Vintage sanpro: anyone remember giant towels with loops and belts?

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The first ones mum gave me were huge affairs with an elastic waist belt. There were these loops at each end that you threaded through to wear - felt like you were straddling a hammock and made you walk like a jockey. The horror.

Then there was the Bunnies incinerator at school - a terrifying steampunk monstrosity that you fed the used towel in and it would make an appalling noise as it mashed it up. Oh, I wonder if that was why mum called towels 'bunnies'?

I quickly discovered Vespre towels - someone had the rather bright idea that regular press on towels always bunched into a particular curved shape in use, so why not make them in that shape? I liked those.

I was a late tampon adopter - started at 18. Tho I liked the ones with the pull-out compact applicator (Compak??), I always wondered - who the hell thought those sharp plastic teeth was a good idea??

I went meno before mooncups happened, sadly so I can't comment.

Ah, memories ...

A bit off-topic but . . . early "Hold Up" (NOT) stockings, anyone?

. . . the sort that, as you are sashaying all sophis past the cinema queue to meet your teen-date . . . betray you by slithering in a cascade down to your ankles!

They are not much more cop these days. I was crouching behind a hedge hoiking up a pair of Houdini Holdups as recently as 2009!

After that, I gave up and reverted to comfy suspender belts and stockings (proper suspender belts with at least 3 sturdy straps per leg - not silly scraps of lace).

BTW Don't talk to me about Tights - the choice between waistbands-up-to-me-arm-pits-vs-knee-level-gussets! Stockings and suspenders every time - they should never have gone out of fashion. Infinitely more healthy for the whole Fanny region too.

Sorry - cross-post Dido.

Dido - I am 4 years older than you and that 4 -5 years made a huge difference where I grew up (rural Wales), ie. in terms of whether pads or tampons were the norm.

However, it was girls with younger mums, like yours, who tended to be offered tampons by their mums from the get-go rather than being "started" on pads.

It is an interesting time to look back on, in terms of different attitudes and understandings.

(I don't know whether it is me or the way the forum software has been bouncing aound recently but I have only just seen the posts about virginity earlier. That was definitely a big consideration, even if misunderstood.)

I have been reminded that I posted a while ago about how Victorian women managed menstruation. It didn't get any interest at the time but maybe it will now

"You never have period talk in Brontë" video "How Did Victorian Women Deal With Their Periods?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3813729-You-never-have-period-talk-in-Bront-video-How-Did-Victorian-Women-Deal-With-Their-Periods

Tights! I don’t really like tights but I did used to wear them in the 80s-90s. I particularly hate the thin type of tight - “tan”. Now you can get decent fake tans I don’t need these tights anymore. I wonder if they’ve seen a downturn in sales as I used to buy shit loads cos I was embarrassed about my white legs?!

I'm 64 and definitely remember them But as a keen swimmer I was allowed (after intervention by a more up to date aunt) to use Lillets after about a year. Back to the pads after childbirth though in the early 80's

It's funny, my 13yr old DD doesn't use tampons but I've not really suggested she does. For the time being slimline pantyliners seem to do the job on light days but also using modibodi period pants (I'm a new convert to those, they're great!). And they come in cool teen designs too. I'm wondering why I've not suggested she try tampons though - perhaps worries she will hurt herself, not have washed her hands before using etc?

I had to pop into a small village shop while on holiday a couple of years ago and the elderly shopkeeper carefully wrapped my sanitary towels in a brown paper bag separately from the rest of the shopping. Took me back...

comfort zone" of mothers around "feminine issues" (as the euphemism used to be) and/or sexual issues?

I literally came home one day to a packet of pads on my bed. My parents told me nothing about periods I learnt it all from books/school. I only knew about tampons really cos of that blue holder with the free sample given out during the hygiene lecture at high school.

I wouldn't have wanted big deal made of it but I really would have appreciated being set up a bit more and not having to go buy my own because unless I asked for some they didnt buy them and if they did buy them one packet was supposed to enough.

Even with tampons, they gave the minis out at school my mum.had the super plus ones I didn't really know about the ones in between.

If I had been younger I'd have been screwed. I had so many accidents over night etc as I just had no idea about options. Supermarkets are wall to wall pads in the aisle. So many different options . I'm actually almost angry that I merely got the basics and/or what the petrol garage sold if I ran out and had to go get some myself with paper round money.

So many different options . I'm actually almost angry that I merely got the basics and/or what the petrol garage sold if I ran out and had to go get some myself with paper round money

I'd be angry. If they bought toilet paper then they should buy san pro and not expect you to pay for this out of your own money.

I had to buy and hide my own deodorant. My mother didn't believe in it.

If I'd have asked for it I'd have probably got it and I did if I asked them when they went shopping. But if I ran out and handnt said to get some (seriously who doesn't just get a stash /range sorted) then I had to go get them myself. As you know they can he erratic to start so there were times you forgot as it had been so long ...

When I set up the child I made a proper little kit and did my best to think of everything . Even a wet bag and spare underwear.

My "bag" was a tiny make up bag thing that fit 2 or 3 pads and in order to fit tampons in I had to unwrap and take a apart as it was so small. Maybe i should have asked for more stuff but asking for pocket money never went well so I was reluctant to ask for anything that cost money.

Every thing I bought basically came from saving up 10p a time with bus fare change and a pair round ( 4.40 a week)

My mum also didnt believe in crop tops not good when I didn't need a bra til 16. O ly got that cos I begged and it was an AA. I dont remember about deodorant think I ended up with the impulse body sprays I bought when they were a quid. Again it was not something I was set up with. I had to ask or buy myself

The 'steam punk' incinerator at school - I remember that so well, yes! I would never have dare use it myself and it was rarely used at all, but just occasionally with the most awful noise and smell.

Did you know what was happening to you?

Mum told me very clearly while I was in the bath aged about 9. 'It takes a man and a woman to make a baby' was her opening line. I think she'd noticed I was developing fast for my age and she had a book 'Peter and Pamela Grow Up' for me. I'd love to read that again.

Lucky she did because I was 10, still in junior school. I came barrelling downstairs 'Mum! Mum!' (pause for dramatic pause ) 'I've started my first period!'). I felt SO IMPORTANT.

I'm really glad she told me so soon - her mother told her nothing and she said she thought she was dying.

I'm South of England, Mum was 24 when I was born.

I'm 40 and I remember looped pads. They were one of a range of things I tried to stop me leaking on heavy days. In the end I was put on the pill so at least my heavy day could be timed for not a school day.
Nowadays I'm a moon cup user. Works well for me, but I'd not have managed one as a teenager. I also had cramps that made me pass out regularly. Boy I hated puberty.

I'm 40 and I remember looped pads. They were one of a range of things I tried to stop me leaking on heavy days. In the end I was put on the pill so at least my heavy day could be timed for not a school day

At primary school we wore pe knickers . I find it really strange that the clothing didnt reflect the issues kids would face.. you would get away with them with the tiny modern day pads not sure how anyone attending school in the 70s and 80s would care with the belt under pe knickers

Almost as if it's a bit of a piss take really. Perhaps to weed out the poorer people using the left over period stuff from siblings or mums? Proof that even as late as the 80s girls in school were an after thought after decades of not being allowed an education ?

Would fare

I started my period around 1993 and remember matressy BodyForm and Always, which soon gave way to flatter winged ones.

I'm currently pregnant with a daughter, and I'm determined to talk openly and shamelessly about menstruation with her. No secrecy. No embarrassment. It's a bodily function like any other, and should be treated as such - with maturity and neutrality.

not sure how anyone attending school in the 70s and 80s would care with the belt under pe knickers

Was anyone using the belted variety in the 70s and 80s? You would have had to make a conscious decision to buy the worst option available.

It's true I was given that to use in the 70s but only because mother had probably had it stashed in her wardrobe for 20 years...

I am sure I only used it the first time...

There were definitely some still fairly bulky pads around then. You definitely would have seen those through tight pe knickers.

And that's assuming you were wearing any pe knickers. They still did the whole vest and pants thing if you forgot your pe kit when I was at primary. And we had catalogue paper youd never have cleaned yourself up. On the plus side there were boys and girls changing rooms

Dd2 is yr 4 they still change together for pe...

I don’t remember the old pads and belts - I started my period age 12 in 1993 and used the sticky pads.

I tried tampons but I couldn’t get them in! I think I was probably being a wuss, but I never used them until after I lost my virginity at 16 (which was very painful).

I’ve never liked tampons much, I use washable pads now.

I wish posters would remember that not everyone is familiar with the English school system. "Yr 4" for me could mean 8 /9 or 15/16.

Why is it so difficult to say "daughter is... " and her age.

My apologies yr 4 so 8/9

Dd2 is 9

My school moved us on to sturdy navy gym shorts at secondary 1(age 11/12)- or possibly primary 7 (age 10/11)

When I was at secondary we had black cycling shorts and a netball skirt for pe kit.

No joggers .

Proper toilet paper at least though.

I've dimly remembering seeing a Bunny incinerator somewhere- I suppose it must have been at school - and not knowing what it was for. I can't remember how we disposed of towels/tampons at school- possibly bins were a thing by the early 70s.