemed to help in aiming "back" rather than "up".

I might be wrong here, but she may be too young physically for tampons.

My daughter is 12, and I wouldn't even suggest that she try them yet. She wouldn't have the knowledge of her own anatomy and wherewithal, I'm sure.

i was about 12 though, mary ann i had that book (but it must have been an earlier edition

if she wants to persevere I would suggest giving her some ky jelly or similar and telling her to have a feel about with her fingers for a bit, try to work out what is what without worrying about the tampon
(obviously do this when not menstruating)

then when she feels like she has more of an idea of how things work down there she could try again

she may have an almost completely intact hymen which would mean it would be trickier for her of course, some girls do

has she got the very narrow ones for starters? and an applicator tampon?

I don't think she's too young, probably just a bit tense. My DD only wears tampons when she really wants to swim and it would be a great shame if your DD was unable to enjoy swimming on holiday.

Is she using the applicator ones? Agree with the suggestion of trying some vaseline.

I think you could try suggesting that she lies back on a bed or with her feet up horizontal - it could be that she's going in at the wrong angle.

yep, was going to suggest lying down...

Thank you for all your advice and input. Lots of fab advice for us to take forward. I will report back.

I remember my mum teaching me. I put one foot up on the bath and it was pretty simple. I was 14 i think...

What brand is she using? I started on tampax and would be in floods of tears because I couldn't get the hang of the applicator thingy (still can't ) and then I tried lillets and found it so much easier.

I found lillets easier too - though I think I was nearly 15 as I was a very small (all over!) girl and don't think I was physically ready before then.

BIG word of warning with them though - if she uses them she must must must remember to pull the string first as I didn't once and had to have it removed at the doctors, to my utter teenage mortification.