First period kit - what should I buy?

[Anonymous]

I bought some small pads for my daughter a while ago, but she just had a big growth spurt so I believe her period is imminent. We've done the prep, she's read the books, she knows what's coming and says she feels somewhat prepared. But what should I get for her that she'll actually need and use. I think period underwear is gross, but I'll buy it for her if DCUM says it's a must. What should be on my list? For her backpack, for home, for travel (whether it's Girl Scout camping or a visit to the grandparents or a vacation)?

[Anonymous]

Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

OP here - do you have recommendations on brands and sizes? She's a tall, thin 12 year old. Size 12 pants or xs at Aerie.

[Anonymous]

Buy her a cute little pouch on Amazon and put some light flow pads in it. Stick in school bag. I buy Natracare pads and DD wears the small ones that come in their blue box. I use the heavier flow ones in their pink box. For night time we both use their overnight pads. I do recommend period underwear for PE or any activity where she has to move a lot, just in case there's a little leak.

[Anonymous]

Everybody is different, but my 13 yo daughter likes always with wings. And for the night she likes the extra long with wings. I think it helps her feel secure against leaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

This. And for when all else fails and it’s an emergency no pads or tampons around teacher her the toilet paper trick. It’ll take care of her for a little while until she gets home, can access supplies etc. Also ask her to check with friends at school or female teachers - which teachers have supplies. My DH is a middle school teacher and a dad to our DD so he knows all about it and just announces at the start of the school year where the supply bin is and that the girls can take whatever they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

OP here - do you have recommendations on brands and sizes? She's a tall, thin 12 year old. Size 12 pants or xs at Aerie.

Most have pics on the front with numbers. 1 will be the smallest and least absorbent, 4/5 will be longer and more for nighttime. I’d start with the first 2 always brand links. It’s easy to find that brand everywhere. CVS/Walgreens usually has best selection but not best prices. I’d go there and put a few things together.

You might get some period underwear and tell her just to use them at night or just wear with a pad. They gross me out too but leaks happen at that age so a little extra something is useful. An old towel she can throw down on the bed, extra set of sheets, mattress cover aren’t bad ideas either. Maybe a new pack of regular undies. Teach her how to rinse in cold water if they get really dirty, and save the gross ones for that time of the month. Make sure she knows how to start the laundry if she needs to wash a load and doesn’t want to be embarrassed. Maybe a calendar so she can track, like the cheap little dollar tree kind. A little basket with some girly items is always nice. Maybe some flushable wipes, large pack for home and the travel kind for school. Extra stock of TP in the house. That’s all I’ve got…

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Feminine-Absorbency-Flexfoam-Unscented/dp/B0BSR94ZQ5/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2Q9KX23QWSNHN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W2vhQ1mnKcpgE3kh1Aze8ymu_1VlPKhjHwKJuu4RpLeYzxvCTXxCkDr650uxv2gn5BOU5x9d00cY1dmj2rLjrI6cqQdC6te8tCbhtW4GGgH6V46lyxpzBqqkXYuotAbu-p18Gs7Jx5Iii2qoaPLNoNpcQWLngpZSvUrle39AHDyyste0aTXi0HTecazI_Vo2Nm_ScxtQ7fDeDkkcpILPUA.l20F1PR4F_ArFdQwlcGCJ_ha7fv3PdkUMFswldDWjoA&dib_tag=se&keywords=maxipads+teen&qid=1737865191&sprefix=maxibpads+teen%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Radiant-Extra-Heavy-Unscented/dp/B0CPD813LH/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2Q9KX23QWSNHN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W2vhQ1mnKcpgE3kh1Aze8ymu_1VlPKhjHwKJuu4RpLeYzxvCTXxCkDr650uxv2gn5BOU5x9d00cY1dmj2rLjrI6cqQdC6te8tCbhtW4GGgH6V46lyxpzBqqkXYuotAbu-p18Gs7Jx5Iii2qoaPLNoNpcQWLngpZSvUrle39AHDyyste0aTXi0HTecazI_Vo2Nm_ScxtQ7fDeDkkcpILPUA.l20F1PR4F_ArFdQwlcGCJ_ha7fv3PdkUMFswldDWjoA&dib_tag=se&keywords=maxipads+teen&qid=1737865191&sprefix=maxibpads+teen%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/SIDESUGAR-Leather-Sanitary-Tampons-Menstrual/dp/B0CXTH877L/ref=mp_s_a_1_26?crid=2Q9KX23QWSNHN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vsZhi3CbkiAR_awXfoQ_P9bf_TA6I1TuOOrOZpOCC9AXFFh_REC8N0RxQSpTewMaZOOpbmL-hK711L_ov3xOMXuzXofRuV2tDo7CKYGdKrSUG6k5jMXDWNTStdLLH4V-rqqm_1z46S_XKAxBhOjN5CRSXGa7LUqAMIOkyPLyk40mCDOESPGxVr9_2d2kHz2f8fk2gcVdo-uhXHDcmMZC_Q.gDkIIek-4R9ySo2UrBfVkjFCO7yDlCCokpH_i0SFFp8&dib_tag=se&keywords=maxipads+teen&qid=1737865295&sprefix=maxibpads+teen%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-26&xpid=sDNch5kQxGbHY

https://www.amazon.com/First-Period-Pinkie-Prep-Chlorine-Free/dp/B0B3R4T3YG/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=HUUOLOTP98YJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.a1V5o7h2Al9fI7ck5Lqs6MKLhT2Ix7DENcvJHCUJh2Y2naBN-t_khe7Hprac_LB1A0ZTu-Tk2lVP8_r3xxJZw97D4e6slwmadMu1yI0k51SidGplW8-86FFuy-KHQeU397oHCsZavnMkOiajmkffgiL93gCsOcJmvuQxhjX0-JRvpTHJkgoR0jCJfyHKJZR4BXttGj2aUCum23bxyI134Q.cVVi3oKn22q6ExTucZKC74m76AhKkGnX9rVuHnyqTxc&dib_tag=se&keywords=first+period+kit+for+girls+9-12&qid=1737865485&sprefix=first+per%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-16

If you want to be extra you can make/buy something like this with things she’d like.

https://www.amazon.com/Menstruation-Period-Celebration-Starter-Daughter/dp/B09HSZX531/ref=mp_s_a_1_37?crid=25XZP7QRSN9Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uf_Lu1fzS6_bABRw2ikTErUTWTW10uGwSbBNmu7bzMcW1uH7Br1-b94gRamOJ4N1GSyVw1op3bZNvzJkFFpGUTyxoxxEY5avJt2Ws-ZzKyVa2mlMirhJhIITIQamTQ4EwXf46YpSsov3EzGVlP-9b9CfYBZX-Gpp8ui45jqQPz6TlE5h5qWzKIgHL4smscjt6zX5E2ty1XQEwdBxrF1w5Q.anKYERMCblyybVVF66PfOi5dPGa9SyVIIjpO_Sd--A4&dib_tag=se&keywords=first+period+kit+for+girls+organic&qid=1737865665&sprefix=first+period+kit+for+girls+organic%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-37&xpid=TQAKtyo9s7bNG

[Anonymous]

Just a little makeup bag with a couple pads and tampons, and a small ziplock storage bag with a spare pair of panties. If she leaks on what she's wearing she can change them out.

And FYI, you don't need to do this - she can figure this out herself, unless she's like 7 and getting her period. But 11 or 12? She can handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everybody is different, but my 13 yo daughter likes always with wings. And for the night she likes the extra long with wings. I think it helps her feel secure against leaks.

Yep, everyone's body is different. Wings drew blood away from the center of the pad and onto my underwear every time I wore them.

[Anonymous]

Always with wings. Size 4 or 5. Unscented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

This. And for when all else fails and it’s an emergency no pads or tampons around teacher her the toilet paper trick. It’ll take care of her for a little while until she gets home, can access supplies etc. Also ask her to check with friends at school or female teachers - which teachers have supplies. My DH is a middle school teacher and a dad to our DD so he knows all about it and just announces at the start of the school year where the supply bin is and that the girls can take whatever they need.

Tell her to see the nurse if she needs them too, they always have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a little makeup bag with a couple pads and tampons, and a small ziplock storage bag with a spare pair of panties. If she leaks on what she's wearing she can change them out.

And FYI, you don't need to do this - she can figure this out herself, unless she's like 7 and getting her period. But 11 or 12? She can handle it.

My DD started her period at 14 and felt much more comfortable with me putting stuff together that first time. My mother did the same thing for me at that age. Don't underestimate the value of lowering anxiety and making your child feel supported.

[Anonymous]

Here’s one without wings

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Unscented-without-Wings-Regular/dp/B001DWNTBG/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=LH2TH6DSUDGE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bWVJGH4E4ZZVmxMjm5sFNuinnSHJvga312S-gv04G-NijhykbQhXACIecxNTnNHogeDZXMBxKzO4UMH9PNX2D__IV3aYZQl4A55uCkit4MNAOQcnYNuoOAaPwLbEG1YZuJwU_x7JAjvhilj21OUdFyJenbHa4ZF9qvro6oVEwQ_mCozK1NuJuvLy0Y-8Vs_T2KI79T49KFU_7jBO6i7fSA.mUOJ6TZaJ-oxskaOFHH0swCEO7rIXvr2PgYePM4bRiE&dib_tag=se&keywords=maxi+pads+no+wings&qid=1737867025&sprefix=maxi+p%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-4

Grab a pack of panty liners too for everyday/just in case use if she wants. Something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Daily-Wrapped-Liners-Unscented/dp/B003VD5TMM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1VAP1D3FZ6TYW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Apweq3vbVr03OfpWHBrEq057rA8S8y-7CDh8YxviC49xpbGMG1ay9dkzui_tlua5Q9PvDyM4w-YsJgYm2vav-eJpB165eXZ12egrmtBohyqKPneD2vxXlVrcqE7WtY2pLrGFoBZ72HyoWjZ8TqDLanT-0SihNvNjPt7obCXb_S_VOU0QV7pvwoNHNBckAIN-1x1wMjWQmzNzmWm3du5-Fg.HRijxMuT4yOnl1pZscJ43UWBvY2cQYHyiAuE8nr0CtA&dib_tag=se&keywords=panty+liners&qid=1737867129&sprefix=panty+liners%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-3

[Anonymous]

Tampons- Tampax Pearl or radiant, size light (smallest)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get her a little pouch with 2 pads in it and call it a day. Stash a pack at grandmas. Stick a couple in the glove box for travel. Stick a couple in her backpack. Show her where they are. Don’t overthink. At home buy a couple sizes and kinds and let her figure out what she likes best.

OP here - do you have recommendations on brands and sizes? She's a tall, thin 12 year old. Size 12 pants or xs at Aerie.

OP are you the dad?