Need advice...girl issues....

[klbest]

How old was your daughter when you let her use tampons? My DD got her first period yesterday. She's using pads at the moment but she does competition cheerleading. I'm thinking tampons would be the better option, at the very least, for practice and competitions. She will be 12 in February.

TIA for any and all thoughts on this!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Mine is 13. I would let her from the very first if she would do it--the idea scares her though and when she has tried she says she can't do it. I have tried to explain, she has read the instrucitons in about a million places (including The Care and Keeping of You) and she is just not getting it yet. She is missing swim club once a month until she gets it, which is really too bad.

As long as she knows not to leave one in too long (8 hours is the rule I think) I don't see why your daughter couldn't use them

 

[momof1princess]

my DD turned 13 in september, has had her period for 2 years, and tried to use tampons several times-she just can't seem to get it. your DD may do better, i really can't say. i'm not sure if it's a matter of age, or the fact that their bodies are still growing and changing. DD takes ballet and would LOVE to use tampons, but even with instructions from me and reading the instruction sheet on her own, she just can't get them placed properly. it can't hurt to let your DD try. if it doesn't work, no harm done, and if so, she should be more comfortable while cheerleading.

 

[lakelandgal70]

I don't have any kids but I want to say good for you for giving your daughter options. My mother didn't and if she had it would have saved me a lot of embarasing moments. You are a great mom!

 

[Anjelica]

She's old enough to use one now as long as she is comfortable with it. I did competitive swimming all my pre-teen and teenage years and I HATED using a tampon as it hurt me (and after talking with doctor some girls just have a harder time with it and its not all mental).

Good luck!!!

 

[Green Tea]

It's not an age thing. If she wants to, let her. If she doesn't, don't make an issue. I firmly believe these kids figure this stuff out for themselves, without moms worrying about it with friends, or the internet.

 

[jen0610]

DD was 12 when she got her first. She plays basketball and dances. She started using them from the get go. She likes them a lot better than pads.

She uses U by Kotex - for both her tampons and pads. She likes that the tampons are small. She does also use Playtex Sports for during games and dance.

 

[Angelhalo]

I started using them as soon as mine started when I was 11. I never would have thought anyone would think of it as an age thing......

 

[Anjelica]

It's not an age thing. If she wants to, let her. If she doesn't, don't make an issue. I firmly believe these kids figure this stuff out for themselves, without moms worrying about it with friends, or the internet.

Hope I am not interperting your post wrong but I see nothing wrong with talking to your friends and folks on the DISBoard about their experiences, etc. Sometimes the best advice and/or ideas have come from my good friends regarding children and/or womenly issues. Sure there is a TMI line but this post definetly isn't one of them.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd14 tried right away, but it took about a year for her to be comfortable. I encouraged her, because she swims all summer long.

 

[Green Tea]

Hope I am not interperting your post wrong but I see nothing wrong with talking to your friends and folks on the DISBoard about their experiences, etc. Sometimes the best advice and/or ideas have come from my good friends regarding children and/or womenly issues. Sure there is a TMI line but this post definetly isn't one of them.

I am just saying it doesn't matter what we as parents think is the best in this situation, it is what the girl wants to do. They talk among themselves and figure it out. She has always known she could come and ask for help or advice, but she figured it out; and decided what she was comfortable with.

 

[simba20]

I was 21 when I first tried out a tampon and my first thought was: WHY DIDN'T I USE THESE SOONER?????

For reasons as other posters have mentioned, I missed out on a lot during my teen years.

I also had heavy irregular periods, and whenever I would stand up, I'd have to immediately run to the restroom. Tampons helped me avoid that issue of that feeling when standing up.

 

[klbest]

Thank you all so much for the great advice so far....

I didn't mean to make it sound like it was an age thing...I think I worded it wrong! I was just letting you know how old she was and was wondering if your daughters used them right from the start....hard to explain!

 

[klbest]

DD was 12 when she got her first. She plays basketball and dances. She started using them from the get go. She likes them a lot better than pads.

She uses U by Kotex - for both her tampons and pads. She likes that the tampons are small. She does also use Playtex Sports for during games and dance.

Thanks so much for mentioning what she uses!

 

[Anjelica]

I am just saying it doesn't matter what we as parents think is the best in this situation, it is what the girl wants to do. They talk among themselves and figure it out. She has always known she could come and ask for help or advice, but she figured it out; and decided what she was comfortable with.

Maybe I am showing my age but when I started my period at age 11 the girls rarely talked to each other regarding it. I'm not saying that is the case these days but do young girls (11-14) talk to each other about pads, tampons, periods, etc.? That isn't a flippety question by any means - my daughter is only 7 1/2 so its not like I have encountered this yet.

 

[klbest]

I don't have any kids but I want to say good for you for giving your daughter options. My mother didn't and if she had it would have saved me a lot of embarasing moments. You are a great mom!

Thank you...I try! My kids are very comfortable discussing everything with me.

Maybe I am showing my age but when I started my period at age 11 the girls rarely talked to each other regarding it. I'm not saying that is the case these days but do young girls (11-14) talk to each other about pads, tampons, periods, etc.? That isn't a flippety question by any means - my daughter is only 7 1/2 so its not like I have encountered this yet.

I know, me too! My DD told her best friend because she had to borrow "supplies" from her at school yesterday! Not a big deal to DD - she said her BFF carries like, 20 pads in her purse so she knew she could ask her! LOL! So, yes, much more open (at least with close friends) than we were!

 

[pyrxtc]

I told both my DD's that they had a choice. One chose to use them and the other didn't.

When I was younger and got mine, I never talked to friends about it. I only started using them when it came on the wrong day and that's all my friend had.

 

[SC Minnie]

Let it be her decision. They make smaller or 'teen' sized ones. This is what I bought for DD and let her make the decision when she was ready. When that time came I helped her learn how to use them.

 

[Hannathy]

Mine used them from her first one. I gave her a box of ob, the ones without applicators,not so intimidating and told her to read the instructions. She told me she wasn't an idiot and could read thank you and that was the end of that; unless she was out and then she would ask me to buy more. Including asking from college if I could send some in the next care package cause the are so expensive at the Walgreens on campus.

So buy her a box give them to her and let her try and decide on her own.

 

[pearlieq]

Sometimes the plastic applicator ones are easier when you're just starting out. I also second the idea of "teen" or "junior" sized until she's more comfortable with it.