What kind of deodorant for DD & period prep

[Anonymous]

What kind of deodorant does your tween DD wear? Mine is 12 and hasn’t hit puberty and doesn’t stink yet but I’m trying to get ahead of it since she’s extremely active. Also, how did you prep her for the impending period? Did you have her carry pads/tampons in a concealed bag or something just in case it starts? I’ve got a houseful of boys and went through early menopause so I’m feeling clueless and am embarrassed to ask my friends with DDs - what do girls use these days? Same old stuff or are there certain brands or products that are best?

[Anonymous]

It's not embarrassing, it is a normal bodily function. Just ask your friends.

[Anonymous]

A lot more options these days for period stuff. Countless brands. You’ll want to get a menstrual cup as well as period underwear (Thinx is a popular brand) in addition to pads, pantyliners, and tampons for her beginner kit.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 12 and 14. When they hit 6th grade, I had both of them start carrying a small makeup/travel bag that I put a few pads, panty liners and the tiniest tampons I could find in (ob with no applicator), plus a spare pair of underwear. I also showed them how to unwrap/attach a pad and how to properly wrap up/dispose of things (i.e., never flush tampons or pads).

I also encouraged them that if another girl ever needed supplies that they should feel free to give them away, and then just make sure that they replaced things so that the pouch always had the basics. Once their periods started, they developed their own preferences (DD1 will use tampons but DD2 does not) and stocked their bags accordingly.

One thing that I don't think I fully thought through about period underwear is that if the girls wear them to school, they have to wear them all day. No changing partway through the day unless they strip down and change underwear completely, or if you are also using a reusable liner and then you have to make sure you have a plastic/waterproof bag to put that in to take home. My girls tried the period underwear but now they wear them only at night or on very light days, if at all. I personally tried them as well and I don't like the sensation of being in them for an extended period on regular flow days -- there is just too much wetness. I wear them at the very end of my period but that is all.

[Anonymous]

Thinx boyshorts. Size up 1

[Anonymous]

Any deodorant that isn’t “natural”

Those don’t work and your child will stick. As for period prep, don’t you have a period? Put a couple pads and a pair of underwear in a bag for her to keep in backpack. Have supplies on hand at home. That is all you need to do to prep- aside from talking with her about the major points: it might look brown, don’t flush pads or tampons, etc.

I wouldn’t buy any period underwear or specialty products until she actually has her period. Her size could change between now and then