My Daughter About to Start Her PERIOD !!

How does the doctor know this? I was a 32D with pubic hair and all the works by the time I was 12. I didn't start my period until I was almost 16 years old- I was sophomore in high school. I was the very last one of all my friends (and I was horrified! lol). Anyway, it has to with body fat, so if she has none and is small, then it could be a while. :)

I would introduce her to tampons. With all that running, jumping etc. the last thing she needs is to be mortified that the blood stained her clothing.

I started my period at 10. I used tampons from my second cycle on. I really don't think it's a big deal!! Especially if she is active and it will help her live a normal life!

Edit: as far as them being uncomfortable, I can only use the OB brand without applicator (sorry if TMI). They expand out instead of up and down - which I just can't take. Any brand with an applicator tend to be longer and will expand up and down. And, I used tampons before my hymen was broken and it didn't bother me in the least.

Oh!! And please teach her to track her periods. I never was taught the importance of it so it was always a surprise to me - which meant a lot of stains and a lot of emergency trips to the bathroom.

Original: Any reason not to teach her about tampons? (Honest question, my daughter is only 18mos.)

I just don't think a pad will be appropriate while she's playing sports. If it does slide around, others will notice and she'll be mortified.

Why not do everything you can to keep it discrete for her?

There are those new commercials for tampax (I think) that asks "why are we ashamed of our periods?" They came out with a new "bold" line of pads and tampons to, I guess, proudly announce why we're headed to the bathroom. My thoughts are that most normal people don't announce when they're going to the bathroom for a bm - it's just a privacy, respect thing. Others don't want to know, and 9 and 10 year old girls don't want others knowing.

Hopefully I won't be attacked but my daughter went straight to tampons. They make ones for teens. She played sports year round there is no way she could deal with a pad. She is 21 now, alive, and has been on tampons from day one. I thank god the diagram was enough because even though I had no trouble with explaining life to the child I didn't want to show her how.

The other is ten. Tell me again why I had more kids???

My daughter wasn't quite 11. Worst case, ask her doctor.

Another thing is the doctor can't tell anyway. Heck I had boobs bigger than some adult woman, hair the whole nine yards and didn't start until I was 14. They don't know, they guess! Good to be prepared but it is still a guess.

Never had this issue but familiarize yourself with the symptoms of toxic shock, unless they have changed the name. Generally it only happens when they leave them in too long but again, nothing wrong with being prepared.

Our daughter started her period at almost 11.
I had told her everything. I also showed her everything in case I was not home or she was at school when she started. I even sent her with an "emergency kit" to keep at the bottom of her back pad. It had panties and some pads in a ziploc so she could place her soiled panties in there, but I told her if she felt she wanted to throw them away, it would be fine.

I also had a talk about how tampons could be used once she felt comfortable about trying them.

Once she started the second month, she told me she was ready to try the tampon.

I stood outside of the bathroom door and guided her. She was able to use the slim and a thin pad. Never had a problem..

She was shocked when she got to college and so many girls had never been taught or given the option to try tampons. And so she said it was an interesting freshman year with lots of girls asking her to guide them outside of the bathroom stalls.

Many of this girls had been totally misinformed by their moms about how a tampon would cause them to lose their virginity! Our daughter was able to show them that this was an old wives tale.

And so do what you feel your daughter will be comfortable, but do know many, many young girls do use tampons with no problems.

Use a tampon. I got my period at 10 and couldn't stand the pads and went straight to tampons.

A pediatrician once told me that of all the signs of development it was hair under the arms that was the indicator of getting a period is the next step in development. I have seen it be true over and over again. Keep an eye on her arm pits and her moods and it will help you help her to get a better guesstimate of when she will likely start.

I would invest into a few good what's happening to me books. I highly recommend the American Girl Library (same company but a different series from The American Girl Dolls Books). Every girl should own a copy of The Care and Keeping of You. (Maybe they should give it out at the hospitals when mom's give birth to daughters and tell them, hold on to this book, you'll need it sooner than you think.)

http://www.amazon.com/Care-Keeping-American-Girl-Library/...

There are some really great books that have been mentioned in past posts, do a search for any of these buzz words: Care and Keeping of You American Girl Body Books what's happen period, etc. The archives are such a great resource.

Having books of her own in her room (even if she keeps them away under her bed or in a draw) is a great way to teach her how to locate information and take care of her self. Knowledge is Power.

I agree with having a prepared gift bag or special box with pads, small tampons, panty liners along with a small 10 or 20 year calendar (just number dates) so she can learn the habit of keeping track. Also a special women's only gift, a piece or art, a special girl's day out, something to mark the occasion as a life cycle moment. Also, have you seen New Moon Magazine for Girls? It is an excellent empowerment magazine which sounds like a great match for your daughter. http://www.newmoon.com/

Enjoy each chapter - Today is a Gift, that's why it is called The Present!

You could try pads with "wings" (those tabs on the sides that fold around and stick to the front of the underwear to reduce sliding) As for tampons, I think the question is whether she is comfortable with inserting them.

They make ALL kinds of pads now. I think most young girls are developing earlier lately so they need to accommodate. My step daughter has been getting her period since she was 11 and only uses pads. She asked about tampons, but I asked her to wait until next year when she is 14. I worry that she will forget to change it or it will go up too far and cause an infection. Once she is a little more mature and used to having it that I think she will be fine.
Your daughter is only 9 so I would just wait to see when she does get it and go from there.

Tampons won't work at this age. They'll be uncomfortable for her. (It's an issue with the hymen and her being so small.)

You can get pads with wings and that'll help them stay in place.

My middle daughter started when she was 9. I was more freaked out then she was. She's 12 now and still very irregular. Even if she does start, let her know that she might not have it every month.

*hugs*

Hi Frances~

I highly recommend getting her the book called The Care & Keeping of YOU (The Body Book for Girls) by American Girl. It's only $10. I actually bought a set that includes this book, another book and two journals for about $30. It was definitely money well spent.

Of course it shouldn't be used as a substitute for teaching your daughter about all there is to puberty, but it is a nice resource for her. I have used it with my daughter and she knows she can refer to it on her own if she wants to as well. It's in her room in a cute box that the set comes in. The topics are great for this age. (My daughter is almost 10) The topics are explained in a way that won't intimidate girls from reading more. Rather it is well put and keeps the girls interested in reading more. Definitely get a copy! It will discuss tampon vs. pad, pms, nutrition, breasts, etc...

I don't believe in buying American Girl Dolls and all the expensive accessories that go a long with that, but this series by the same company is well worth it and the books are priced nicely. (I wish I could say the same about their dolls.)

~J.

I totally agree with your reservations regarding tampons. My daughter is 15 now and only recently bought her first box of tampons. That said, I've done my research and (apparently) there are no contra-indications for younger girls. My daughter is also very active and I've found the pads with "wings" to be the most effective ones. I don't think my daughter has actually used the tampons yet .... I just think she wanted to own them "in case I want to swim". I have advised her that my experience with tampons is that they can be uncomfortable if not placed in the correct position. I've also warned her to change it often (if/when she uses it) because leaving a tampon in for too long CAN cause "Toxic Shock Syndrome". Our girls certainly grow up way too fast! Good luck with this "next step". :)

Well, as a girl who started her period at the ripe old age of 9, I can tell you tampons didn't work for me. I had such bad periods from the start, that I had to wear a pad along with a tampon to keep from leaking. Ugh. A long as she isn't freaked out by a tampon, let her try, In my opinion.

TMI alert!!!!
Definitely heed the advice of the other posters, and help her track it on a special calendar. This will help immensely. I ended up having lots of pain, awful cramps and rough periods. Sometimes I would bleed for three weeks straight, then have nothing for two months. I ended up discovering I had endometriosis and after one miscarriage and two healthy pregnancies had to have an emergency hysterectomy at the ripe old age of 32. I can't tell you how many times I went to my OB/Gyn and had to tell them when my last period was. Getting it straight on a calendar now is super helpful if she were to ever have issues later.

My mom totally gave me a rite of passage night, and it was alot of fun! We went to dinner then went to the mall and had makeovers at the Dillards makeup counter :) then she gave me a "girl bag". It contained new lip gloss, a couple of pads and tampons and a bottle of midol :) she told me never to leave home without it, lol

Good luck to both of you!

the first thing I thought about was that well she could use a tampon. But I personally was freaked out to use them. I didn't until I was like 18 and I started when I was 12. I have tried to convince my now 18 y/o sis to use them and she freaks out. I have a colleague who is 32 and just recently started using them because it felt akward. So if it is something she does not feel comfortable don't push it. tell her to change the pad frequently esp. when she has felt it move. I also wore like bike shorts (you know those were popular when we were kids) under my regular clothes (think spanx) to prevent movement. Which did help a bit.

I think that at the age of 9 she can wear pads that have the sticky stuff in them. I did cheer leading and played basketball and field hockey. lots of running, jumping etc and was fine and she will be to. I think that talking about tampons etc at that age is ludicrous. the sticky on the back of the pads now is great they don't do a lot of moving. talk with her about how often to change them etc and she won't have problems with it.

I was 12 at the time but I went right to tampons too. I couldn't stand the pads (but back then they were really thick and felt like you were wearing a diaper). The pads are much better now and they do stay in place. Let your daughter try them both out and make the decision on her own. She needs to feel comfortable.

Good luck!

Usually kids who are athletic are delayed longer. So I heard. And also I heard that you have some kind of discharge first for a week or two prior to the period actually coming. My daugher has not started yet....... I hope to not have her use or learn about tampons until at least 14 or 15. she is 12 now. That is just me. She is developing and all, but our dr. said it could still be a bit.

Tampons. My daughter wore pads the first time she had her period and it has been tampons from then on. She will wear a pad at night.

It will be fine. Just make sure she knows not to leave them in too long and don't get deoderant ones. There are some that are "slender" sized that are good for younger girls.

Embrace it and have a rite of passage. Don't let her get a bad self image because of it. Plus, a Dr. can say about when it will start but they don't know exactly. Just have her prepared.

Best wishes!!

She should be just fine wearing pads. I played softball, basketball, ran track, and all that fun stuff all while wearing a pad. I didn't wear tampons until high school. My 13 year old plays softball wearing a pad and hasn't had any problems. I would have her use pads until she complains that she is having problems in her athletics due to the pads. Good Luck!

Tampons, definitely. Do the slender size with the plastic applicator - it's easier than the cardboard. I think ours are the cool kind in the black box with the stars and swirlies on them.

I also second the tracking her cycle. And definitely give her a back up kit. The first time should be spotting only for a couple days - nothing too heavy.

My daughter started her period just before she turned 10. She was pretty irregular and light for the 1st year. She ran GOTR (Girls on the run) 3 days a week after school and also swimming with no problem.... nothing that a pad couldn't handle. About a year later she started getting more regular and heavier and when we were on vacation she started her period and it was heavy enough that she wouldn't be comfortable swimming. So she wanted to try tampons. It took her about a day to declare that they were better than sliced bread and she would never again wear a gross soggy pad.

Here's the deal.... your daughter just has to be comfortable with her body. If you are.... then tampons are fine at any age. If not, then tampons are difficult to manage at any age. I know adults who think tampons are gross. I personally couldn't live without them. BUT... when they just introduced the Ultra size (one size LARGER than super plus) I did the happy dance.

TMI, I know.

Hope that helps.

.

I'm not even athletic but 1 summer of camp with only pads and I switched to tampons too (I think I was 13). I think she will have to work out what works best for her. They do make small tampons and she might just want to use them for when she was doing sports at first.