Swimmer’s first period

[Anonymous]

For those of you who have tween and teen girls, what can you tell me about swimming for the first 6 months or so after they got their period? Do girls typically decide to skip practice during their period for the first few months, until they’re comfortable enough to try tampons? Has anyone tried a period swimsuit? What other options are we missing? TIA

[Anonymous]

Using a tampon is an option you seem to be ignoring.

[Anonymous]

My daughters used tampons the first day of their first periods because skipping practice wasn’t an option. Don’t get me wrong - it was overwhelming at first - but they had it down by their second periods and that was that. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

[Anonymous]

There is no reason why using a tampon should be difficult if you explain its purpose. Don’t stigmatize it- it has zero to do with anything other than stopping blood follow so that you can practice.

Consistent exercise will also lessen the flow and regulate PMS symptoms

[Anonymous]

Get the lite/teen size tampon, explain how to insert, and let her try it.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely NO to period swimsuit.

I let DD skip until she was comfortable. Now they can read the insert (as we all did) and also watch youtubes about it too. I think she was motivated but I didn't pressure her. By second practice she was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely NO to period swimsuit.

I let DD skip until she was comfortable. Now they can read the insert (as we all did) and also watch youtubes about it too. I think she was motivated but I didn't pressure her. By second practice she was fine.

That’s good to hear, thanks. Given that DD is younger than I was, I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get comfortable with the whole period thing and be willing to insert a tampon. But it sounds like it could be pretty quick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

[Anonymous]

My swimmer is scared to use a tampon and no I’m not going to make her use one if she’s not comfortable yet.

Period swimsuits work great. My daughter has never missed a practice. Never had any issues with hers.

[Anonymous]

Several previous threads:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/jforum.page?module=search&action=search&search_keywords=swimming+tampon&match_type=all&search_forum=&sort_by=relevance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

I was a gymnast rather than a swimmer, but it definitely took teenage me a while to warm up to the idea of using a tampon. I think it freaks out a lot of young girls, and it has nothing to do with anyone stigmatizing periods.

[Anonymous]

Took my kid almost 2 years to try a tampon. There were lots of tears and she still avoids them at all costs. She likes a period suit closest to her regular practice suits like this one:
https://www.knixteen.com/products/period-swim-deep-dive-one-piece-bubbles-white

The key was no bra insert and tight fitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using a tampon is an option you seem to be ignoring.

You don’t read very well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Took my kid almost 2 years to try a tampon. There were lots of tears and she still avoids them at all costs. She likes a period suit closest to her regular practice suits like this one:
https://www.knixteen.com/products/period-swim-deep-dive-one-piece-bubbles-white

The key was no bra insert and tight fitting.

I think that the issue with period suits is that a lot of the kids know what the period suits look like.