FollowPreparing Your Daughter for Her First Period
One of the major events in a girl’s life is the start of their menstrual cycle. While some girls welcome their period with a sense of relief, others will experience feelings of fear and fright. Whatever reaction your daughter experiences, it is important that she is prepared for the experience. The majority of girls will experience their period at the age of 12 or 13 but it could also be earlier or later. You don’t want to wait until it comes to talk to her, you will want her to be prepared.
Period Prep
Make a Period Kit– One of the greatest fears that girls have about starting their period is that it will happen when they are either at school or some other place away from home. You can help your daughter be ready by making them a period kit. You can use a zippered pouch for the kit and add some sanitary pads and a clean pair of underwear to it. Be sure she has a kit with her at all times and you may even want to consider keeping one in the trunk of car just in case.
Talk About Tampons– Some parents don’t think that their daughter can use tampons when they first start their menstrual cycle. Tampons can be used at any time but it is recommended that girls wait a few months before using tampons. If your daughter is active, they may insist on wearing tampons and this may be their best bet. Most tampon boxes will contain a diagram of the female anatomy that you can use to describe to her how to put a tampon in and take it out. Ensure that they know that if they wear tampons, they need to change it at least every four hours in order to prevent leaks and infection.
Do Not Discuss Side Effects– You don’t want to overwhelm your daughter with all kinds of discussions on period problems. Don’t ramble on about things that go along with periods like acne, bloating and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Also, explain to her that it is normal to experience things like cramps when they have their period but that they can use a heating pad or take over-the-counter pain relievers to help with them.
Share Your Experience– You may find that your daughter is embarrassed to talk to you about things like periods so it is important to tackle the topic delicately. Try talking to her about the experience of your first period. Also, share some tips with her that you have learned throughout the years.
