When should tweens be able to try tampons???

DD (12) has just started her first period, on the last day of school, and just before 6 wks holiday... we have a pool!!!!

I really dont like the idea of tampons early... I have heard they shouldnt be used till the hymen is broken??
Is this right?
Makes sense I guess, and she is a very slim build...

But I'd hate to see her miss a week at a time, twice, in the holidays... she's also going to the beach, but it should be in between periods I hope.

I told her today she cant hop in the pool, and she said can she talk to me later?.. so I think shes been talking at school and maybe going to ask for them.... :doh:

I really dont think shes ready, but i guess I dont really know why??

Thoughts ladies???

I wasn't given tampons until I'd had my period for 2 or 3 years, but I was 10 when I first got it. TBH, I never got over the embarrassment of inserting them, and I don't use them at all. Perhaps the sooner she starts the more comfortable she'll be?

Or she could try a cup?

ooops, just posted in your other thread. Check out the tampon/pads manufacturers websites, it'll have info on there to help you :)

Her hymen might be broken already, especially if she does a fair bit of physical activity. If she's keen to try I would suggest going to a chemist and finding the absolute smallest ones and asking for some advice to pass on to you DD. Or better still, take her with you.

She might not be regular for a while though, so I wouldn't assume she'll get her period twice in the holidays. And it might not last for a whole week just yet.

I don't think there's anything wrong with starting them...it's not a sexual thing you know? But it's a totally individual choice. I started them with the tampax inserty ones, made life much easier.

Of course!!! :doh:
Thanks Jodi.. :)
I had mine for a few years too before using them... I just dont know if I would feel comfortable with her *inserting* things just yet.... plus the added health risk of her forgetting... :doh: She is a darling, but a little absentminded!!! :rolleyes:

I used them from my first period (I was 12). My mum explained to me how to use them properly (pushing them in far enough and changing them regularly to stop blood infections) and I had no problems.

Probably TMI but my hymen stayed in tact through 5 years of tampon use. I assumed it had broken but it was quite a shock when it did break ... but we won't go there :)

Mine broke through dance classes..... She danced years ago, and has played touch footy and basketball since then, so might be fair to say it has??

So it seems quite normal to start straight away? I guess it was different when I was young, it was for the "older" girls then!!

I'm toooooo old!!!!

I don't remember my Hymen breaking (should i?) but I tried them as soon as I got AF when I was 13 and they just didn't really happen... I didn't get the gist til after DTD. (which I'm sure you don't want her to do yet XD)

Would she have to miss out on the beach or pool? Especially if the pool is at home. I mean she might only have to miss one or two days... I hate tampons and never use them and will swim when my flow is lightish. I don't see the big deal, it's only blood. Periods aren't dirty :)

I started tampons straight away because i was an active kid; dancing, swimming, running and footy, pads would have been a disaster! The tampax ones were quite thin from memory, and i used the applicator for a good year or so before going to normal ones...then i needed super ones :(

I used them for similar reasons to you PZ. I am also a very private person IRL so I would rather use tampons than have to have told any of my teachers (especially when it came to swimming) that I couldn't participate. Also, I hated missing out with my friends and we live in North Queensland so we used to swim everyday for almost 6 months of the year.

I would provide her with the options available too her and let her decide what to use and when she is ready... my step mother tried to get me to use tampons straight away which I wasn't happy with or comfortable with and it took me YEARS to finally gain the courage to use them, with a pad I always had the uncomfortable feeling that you could tell I was wearing them.

I didnt get mine till I was 15 or 16 and I started with pads and then used Tampax when I felt the need too (if I didnt want to get off of PE LOL was best excuse!!)
Tampx were easier and didnt have ICK factor as no blood on fingers and putting it there IYKWIM at younger age.

I used tampons pretty much straight away because I was always really paranoid about the pads and they are so uncomfortable.
I'd say that they're ready whenever they want to use them.
They're not likely to break the hymen and if they do is it really a big deal? Hymens seem to break in lots of ways.

I used them straight away also..

a tip fpr your dd.. to help them slide in nicely.. try slight coating the outer with a tiny amount of vaseline.. yes it kind of makes it less absorbant and means more changing but initially it helped me learn how its meant to slide up...

I remember using the vaseline but maybe KY/lube might be better.

I used tampons at 12 too when I got mine.... I had too because one day we went for a big family trek at a national park and I got them half way through the walk. Because they won't be regular she won't know when they are coming..... Maybe it would be easier especially if she is active and it certainly makes you feel like no one can tell as opposed to a bulky pad....

I used pads for the first month, hated them, came home form school after whinging to mum about how revolting pads were and found a packet of carefree tampons on my bed! lol

Never looked back.
Only time I used pads was overnight or when I m/c...

Personally, not sure I understand the issue with her inserting tampons? As Jen said, her hymen may not be intact now, and using tampons doesn't make you any more 'impure' than not using them...
WRT to risk, it will leak before she is at risk, one leakage and I promise she won't forget again in a hurry ;)

Make sure you sit down with her and go through the info in the pack, also probably a good idea to teach her how to retrieve it if she loses the string, the health risks etc and how to maintain cleanliness before and after inserting them.
Now is probably an excellent time for her to sit down with a mirror and have a look at herself, see where everything is and use it to practice inserting them. Gotta know the mechanics so she knows when they are in properly etc.

Start with the smallest size for her flow and I am sure she will be fine. :hug: