For those of you with girls that have started cycling, what mentrual products do they like?

[Brenda]

I am thinking ahead here. Abigail turns 10 very soon, and I started my cycles in between turning 10 and 11. We are starting to see some pre-pubescent changes in her already (especially those mood swings, I should get some motherwort!). I want to be prepared with a collection of products for her when her cycles start.

I absolutely want reusable products.

[Bickery]

I would expect that reusable products are inconvenient to use while at school.

[aleutsi]

I am thinking ahead here. Abigail turns 10 very soon, and I started my cycles in between turning 10 and 11. We are starting to see some pre-pubescent changes in her already (especially those mood swings, I should get some motherwort!). I want to be prepared with a collection of products for her when her cycles start.

I absolutely want reusable products.

I use cloth and so that is what my DD was familiar with by example.. but, even though I offered her own cloth and other reusable products, she ultimately chose disposable products. She'll use the organic disposables I buy for myself (I keep them on hand and use them 1% of the time - the pads are back up when my coth pads are all dirty and the tampons are for when I need something while swimming) if she's all out of Kotex, but she really really prefers Kotex.

I can understand the "comfort", convenience and ease of the mainstream products and so while I've done my best to encourage her by example and by discussion of the benefits of reusables, it's not a hill I'm going to die on with this teen. If in the future she becomes more health or environmentally conscious, she'll know there are alternatives and who to ask (me!) for info.

Hopefully my next girl will be more open to reusables!

[Brenda]

Well, R *refuses* to use anything but disposable pads. She prefers just the regular maxi's withOUT wings. I get the ones at the co-op.

I can understand the "comfort", convenience and ease of the mainstream products and so while I've done my best to encourage her by example and by discussion of the benefits of reusables, it's not a hill I'm going to die on with this teen. If in the future she becomes more health or environmentally conscious, she'll know there are alternatives and who to ask (me!) for info.

Hopefully my next girl will be more open to reusables!

I forgot to add that the reusable is what she is requesting. She sees that I have cloth pads (which I usually pretty much only postpartum) and sea sponge tampons, but I have discussed disposable ones with her too. She has asked specifically for reusable products.

[kellydog]

The first thing I thought of when reading this was bicyles.:embarass: I have no advice.:hide:

[lunita]

I am thinking ahead here. Abigail turns 10 very soon, and I started my cycles in between turning 10 and 11.

Excuse me while I hyperventilate. I just realized you were talking about a girl who is less than a year older than my oldest. Eep!

(I think Amanda will probably start on the late side because she is very thin, but it is kind of unsettling to think of her classmates going through these changes in a year or two. She is still a baby, after all. )

[Jill]

The first thing I thought of when reading this was bicyles.:embarass: I have no advice.:hide:
This cracked me UP!

[lunita]

That was actually the first thing I thought of too, but I blamed it on my headache. I'm probably just in denial and unable to think of "daughter" and "menstruation" in the same sentence.

[Jill]

Excuse me while I hyperventilate. I just realized you were talking about a girl who is less than a year older than my oldest. Eep!

(I think Amanda will probably start on the late side because she is very thin, but it is kind of unsettling to think of her classmates going through these changes in a year or two. She is still a baby, after all. )

I know what you mean, it totally freaks me out that Jordan *might* be so close to puberty - she has no signs but you just never know when they'll start!
I was best friends with a girl who was almost anorexic skinny and she got her period three years before me though so really, just remember you can't know LOL...
I cringe....

[Bickery]

I am thinking ahead here. Abigail turns 10 very soon, and I started my cycles in between turning 10 and 11. We are starting to see some pre-pubescent changes in her already (especially those mood swings, I should get some motherwort!). I want to be prepared with a collection of products for her when her cycles start.

I absolutely want reusable products.

This is a really good idea. I've already been thinking about information but not equipment. Mine is getting so tall! I was a week past 11 and she's a couple months past 9.5, has breast buds, and a really bad attitude the week before I get my period :rolleyes:

She's such a little girl and a big little girl at the same time.

[Mumbly]

Not exactly what you're looking for because they don't use reusable, but my girls prefer tampons. Neither one of them like the bulkiness of pads nor (tmi) the thought of sitting "on" their blood.

[aleutsi]

Neither one of them like the bulkiness of pads nor (tmi) the thought of sitting "on" their blood.

If my DH was lurking here, this cured him of it. LOL!

This is another reason why I love you guys so much. I can't have conversations like this with my dh. You can talk to him all you want about hunting, fishing and skinning, butchering.. but you go talking about menstruation - ESPECIALLY his "little" girl's menstruation - he turns really pale and does the finger in the ears "lalalalala I can't hear you lalalalala" thing.

Silly guy.

[karunamayi]

I have a stack of cloth pads and I am quite allergic to disposables. In a pinch, I've folded toilet paper and tucked it in and that has started to cause me discomfort, too.

I can't well imagine my 9 year old using the diva cup. I'm not really excited about shring my cloth pads... That is normal, right? I don't suspect that her flow will be so heavy that she will need multiple changes at school? I suspect her keeping a change of clothes handy, or at least bottoms, is a good idea.

I would really, really rather she didn't use store bought pads. Given the chemicals, the cost and my sensitivity.... no thanks.

She's bled 2 times, very briefly, has ginormous mood swings, a little gathering of acne have formed on her face, like, this week. She has leaned over into the breast vs buds department and gosh darn it, my baby is growing up!

[Storymama]

My girls really, really loved their cloth pads. Funny story out of what was otherwise a hideous time - Amelia was just 12 when she was hospitalized for depression. I was (of course) visiting daily - bringing her things to read, CD's, etc. I'd also collect her laundry each day, and bring her clean things back.

Well, inevitably, her period started while she was there (not for the first time, but she was still in her first year of cycling.) She was COMPLETELY indignant - despite being so ill - that I declined to carry bloody cloth pads back and forth for her everyday, and made her use those horrible paper pads the hospital staff gave her, ewww. She said it felt like copy paper in her pants LOL! I'm not sure she's yet forgiven me for drawing the line, there!

She and Tori have since progressed to tampons, but A is bugging me to get her a Mooncup, and I am sure I will get around to it soon.

[indigo]

Excuse me while I hyperventilate. I just realized you were talking about a girl who is less than a year older than my oldest. Eep!

(I think Amanda will probably start on the late side because she is very thin, but it is kind of unsettling to think of her classmates going through these changes in a year or two. She is still a baby, after all. )

You never know. K is extremely skinny and started her period a few weeks after she turned 11.

[lunita]

You never know. K is extremely skinny and started her period a few weeks after she turned 11.

Hmph. I was happy with what the doctor said about slimmer girls starting a bit later. I think I'll stick my head back in the hole I had it in. Seriously, for some reason the idea of my girls growing up isn't something I like thinking about.

I think I started my period when I was 12 (it was the summer between seventh and eighth grade, but I have a May birthday and I was grade skipped... that would make me 12, right?) and I *think* dh's sister said she started her period when she was 13, but both of us are heavier boned than Amanda. Amanda is built like her dad, and dh's sister is built like her mom. I don't know what all that means, except that I guess I don't think it seems likely that it would start before she turns 12.

[Nancy]

I have a tagalong question: When did any of your girls start wearing tampons and/or a mooncup type thing? We spend SO SO much time in water, I can't imagine keeping her in pads for any length of time. I remember hating tampons, but maybe they are smaller now, easier, something? I can't see K using pads in any way, simply because of our lifestyle....swimming constantly, horses, etc.

[Bonny]

I have a tagalong question: When did any of your girls start wearing tampons and/or a mooncup type thing? We spend SO SO much time in water, I can't imagine keeping her in pads for any length of time. I remember hating tampons, but maybe they are smaller now, easier, something? I can't see K using pads in any way, simply because of our lifestyle....swimming constantly, horses, etc.

B started using tampons from the get-go, as she is in the pool several hours/week. She also uses pads - I think she uses primarily pads for her nonpool time, I've suggested that she do, at least (and at nighttime, obviously), but it would be very unrealistic for her to not use something internal.

[Bickery]

I started making my own out of TP from the beginning (or maybe a couple of cycles in -- I know that it was in 5th grade, the year that I started). I was 11.

I wonder if girls with sensory issues have more or less difficulty with the various options? We just managed to get comfortable socks!

[Brenda]

In that case. :smile5 I'd have to really recommend Party In My Pants. They are made in WI! They don't require stuffing of inserts, and they come in all sorts of sizes (including teen), and in VERY cute prints. http://www.partypantspads.com/

Thanks! They are cute. The no-stuffing is a perk. I myself dislike how the inserts bunch up, and for a girl just starting her cycles, that would be a major irritant I think.

[Brenda]

The first thing I thought of when reading this was bicyles.:embarass: I have no advice.:hide:

LOL, that was my first thought when I read the title I originally had. That's why I added the bit about menstrual products in the title. :)

[Brenda]

Not exactly what you're looking for because they don't use reusable, but my girls prefer tampons. Neither one of them like the bulkiness of pads nor (tmi) the thought of sitting "on" their blood.

Did they start using tampons from the get-go?

I have been curious about this. Abigail is current slightly icked out about the idea of tampons, but I wonder if that would change after she has a cycle or two with pads. That's the reason I want to have a variety of products available for her. I remember thinking tampons were totally gross, but then swiping some from my mom to try (those dry OB ones with no applicator and as a result I felt like a total failure at tampons).

[Brenda]

I have a tagalong question: When did any of your girls start wearing tampons and/or a mooncup type thing? We spend SO SO much time in water, I can't imagine keeping her in pads for any length of time. I remember hating tampons, but maybe they are smaller now, easier, something? I can't see K using pads in any way, simply because of our lifestyle....swimming constantly, horses, etc.

I have been wondering about this too. Tampons make so much sense, but my mom never had them available for me or taught me about them, so I didn't get comfortable with them for years. I want to do better, and feel like I should have them available for Abigail because of swimming, etc.

B started using tampons from the get-go, as she is in the pool several hours/week. She also uses pads - I think she uses primarily pads for her nonpool time, I've suggested that she do, at least (and at nighttime, obviously), but it would be very unrealistic for her to not use something internal.

Thanks, Bonny, that is good to know.

[victoria]

I have a tagalong question: When did any of your girls start wearing tampons and/or a mooncup type thing? We spend SO SO much time in water, I can't imagine keeping her in pads for any length of time. I remember hating tampons, but maybe they are smaller now, easier, something? I can't see K using pads in any way, simply because of our lifestyle....swimming constantly, horses, etc.

I was on the older side when I first got my period (3 months before turning 15) but I started using tampons on my 3rd cycle. My mom was ok with me using them and bought them for me... her mom had not allowed *her* to use them as a teen. I started out with the skinniest plastic applicator ones and then after getting the hang of it started using more absorbent, cardboard applicator ones.

[macaquinha]

I have a tagalong question: When did any of your girls start wearing tampons and/or a mooncup type thing?

I started with tampons. (The first time I ever used a pad was after I had my daughter, when I was 30!) My mom hated pads (I'm old enough that they still had belts then) so she never bothered to make us use them.

I taught myself to use a tampon, too -- when I started my first period I didn't tell anyone, I just went and stole some tampax out of my sister's drawer and read the instructions. If you wish to clarify for your daughter, please make sure she understands that both parts of the cardboard applicator need to be withdrawn. Things are a bit uncomfortable otherwise. :p

[macaquinha]

I am thinking ahead here. Abigail turns 10 very soon...

Funny you should post this... I just the other day bought a box of "extra-slender" (or whatever they are) tampons so that they'll be in the house just in case. My daughter turns 11 in 21 days, some hours and some minutes (not that she's counting or anything :p). I didn't cycle until 12, but I'm still terrified that she's going to be all growed up Really Soon.

[Ali]

Did they start using tampons from the get-go?

FWIW, Dalton, 11 1/2, just started (and she is super skinny, all you mom's who are in denial! lol). She asked what she would do in the summer for swimming, and I just shrugged and said tampons. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, when really it was the furthest removed from what I wanted to discuss, LOL. She just looked at me and grinned :loveit: Next pay I'm going to get her some different, teen sized products to try, I didn't have any on hand except what I use (super thin pads). I've never even thought to bring up reusables :bag:

You know she had to call all her friends and tell them, too.

[Storymama]

I think Amelia was about 13.5, or a good year and a half into cycling. Tori was younger, but (as you cite) we had moved to Florida and she was in the pool ALL THE TIME. They both started their periods about 2 months before turning 12, and I suppose Tori was using tampons about 5-6 months into it.

[Stacey]

I was just going to post these very questions myself!

The Divine Miss Em is a swimmer and I wanted to ask 'how long after your daughter started, did she switch to tampons?'. Em thinks they seem 'gross', but I'm pretty sure she'll overcome that for swimming :)

She will be 11 in May and I'm hoping she won't start before then :rofl:

I have't been able to find tampons with applicators in 'slender' here, which is annoying me, as I know they had them when I started 28yrs ago :eek:

[Bickery]

I have't been able to find tampons with applicators in 'slender' here, which is annoying me, as I know they had them when I started 28yrs ago :eek:


I think they also used to have "junior" but I could be wrong.

[macaquinha]

I have't been able to find tampons with applicators in 'slender' here, which is annoying me, as I know they had them when I started 28yrs ago


If you get desperate, I'll mail you a box. :p And how come I never figured out that our daughters are almost exactly the same age? 11!?! That's getting skeery....

[Stacey]

I think they also used to have "junior" but I could be wrong.

With applicators we have Tampax and I think Carefree do an applicator too. But there is definitely not 'slender' or 'junior', which is pissing me off!

I might go to a small independent pharmacy/drugstore and see if they can order some for me. They must still exist!?!?!?!?!?

[Stacey]

Oh wait! Sorry, that's Evan. You are 'Little Monkey' :rofl: :banana:

If you get desperate, I'll mail you a box. :p And how come I never figured out that our daughters are almost exactly the same age? 11!?! That's getting skeery....

I may have to take you up on that :spinning:

I didn't realise Girl was super close in age to TDME (The Divine Miss Em). Is Girl a May birthday too? And yes, 11 does seem skeery :eek:

[macaquinha]

Is Girl a May birthday too? And yes, 11 does seem skeery :eek:

March, actually. She's counting the hours now.... (you think I'm kidding? It's really good math practice. :loveit:) But I am still in denial. It helps that she still needs to be cuddled at night to go to sleep. :)