Talking to Girls about the Facts of Life.

[Cranky Kitten]

So DD(8) made a comment about her 16 year old half sister having her period and how she never wanted to get them cause they were icky. She was most unimpressed when I told her that she didn't really get much of a choice in the matter, but became a little more intrigued when we discussed the reasons why girls get periods and what's happening inside her body when it happens.

It got me thinking though, how and when did you start talking to your girls about periods and all the ins and outs of being a girl? With Rach it was always just a very matter of fact thing, she saw my tampons in the loo and asked what they were for. She was maybe 4 I think? I guess we always just answered questions honestly as they came up with as much info as she seemed comfortable with at the time.

Mind you, if she's anything like me, it'll be a few years yet before she has to worry about it - I was 15 and a half before I got mine.

[MissM]

I had the convo with DD who is 8 (9 in a few months) because she is starting puberty.

I bought her a puberty book to help understand a little more and it explains things in a little more detail.

She had LOADS of questions which I answered honestly for her we've had the period talk from quite a young age (around 4ish) because she asked me in the pad aisle why I was buying nappies for myself

[skybie]

we've fallen into just being open and telling DD1(4yrs) what everything and anything is, not into full detail yet, she just looks at u find and walks away and forgets, i dnt think 8 is too young to explain periods to ur daughter at all.

was getting undressed to have a shower the other day and dd1 was staring intently at my vagina, i asked her what was wrong and she asked if my vagina had milk on it to feed the baby lmao, how on earth do u explain cervical mucous to a 4 yr old??!!

[Cranky Kitten]

Bwaahahahahahahaha, that's GOLD!

I have absolutely no idea how you'd explain that one. I am lucky now we've moved that she has her own bathroom and we don't need to share

[UsPlus2]

Skybie - hmmm good luck with explaing that one.

I dont have older kids so cant really say, but from my own experience I wish my mum had told me earlier. I was in year 5 when I got my first period, well before anyone else and had the "talk" as well, so it was horrific. The earliest she can understand the better I say.

[mrsmac]

DD1 found out somehow without me LOL She then explianed it to me!! DD2 was told by a teacher before camp last year that some girls may have their periods at camp and would need to pack stuuf JIC- half of yr 5 rushed home with a million questions cause they had no idea what she was talking about LOL. I just explained it to her and that she'd prob be later like her big sister and I. We went to a Relationships Aus. night at school where they covered puberty/sex etc so then we talked from there.