Tween

My daughter has used them from the beginning. I did too, I couldnt stand the thought of a pad. But anyhow, Stand outside the door and tell her relax and not to rush and give her the pamplet and have her practice. It will take a couple tries!

My 15 yr old daughter has used them since day 1. She started around age 12.

There is no reason she should HAVE to wear a pad. I would go with the slender at first and ALWAYS unscented.

I've never heard of the diva cups, etc but my daughter would be grossed out with that, (me too.). Thank goodness I had a hysterectomy 10 yrs ago and don't have to deal with anymore.

Chely,
I never used anything other than tampons. Could not stand **shiver** sanitary napkins. You might want to check with your ped or ped's nurse to make sure there are no reasons that they can think of. With proper education she should be okay.
S.

I'm with Sandy. I have always been a tampon gal since my mom showed them to me after my first menses and went thru the instructions with me. Definitely have her start with the lightest possible absorbency and go up as needed. I think they even have teen and sport tampons now.

my daughter hasn't gotten hers.. but i will let her try them... use the skinny ones.... or thin... not sure what they are called.. but they are real thin.. and easier to use.. good luck..

Have her try them, and I agree with the moms who recommend the slender. I would recommend the plastic applicators that are rounded so that the cotton part pushes through once inside. They are much smoother and softer to insert. The cardboard ones where the cotton part is flat to the applicator may be too uncomfortable to insert.

Good luck!

.

I used a tampon the first time I got my period!.....My friend was coming over to go swimming for the day. I was 12 when I got mine and my mom wasn't home. But I had older sisters who had some and I just read the info and directions. That first time was a little uncomfortable (because I could still feel it) But after that, no problems at all. I would definitely start with slender, plastic applicators (they slide smoother) and tell her to use the lowest absorbency for her flow and to make sure she changes it every 4-8 hours or as needed (NOT to exceed 8 hrs) Good luck!

Our daughter used them at this age.

I just reminded her that there are 3 openings down there so to search for the second one..

She will probably want to try the "slender" for the first time. . You can purchase a box of Tampax with 3 different sizes in it..

FYI, Have her avoid anything scented.. They can be irritating to some women...

I agree with other moms who said use the slender and plastic. I got cardboard one time and am still trying to go through them so I can get rid of them. Also, I remember my first time my mom put vaseline on the outside before she gave it to me, so it would slid easier I guess. Pads are not hard to figure out, but teach her about them, too so at least she knows both. Many women can't stand pads, which I completely understand, but after you have a baby that is all you can use! Oh and FYI for your daughter: The thin maxis should work just as well as the thick bulky ones!!! but are much more comfortable.

You may think I'm nuts, but I started competing in swimming when I was 8 years old. My mother coached me to wear a tampon the very FIRST DAY of my cycle when I was 10. Then she said, "Ok, get in the car" and I went to swim practice. Somehow that day I got it right. It took me a few months to get it right every time but I was really grateful I didn't have to miss stuff. I'd say it's worth trying--we're all different, and I didn't find that it disturbed anything that I wanted "intact" for later... of course you don't know that til later...

Also, for the past year (I'm 40 now) I've been using sea sponges instead of tampons, to be more Green and not create so much waste. I swim with them, and I have heavy cycles still. They could be more awkward for her to manage in public, since they rinse and re-use (take a water bottle in the stall), but they're comfortable and much gentler on the body.

I haven't had to deal with that situation with my daughter yet and I was older before I wanted to use them myself. I don't know of any danger with young girls using them and I've seen ads for tampons that are smaller, more slender, etc. so maybe those would be good to try. Good Luck! I'm interested to read the responses to help myself prepare for the years to come. They sure do grow up too fast!!

No she is not to young at all. Just buy her the tampax thins or regulars (in plastic... I am not sure if you can really find cardboard tampons anymore these days... but NEVER buy cardboard) and there are always written instructions on how to use them in the box. And remind her that she needs to change them at least every 4 hours. Good luck!

Here's another idea for her too-a moon or diva cup or instead. Those are all options that she wouldn't have to worry about changing them as often as a tampon and since they are not made from cotton no worries about her trying to figure out the proper absorbency. The moon or diva cups are washable, reusable and are able to be sterilized. I have friends that swear by them. I have a diva but have vaginal septum so it doesn't work as well for me but the friends absolutely love theirs!

I was in sports and needed tampons when I was young. In the beginning, buy her the thinnest tampons so she is able to insert them easily and get used tho them first. There are instructions inside so have her read them before trying them out. As she gets used to them she may try other sizes that fits to her flow. That's basically how I learned how to insert them. Practic makes perfect.

I personally was using tampons at that age and I do not believe there is any problem with that. (I don't know.)

I also use organic cotton, b/c then there is no issue of chemicals, etc. I would recommend the non-applicator type b/c the applicator kind can be uncomfortable if they "go too far up". When you insert them yourself that never happens. Also, when I was younger it was easier to insert them while standing rather than sitting. (One foot on the floor, one up like on the side of the tub.)
HTH,
D.
www.freetobeparenting.com

I'm glad you are letting her try tampons. I got my first period in the summer and was bound and determined to swim in the ocean, so tampons it was from the beginning. The only reason I am responding now is, I am a menstrual cup convert! They are absolutely the best, mine is made by Diva, but there are several brands. I found both tampons and pads irritating after awhile, and I would really dread my lightest days because I found the pads worse than the tampons. The cup takes a little getting used to, and this would be especially true for a young person who may not know her body very well yet, but they are great and you can do any activity with them. One of the things I really like is, I have never been very regular and i don't carry a purse. If I feel like I am getting close to my cycle, I can just keep this in my pocket and I'm ready when it starts. I recommend, after she's gotten used to having her cycle for a few months, that you google menstrual cups together. You probably would have to order one on line, but they are great!

you can get free samples from manufacturer's websites too so you don't have to go buying a big box of everything. my girls aren't there yet but i am hoping that they'll be up for trying out a cup after they get the tampons figured out. so much easier (after the learning curve) and they won't have to deal with the messiness at school.

Never heard of Diva or Moon cups. But I've been using Instead Cups for over a decade and I assume it's similar. You don't have the absorbency issue (think Toxic Shock Syndrome), you don't have a cord dangling out (imagine the horror at the pool), it lasts twice as long as a tampon, and it's not uncomfortable to pull out like a tampon can be sometimes. You might look in to it. http://www.softcup.com/
Good luck!

I have to second the menstrual cup supporters! had I only known about them 10 years earlier my period wouldn't have been so much of a "curse" through my jr. high, highschool, and college years! Look into it!

You might want to check out the website: www.Gladrags.com. I have used both tampons & menstrual cups & I prefer menstrual cups especially for water sports. They don't have a string that could possible hang out, they seal versus plugging, they catch versus absorbing with chemicals, menstrual cups don't dry you out and the moon cup has a money back guarantee. With a menstrual cup you won't have to worry about her dying from Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). In the long run they are cheaper too.

Manufacturers of tampons and pads are not legally required to list ingredients used in making feminine products. Products we wear next to our most vulnerable parts? Most feminine hygiene products produced in North America are made using chlorine gas or chlorine dioxide bleached wood pulp, leaving trace amounts of dioxins and furans (the most toxic chemicals on earth)? Did you know Tampons have been linked to chronic and recurrent vaginitis? Plastic tampon applicators have sharp edges that can lacerate the vaginal wall when you insert them? Every brand of tampon has been found to cause dryness and even tiny ulcers? "Sanitary products" can be placed on the shelves for your purchase without passing any kind of safety or efficacy tests?