Personal question-moms of teenage daughters

We're about to leave on a cruise for a week this Sunday and my 13 year old daughter just told me she thinks she will start her period at the beginning of the week. I asked her how long she usually has her period and she said 6 days. She has only had it for almost 6 months now so this is still fairly new to her.

I am debating on whether to talk to her about tampons. I don't want her to miss out on anything on the cruise and all of our excursions are later in the week and all involve swimming or water sports of some sort. How old was your daughter when you talked to them about tampons and did you explain how to do it or did you just give her the box and tell her to read it (because I probably would!)? I didn't wear my first tampon until I was in my mid twenties and I remember studying the box for a good 10-15 minutes and feeling scared I would do it wrong.

Wow, I was just thinking the same thing for my daughter. She is also 13 and not had her period very long. And I also didn't use a tampon until I was older. But because she is so active and plays soccer I think I need to have her try them. I think a lot of her friends use them. I will get the "small" size box and have her try them and of course I will be there to help if needed.
Good luck to you...
Shauna

Oh yikes! That is a tricky situation. My mom "gave me the box." Needless to say, I figured it out! Does she have any friends that could explain it to her? That is what I did. I asked my friends. You definitely don't want her to miss out on the cruise! It sounds like so much fun! If I was you, I would ask her what SHE wants you to do. Ask her if she wants you to explain or if she would rather find out on her own. Explain to her why (due to the cruise) and see what she says. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that awkwardness.....for a while at least!

Natalie

Sorry to be both politically incorrect and indelicate, but her first box should be the eco-UNfriendly plastic ones.

My oldest started for the first time a few days after her 12th birthday! We just got a swimming pool and she really wanted to go. I got her some tampons and even had to show her how to put them in cuz she couldn't figure it out. I figured, how could I not show her how to use them? I'm her mom. I just had to do it.

Thanks! I still havent talked to her. Waiting for Caitlin to go to her friend's house. Tiffany is very shy about private matters (& so am I) so it will be difficult to bring up but i will do it because i want her to enjoy the cruise to its fullest! Thanks, will go to the store and look for the plastic applicator kind. The few times ive used tampons, ive used OB and theyve been ok. Had a cousin die when i was young from TSS so it scares me to use them. A 10 year old girl (my sister's friend's daughter) also died last year from TSS.

Thanks! I still havent talked to her. Waiting for Caitlin to go to her friend's house. Tiffany is very shy about private matters (& so am I) so it will be difficult to bring up but i will do it because i want her to enjoy the cruise to its fullest! Thanks, will go to the store and look for the plastic applicator kind. The few times ive used tampons, ive used OB and theyve been ok. Had a cousin die when i was young from TSS so it scares me to use them. A 10 year old girl (my sister's friend's daughter) also died last year from TSS.

Just a little tid bit. I started by using Tampax Pearls...they are so easy to insert and the most comfortable ones I've ever used! Just a thought. Good luck!

Thanks! We did run into some issues due to her starting. She started on day 3 of our cruise, but used only pads. She ran out by day 5 so that was a mess and I had to look everywhere for pads. (Store on the cruise was close when she told me she was out.) Found some tampons at one of the beaches so she went in one of the bathrooms, but then decided she wasn't ready so she used alot of toilet paper until I found some at a drug store in Caymen Islands. (She would remove just before she went swimming and run into the water and run back to the bathroom when she got out, poor thing!) We went to Montego Bay (Ocho Rios) and climbed the falls, but she got so paranoid about bleeding that we had to get out early. (Then she did have problems so I walked behind her and we got her a dark towel until she could change clothes.) I felt bad that she had to deal with it while we were on the cruise, but in all honesty, she handled it pretty well and knew I was doing everything I could to keep her comfortable.

My friends daughter has her period at age 11, and she's very heavy. Her doctor said there is no magic age for tampons, and if she wants to use them, she can. They are working on it.