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....
I really dont think shes ready, but i guess I dont really know why??
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?
Of course!!!
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... She is a darling, but a little absentminded!!!
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
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
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 started using them for my second period casue i couldnt stand using pads. i remember being so self concious when i was wereing a pad when i was younger. I thinki was 13. They make the SO skinny these days. My sister is 14 and she has tried them but wasnt very keen, she is happy to use a pad.
I think it depends on your DD, if she is asking to try them and seems ok with it then id find her some good ones and see how she goes. good luck.
Amy, I was told the same thing, you cant use them till your older, and I guess it stuck!
I have no problem as such about her hymen, just the pain factor if she happens to have a painful break, and it turns her off tampons early. Or the inserting/sexual thing, its more shes a bit clumsy, and Im not sure I could trust her to insert it properly, and have it not work/fall out or something!!! She is a gorgeous kid, but a bit on the dopier side!!
Were off shopping today, so ill ask her if she want to try.. I tried the ones with the insertion thing and I HATED them.. so if she wants some ill get some lube, and ill get the silky ones....
Ad just grabs me the cheapest ones... ...but ill get her some samll ones to start, from a good brand... I wasnt using them till after I had had sex, but I was quite young.. .... thankyou ladies, I thought I was a hip young happenin thing, but I guess not!!!
Haven't read all the replies yet, but I got AF at 11 & started using tampons on my second or third period... around 12. We were going on school camp at the beach & I got it the night before Mum was kind enough to demonstrate for me I hate pads & never looked back. If she's active etc they really do make life easier, especially during summer. I never thought they affected the hymen at all?
DD started using them around the same age, but she still doesn't mind using pads, I think she prefers them to tampons.
ETA - just read a few more posts Good luck today! FWIW I have no idea when my hymen broke, she might not ever feel it? Great advice from everyone else , the only thing I will add is mum told me to start out with one leg up on the toilet seat (standing) as it seemed to make it a bit easier then sitting? ITMS.
My education about my period started and ended with a pad being thrown at me on the day it started.
No tampons were allowed. (Yes, I think this was a bit harsh)
Those 'U' brand ones are really slim and small...maybe give them a go?
Re Hymen - I have NO idea when mine broke as I didn't feel it, but was also very sporty and a dancer. Pretty sure it was already gone when I lost my virginity becuase there was no pain or blood involved.
At 11/12 I was terrified of using a tampon - but this was probably a result of poor education, as I said. I reckon give them to her....if she doesn't like them, she won't use them!
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.
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.
When should tweens be able to try tampons???
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She is a gorgeous kid, but a bit on the dopier side!!
...but ill get her some samll ones to start, from a good brand... I wasnt using them till after I had had sex, but I was quite young.. .... thankyou ladies, I thought I was a hip young happenin thing, but I guess not!!! 
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