Young Girls and Their Period

I started @ the age of 10 and 2 months, my maternal grandmother started @ 8, so for my daughter and now my granddaughter (both at the age of 10) I made up a cute period bag for them to toss in their backpacks. I took a large cute cosmetic bag, put in a pair of underwear, a ziplock bag to put "accident" undies in, pads, cleansing wipes, small packs of Pamprin or Midol, a small bottle of spray cologne (deluxe sample size) and each had or has a personal pocket calendar to note the days they are on it to help "predict" when they could/can expect it. I was regular from day one, my daughter had one about every 5 weeks and eventually went to every 4 weeks by the end of 8th grade. My granddaughter is extremely hormonal so I'm guessing it's starting soon.

I started my period in 5th grade and so I started talking about it with our daughter in 3rd grade.. Actually her school also spoke to all of the girls about it at that time also.

Our daughter had not started her period by 6th grade, so she had a small zip up bag with some pads and a pair of panites in it, in case she needed it. I told her she could throw away the pair if hers was too messy to deal with.

It was light the first few times, then started getting heavier. It was not always on a schedule, and she hated that she never knew with "Aunt Flo" would drop in.. By her second month, she wanted to use tampon and so I stood outside of the bathroom door and talked her through it.. She never looked back.

Just be open and honest about it. Let your daughter speak freely about it.

My daughter is 9 and hasn't started her's yet, but some of her 10 year-old friends have. She and I have been talking about this for some time already.

I started at 13 and it scared me to death... My mom had tried to talk with me about it, but I was still so unprepared. Then I did not know to watch the calendar, and more importantly to be aware of the signals my body was giving me as to when to expect my period, so I had some embarrassing moments. I also hated, hated, hated it until I finally got up the nerve to ask my mom for tampons. Much better! I was still so freaked out about maturing in this way that it contributed to an eating disorder that prevented me from having a period between age 15 and 20.

So, along with the calendar, I would suggest having her be aware of changes in her body - cramping, bloating, general tiredness, acne flare ups, etc. that could be indicating her next period is due. Then, like other moms have said, have her carry supplies with her to school always.

My daughter has just turned 12 and was in 6th grade.

The elementary school nurse had a special session with all the girls in the 4th grade for informational purposes so they would be somewhat prepared because some moms just don't prepare their girls for it.

I believe in wide open communication lines with no topics off limits. It's the way I've been with my now 17 yr old daughter from day 1. COMMUNICATE. Answer questions, talk about whatever she wants.

Some moms are prudes (MINE) and was so much so that she made the woman's body sound like it was dirty and extended those opinions to sex. That is SO WRONG. Once she was in the hospital and I saw her vagina and she was SO embarrassed. I was at least 14 and i said... Gees... every female has one, get a grip, yours is not all that! Things were slightly better after that.

Starting in 6th grade, my daughter had a little cosmetic bag with a couple of pads if needed. The school nurse also has supplies for emergencies.

In the beginning, my daughter was perfectly regular. About a year ago, she started bleeding non stop and we ended up on a very light dose hormone to control her cycle. That has helped a lot.

Your daughter might wear pads the first month and at night but don't be alarmed when she asks for tampons. It is OK to let her wear tampons, just explain the importance of changing in a timely manner. They make slender sizes for younger girls.

Relax and get ready for some mood swings. I helped my daughter chart her cycle up until she went on the hormone.

Just stay open with your daughter and talk a lot. You'll need those communication lines wide open at 17!

Good luck

I started mine the day after my 11th birthday.
A calendar helped eventually but at first there was no rhyme or reason when a period would hit.
I can't tell you how many times I'd go to bed fine, no sign of a period approaching and wake up bloody in the morning (bled through sheets, pajamas and everything).
Put a water proof mattress pad on her bed.
Talk to the school nurse - she'll be able to advise you how to proceed.

Hi H&I+G, my daughter (who will be 15 in May) got her first period just after her 13th bday. For the first 6 months it was very regular, and short. For the past year however it's been all over the map with space between periods, how long and how severe.

She wears tampons now, and like Laurie I also kind of guided her outside the bathroom door first few times.

Hasn't been much of a big deal for her, the women in her life have been discussing female issues in her presence since she was born.

She keeps a pad, tampon and underwear in a sandwich baggie in her backpack for school. However she has given these things away to friends in need, tehehe, a number of times.

Don't worry too much, you'll work it out.

:)

**I should also say, that when she got her first period, she was the very last of her gfs to get it. They all had it much earlier, some as early as 9.)

She wouldn't have to carry supplies if there is a school nurses office. They keep supplies for this purpose.

My daughter got hers at 12.5 years, and it is very heavy. The doctor recommended that she take ibuprofen around the clock the first 24-48 hours. This has reduced the level of bleeding tremendously. Our doctor said that once girls start getting breast buds and pubic hair, then within the next year they will start their period. My younger daughter is 11 and has breast buds and some pubic hair, so she will probably have her period soon. The American Girl body book for girls has good sections on periods and my daughter used it to figure out how to insert a tampon.

How young is young? I started at 13 and was a regular as the full moon. In fact I started on the full moon every month and it was always 9 days long with no cramping but heavy (like a pad every 30 minutes heavy). I was like that until I got married and had my 1st child... Since then it has been much lighter!

Look at family history, not just yours but your husbands side. I take after my dads side when it comes to periods.

I would teach her to use tampons (or whatever she prefers) and keep some in her school bag. Just get a cute makeup bag to hide them in.

There is a way to predict it even if it not regular. Check into Naprotechnology. It would teach her how to get to know her body and if her hormones are causing irregular periods it would help to identify that as well.

One daughter started (days before) 7th grade, the other in 9th. (she was a late bloomer) It became regular pretty fast. The daughter that started earlier has heavy periods. My other one, not so bad. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. They carry pads in their backpacks or purses at all times. Hope i helped a little :)

Well, I was the lates bloomer EVER!! I was almost 17 before I got my period. Looking back I'm thinking that is really lucky, but when you are the only one (or felt like I was) that hasn't started and only pretended to know what all your friends were feeling and going through became very frustrating. As for my daughters, my oldest started when she was 11 and was very regular from day one! As for my second daughter, she is 12 and had her first period back in August and it was different, it was more pasty, but lasted for about 7 days. Then she didn't have another one till the end of December which was more flow like but not a ton. Sorry if TMI. We will see if she has another one at the end of this month. I just think everyone is different and you can't compare others experiences to what your daughter might be going through. A lot has to do with heredity. Find out about your in-laws first periods etc. Always a fun topic! :) Good luck!

My daughter started over the summer between 7th and 8th grade. She is 13. She is pretty regular. Her friend started a week before her and her mom tells me that it's heavy and irregular. I love GrammaRocks idea of a period bag because i doubt my daughter would ask anyone for a tampon, not even a friend. She would be mortified. My daughter plays sports so she decided to use tampons right out of the gate and I highly recommend you consider that. Pads are so awful!

My daughter was 11 and it was very irregular until she was about 14.