Sanitary Pad Comfort for 11 Year Old Girls

HI! My daughter was 11 when she started too. She likes the always with wings the pink size they are the smallest. She also will use the long always pantyliners. I made a little bag for her to keep at school and then one for her overnight bag. I put a clean pair of panties, fem wipes, and the pads. I also gave her lots of pre-preparation of what to expect so that she wouldn't freak out!Hope this helps!

I am just about in the same boat with you. What I have been doing for the last year is getting samples. Do a search on the net and contact the companies, a lot of the companies already offer samples. I have a few different sizes and brands no tampons, I don't feel that young girls should start out with them. But that is my opinion.

Hope this helps out.
~ K.

I started mine out on panty liners - then moved up to just a mini/regular. Mine wouldn't wear a tampon if you paid her!
B.

My best advice is to get all the small packages of every different pad you can along with Midol and Pamprin, a heating pad or bottle and some chocolates. Everyone has a different idea of comfort, so just make sure she has an assortment to try and choose from. You might also remind her that she may just have to endure some discomfort until her cycle is over. Maybe you could start a mom supervised support group for these young girls so they will have a safe environment to discuss their cycles, emotions and coping mechanisms without fear of embarrassment or ridicule.

i got mine when i was 10 years old, and i always used the thin Always maxi's they were as comphortable as it gets,lol. Until i could use tampons correctly.

My daughter started when she was nine. Back then, either Tampax or Playtex actually made a Juniors tampon, specifically designed for younger girls' bodies. I don't know if they still do, since that was nine years ago, but you might want to check your gorcery store or maybe you could order them online through the company's website.

Dear J L,

We are going through the same thing with my Grand Daughter, age 10. My Daughter started when she was 10, so we have been expecting it with my Grand Daughter. My Daughter remembers using the pad with "wings" and said she felt more comfortable and they were thinner. We have put together a care package using those. Good Luck honey. You sound like a really great Mom..

BW

They actually make a slim tampon for teenagers. It is not the light one but actual slims. They are better and more comfortable for teenagers. I am not sure about pads b/c I still think they are uncomfortable. All I use are panty liners. Hope this helps a little. (Also when she starts her period I would get her some Midol or Pamprin to help with all the pms symptoms). Good luck!!

I agree with the Always w/ wings. Please warn your girls about the dangers of tampons, and have them use pads unless they are swimming. You might think toxic Shock Syndrom is a thing of the past, but I had a friend (grown woman, mother) die of that a few years back. Most 11-year-olds just aren't ready to change a tampon every few hours.

My daughter uses Carefree Original To Go Pantiliners in the pink package, Medium Protection, Unscented with Baking Soda(the scented ones give her yeast infections). We went through many long months of trial and error, and she likes these the best. She has great protection with these, even at night. She doesn't find them bulky, and they even protect her when she's in her spankies (the little panties worn under her cheer uniform), without being seen because they lack the unnecessary bulk. She used the slim tampons once, but because she hates trying to put the darn things in, she just avoids swimming during her time of the month (which she 'fondly' refers to as TOM...how funny is that?). I hope this was helpful. It took us nearly a year and a half to settle on the Carefree pads. All of her friends use them as well. And they're inexpensive, too! Good luck. Ultimately, your daughter will be the one to choose the pad she likes the best, so if you're putting together a care package I would suggest buying a variety of different kinds for her to try.

All the Best,

A.

What a thoughtful mom you are!!

A couple of years ago, I switched over to using one of those reusable cups. They're a lot cleaner and safer than tampons and pads, and they're healthier, too (you're not sticking chlorine into your body). At first I thought it might be gross, but after trying it, I realized that if anything, tampons and pads are actually much grosser. It doesn't hurt the way a tampon can. It's also great because it saves me a lot of money, and I never run out - when I'm expecting my period, I just slip it into my purse and have it on hand when I need it! Best of all, it's great for the environment. Every time I use mine, I feel really good about that. And it's part of me really celebrating being a woman every time I get my period, I truly do. It feels very positive.

As for pads, there are also cloth ones available. Same deal. You never run out! I just toss mine in the laundry with everything else; it's never an issue.

Both the cup and the pads can be found at most health food stores, or of course online. You could search "Diva Cup." There are several other brands, and they're all about the same thing. I can't remember the name of the pads I got, but I think I've heard of one brand called "Moon Pads."

L.

Always pads are the best. The ones with the pink wrapper is for teens. My daughter has used them since day one and still does @ the age of 15. They have wings and stay put. They are also slimmer for the teens. Now for tampons. I do not let my daughter use them. Your period will stop while you are swimming. I have known to much to go wrong with Tampons. Good luck. If you want to make it special, you can plan ahead. I took her to breakfast that morning and we talked. I gave her a card welcoming her in to Womenhood.

Hi. I have a teenage sister who has a very small frame and she uses Always with wings...they make a "slender" version that's not too thick and not too wide...hope this helps! :)

Hi! I don't have any girls but I like to use Always Thin with wings.. As I have a very heavy period these work great and they are not too bulky and Stayfree also has a thin pad that are scented... Hope this helps. Good Luck.

i wore pads forever because the tampons were really uncomfortable. i found tampax sport tampons are really small and very comfortable and they work great. they are in a pink and green box.

Personally, I like the stayfree ultra thins. Even the overnight length are super thin, but are long enough to catch leaks if she's a back sleeper. Always sticks to my skin if I sweat any little bit. As far as tampons go, I was scared to death of putting anything "in there" for a long time, but it was that time of the month when my family went on a camping trip and if I wanted to use the pool I had to use a tampon. It took me three tries because I was so nervous that the muscles clenched up and I couldn't get the applicator in! I haven't had to use pads since my postpartum bleeding, but I'm looking at getting cloth pads for when my period returns after my girls slow down on the breastfeeding.

I've always been pretty petite & sensitive, so I use Playtex portables. Not the best on the environment (plastic applicator), but I've always had probs with the paper ones. Always makes a real good low profile maxi that doesn't chafe. You might get her some pantyliners too. They're good as a starter pad, especially if she starts out light. I would put in a lot of other "welcome to womanhood" goodies too - mani/pedi set, a little box of Godiva chocolates, some smelly bath salts and lotions, ladies razor set, etc. Maybe even 1 or 2 "I cant go to school beacause I'm too busy PMS'ing" coupons. Have fun with it. The best I got was "MOM!" "Yup, its about that time." :}

Also, my fiance mentioned a book, "Are you there God, its me Margaret", a coming-of-age book by Judy Blume. I've never even heard of it, but it shows rave reviews all over the internet. I asked him if its what made him the woman he is today. :} He knows a little about everything, I swear. Mebbe you should check out this book and see if its appropriate for you and yours.

When I was about 8 my mom had this cute little pamphlet from the Kotex company and she sat me down and we talked about it. It was so well done and positive that I saved it for as long as I could.

But check each company on line because some of them not only have these helping little pamphlets to help you talk to your child, but they also have teen and pre-teen size samples. Here, our schools also, after asking parents' permission have a girl talk and a boy talk about 4th or 5th grade and sometimes the girls receive a little package. This was great for re-emphasizing for my daughter and ultimately she could make up her mind about which type was more comfortable for her.

JL,

Coming from the perspective of a person who started her periods at 10 (yes, TEN!), I can say with assurance that anything you can buy now is 100% better than what I wore back in 1977! Those pads were over an inch thick and were worn by a belt. Talk about hard to get used to!

I'm pretty sure that there are smaller size pads available; contact Kotex for samples. There are also junior absorbancy tampons but I think for an 11 year old, tampons are "too much". It's freaky enough bleeding every month but to have to put something "in there"...shudder. No matter what you offer her it's going to be something she'll just have to adjust to.

Have fun!
K.

How thoughtful you are! The pads we like the best are the Always Ultra Thin regular and the Always mini-pads. If you find a tampon that works please let me know. My 12 yo hasn't yet asked to be able to use them yet but her older sisters use them and I know they are much less messy and want to be prepared when she does. I know another mom said your period will stop while swimming but I haven't found that to be the case with myself or my girls.

I must be the odd one here, but I have never like pads with wings. I always end up with overflow, no matter how thick they are. I would not want her to have to worry about that. Anyway, I got my daughter Carefree slims when she started at 11. She likes them and the regular Always...we have never tried the wings because I never liked them. I gave her a pocket calendar and taught her how to keep track of her cycle so that she would know when to expect it each month. That way she can carry extra stuff in her purse when she is getting close. What a good idea to get her a "care package" together...especially the chocolate. Good luck!

Just today I took my niece to get something for her. She started last month (10 years old, 11 in August), and is using Panty Liners - more comfortable and her flow is not heavy. Funny thing - she was fine with her period the first month she had it, when it came again the next month- she was a little perturbed - she thought it was a one-time only deal
:)

Have you considered cloth pads or the luna or diva cup? I personally use cloth myself and it is much more comfortable then any pad or tampon on the market. Plus regular sanitary pads leach blood from the body because of the chemicals in them so periods are more painful with more cramping and worse bleeding. I make my own, but one website you can check out for cloth is here: www.gladrags.com
Or you can google others. They are just like regular store bought pads only you wash them. They come in pretty fabrics and colors and some have wings and snaps to stay put. Some also come with cute little carriers and places to stash them until they get to the wash. This is what I plan on doing for my daughter. I think it is wonderful that you care so much about your daughter to think about this in advance and to have something special prepared for the day.

If the tampon is not comfortable, it is not inserted correctly. Once in, it is flexible and moves with your body and you should not be able to feel it. Those that find them uncomfortable, most likely do not have them inserted far enough. It may take a couple months before young girls are ready to try tampons, but I cannot immage having a busy teanage life and using pads. It is not just swimming that has to be avoided, but pads make all types of excercise uncomfortable. I'm sure you can play sports with pads, but eww . . . doesn't sound very comfortable.

Hi! Oh this young lady is on her way to being a full blown woman already mom! I started my period very young (first at 9 then regularly at 10) my mother was so great at dealing with all the pre-pms symptoms aka ATTITUDE! I hope you are as understanding and the strong rock she was for me as I grew up. If she has the pmdd & heavy flow like I did you may need to see an ob and talk about the different birth control options that are avalibe to help leavle out the hormones, hormones can actually cause very irregular flow, mood swings & sever discomfort using different products. I'm not saying you need to put your little girl on birth control right off the bat this is just an opinion for an "all else fails" situation. I strongly agree with the different advise to allow her an assortment of pad with and with out wings along w/ SLIM tampons and most definately the CHOCOLATE & PAMPRIN! My mom put together a little makeup bag that fit into my back pack so I could just run to the rest room in between class. The only other thing I would like to add is WATER WATER WATER, the more she drinks the less bloated she will feel and this will also help with cramps. Good luck JL I hope all goes well with your little lady!

My daughter just started hers and she is only 10. I went to the store right away since I knew my supplies would be too bulky for her body. I bought her two kinds of always. The 8 hour regular maxi without wings and the ultra thin without wings. She likes the ultra thin although I'm sure her flow will be heavier next month. She might have to switch to the regular. I wouldn't introduce tampons until her teens or if she asks. That's a bit traumatizing for a 10 year old to comprehend.

My daughter got her period at 10!!! I bought every pad available. Problems: too bulky or long, or too wide, uncomfortable. The first time she used a short liner since the flow was very light. Finally, I found the always infinity at walgreens. They are very thin, nice width with great wings, and they are cottony. I love them! The package is an aqua cube. I bought the regular flow one since they are shortest. A calendar is great so she can keep track of when it comes and goes. This way she'll know how long her cycle is, and can wear panty liners around the time it will come. A note here, the first two months her period was all over the place. We were not able to predict it.