Need advice...girl issues....

[Tauwillow]

My daughter got her period at age 10. Shes now 11, and asked earlier this fall to use tampons for a soccer game.

I let her know that it can be extremely frustrating the first time, and did my best to prepare her emotionally. Even with all that, she ended up in tears trying to make it work. She didn't give up, though, and succeeded the next morning!

I still insist that she wear pads overnight, because I worry about young girls and TSS. That said, she uses tampons exclusively during the day.

Definitely buy your daughter the thinner tampons with the plastic applicator. You don't want to buy supers or bigger because of TSS and the extra difficulty of putting them in. The plastic applicator really makes a huge difference with ease of use as well.

Good luck!

 

[kirstenb1]

DD is 12, and to my surprise used them right away. I waited a couple of years.

 

[dislaney]

Mine used them right from the first period. I gave her a choice and she wanted to use them. She is very active and it would have been difficult to participate in some activities if she hadn't.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I have no advice... but your signature caught my eye, and I hope this isn't one of those times

(DH posts under our username sometimes too!)

 

[englishteacha]

I didn't use tampons till I was in my twenties. My mom wouldn't buy them, and I kind of got myself psyched up about them. I missed out on a lot as a teen because of it.

I definitely recommend the ones with a plastic applicator, the teen/junior sized ones, or the "light" ones, which are very small. I keep a stash of feminine supplies in my desk at school in case someone has an emergency and it drives me crazy that the nurse gets the thick pads and the giant tampons. C'mon...we're a middle school. Heck, I was caught unprepared one day and had to use the stuff the nurse provides and it was miserable!

 

[klbest]

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.

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.

My daughter got her period at age 10. Shes now 11, and asked earlier this fall to use tampons for a soccer game.

I let her know that it can be extremely frustrating the first time, and did my best to prepare her emotionally. Even with all that, she ended up in tears trying to make it work. She didn't give up, though, and succeeded the next morning!

I still insist that she wear pads overnight, because I worry about young girls and TSS. That said, she uses tampons exclusively during the day.

Definitely buy your daughter the thinner tampons with the plastic applicator. You don't want to buy supers or bigger because of TSS and the extra difficulty of putting them in. The plastic applicator really makes a huge difference with ease of use as well.

Good luck!

Yes, I am thinking the same as all of you (size, plastic applicator)...I actually have them for her already, I wanted to be prepared so I stocked a little of everything!

I have no advice... but your signature caught my eye, and I hope this isn't one of those times

LOL! I can ASSURE you, this is Mom posting!! LOL! (BTW, DH cries over every little thing that reminds him that his DD is growing up!)

I didn't use tampons till I was in my twenties. My mom wouldn't buy them, and I kind of got myself psyched up about them. I missed out on a lot as a teen because of it.

I definitely recommend the ones with a plastic applicator, the teen/junior sized ones, or the "light" ones, which are very small. I keep a stash of feminine supplies in my desk at school in case someone has an emergency and it drives me crazy that the nurse gets the thick pads and the giant tampons. C'mon...we're a middle school. Heck, I was caught unprepared one day and had to use the stuff the nurse provides and it was miserable!

LOL! Hmmm...not sure what our school nurse stashes! How thoughtful of you to keep a supply...it's nice that there are teachers like you that the kids are that comfortable going to (our school has a bunch, too! ).

 

[klbest]

I didn't use tampons till I was in my twenties. My mom wouldn't buy them, and I kind of got myself psyched up about them. I missed out on a lot as a teen because of it.

Me too...I started using them when I was 16 (waited 5 years). My mom just didn't mention them. I missed out a lot with swimming, etc., as well. I just want DD to be comfortable and confident from the get go and not "burdened".

 

[JLTraveling]

I didn't use tampons till I was in my twenties. My mom wouldn't buy them, and I kind of got myself psyched up about them. I missed out on a lot as a teen because of it.

I definitely recommend the ones with a plastic applicator, the teen/junior sized ones, or the "light" ones, which are very small. I keep a stash of feminine supplies in my desk at school in case someone has an emergency and it drives me crazy that the nurse gets the thick pads and the giant tampons. C'mon...we're a middle school. Heck, I was caught unprepared one day and had to use the stuff the nurse provides and it was miserable!

I think it's great that you stock the smaller stuff so that girls have a choice, but I'm guessing you're one of the lucky ones in regards to your cycle. I was 11 when mine started, and it was in, let's just say, full force from day one. If it wasn't for the giant sized everything, I'd have been in a world of hurt from then through now!

 

[NewCrew42]

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.

This is similar to my DDs story. She started at age 12 and of course had a dance audition the next day.

The Care and Keeping of You book is awesome!!!! I highly recommend it.

She used Playtex Gentle glide Slender lite for starting out.

 

[PatsGirl]

Add me to the list of Moms with a daughter who can't get the hang of it DD has had her period now six or seven times and tries each time but becomes frustrated and gives up. The longest she has used one was for about an hour but said it was too uncomfortable.

FWIW, the AG book tells these girls that they shouldn't use a tampon overnight and DD accepts everything verbatim. I keep telling her that overnight is fine, 12-18 hours is not but she won't even try at nighttime.

Every outing and every vacation is becoming an issue as in: we're going to DL in April and I won't be able to....we're going skiing in three weeks and I won't be able to...how can I sleep at XXX's house Friday night if I have my period....because she is still not regular, ANY event falls under this category. Thank God she got her period today and Xmas and the ski trip are not ruined

 

[lakelandgal70]

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.

I was 38 first time I used them. And I was so mad at my mom for not even giving me a choice!

 

[Holly]

Our gynecologist told my teen daughter that the biggest mistake girls make when they first use them, and what keeps them from using them again, is that they try and remove them before they're ready.

They want to put them in and take them out soon after and without going into detail it's not a good feeling.

It sounded like good advice to me.

My daughter has used them since her first period.

 

[golfgal]

I told DD I wanted her to wait for a couple cycles so she could see how heavy her flow was and just basically get used to having a period and then when he was ready to go ahead and use what worked best for her. She was in 8th grade when she first got her period so she was a little older. She uses tampons more than pads but uses both. She uses the ones in the black box with the multi-colored wrappers (I can't remember the name). I agree, the plastic applicators are much easier to use and get the teen sized ones.

When I was in middle school you couldn't buy tampons because that was the height of the toxic shock scare. I had a good friend that had TSS and she was VERY, VERY sick. She had to relearn how to walk, talk, eat, everything. It took me many, many, many years after that before I would use a tampon again.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I just wanted to say that I think a huge issue is the young girl is afraid or unsure about inserting the thing far enough. From my experience, and from what I understand, if they are well placed where they belong, there should probably not be any real pressure or pain.

TMI, I know!!!

But, you might want to remind young girls that they really do fit in there. The old adage - outa sight, outa mind..
If you can see or feel it.... you might not be there yet.

YES - plastic
YES - small, (and 'shorter' helps.)

 

[Maddle]

Plastic applicator is the way to go. It makes all the difference.

mj

 

[MariDisney]

My DD got her period at 9 1/2. I allowed her to try tampons from the beginnng.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Our gynecologist told my teen daughter that the biggest mistake girls make when they first use them, and what keeps them from using them again, is that they try and remove them before they're ready.

They want to put them in and take them out soon after and without going into detail it's not a good feeling.

It sounded like good advice to me.

My daughter has used them since her first period.

I think this is really true!!! I tried to use tampons when I was a young teen, I was sort of uncomfortable and nervous about it anyway, so I tried to remove it soon - maybe an hour after putting it in. It was very painful, uncomfortable, and hard to remove (not to be TMI, but I think when they are less "saturated" they don't come out as easily and it can tug or be painful)! I was afraid and didn't like it, so I stopped for several years. This was never mentioned to me - I figured it out in late high school.

 

[2Kds2K9]

My DD was 12 when she got her first period and it was day 2 that she used a tampon. We were on vacation at the beach. She's used them ever since, except for at night. Although, the pediatrician said that nighttime was safe. As long as tampons weren't in for more than 8 hours.

Good luck!

 

[Hillbeans]

I was 38 first time I used them. And I was so mad at my mom for not even giving me a choice!

Yes, this was my mom too. Honestly I grew up in a bubble and I resented my mom for it. I think I was almost 18 before I figured it out.

I give you moms of girls lots of credit for being mature enough to help them out. Not to be gross but I had a friend who had a very bad experience with them (she didn't know to take out the cardboard, omg can you imagine???). She was in College at the time.

 

[pigletgirl]

Well I always knew I hated pads from day 1. My mom helped me through the first few times with the tampon, but after that I was on my own. I did ok.

Find the smallest tampons. I think they're called 'slims'.